Laptop management software enables IT admins to simplify the deployment and management of laptops used in enterprises. Windows laptops are the primary work machine for a large share of today's employees, and because they're portable, they make remote work easy. That same portability is the risk: a laptop that's stolen or left behind still holds corporate data. Without a mobile device management solution that also works as an MDM for laptops, keeping a fleet of them configured and secure turns into a device-by-device chore.
Managing a fleet of Windows laptops without a centralized solution creates operational and security gaps that grow as the organization scales. Common challenges IT teams run into include:
These challenges compound quickly in larger environments, which is why most enterprises turn to a dedicated MDM solution rather than managing laptops manually.
An MDM solution provides:
With policies applied over the air, a laptop that never visits the office gets the same configuration as one that sits on a desk at headquarters.
Traditional PC management relies on domain-joined machines, Group Policy, disk imaging, and an installed agent. Windows MDM uses the management protocol built into Windows 10 and 11 instead. Neither approach is better everywhere. Here's how they compare:
| Aspect | Windows MDM | Traditional PC management |
|---|---|---|
| How devices are managed | OS-native MDM protocol, no separate agent required | Installed management agent, often alongside Group Policy |
| Network dependency | Works over the internet, wherever the laptop is | Typically needs the corporate network or a VPN connection |
| Provisioning | Windows Autopilot, Entra ID join, or provisioning packages | Disk imaging and manual domain join |
| Policy delivery | Configuration profiles applied when the device checks in | Group Policy objects applied when the device reaches a domain controller |
| BYOD support | Supports employee-owned laptops through invite or self enrollment | Usually limited to corporate-owned, domain-joined machines |
| Depth of control | Configuration profiles, restrictions, app deployment, and security commands | Deeper control, including scripts, patch deployment, and advanced software distribution |
| Best fit | Remote and hybrid fleets, mixed-OS environments, BYOD | Office-based fleets that need granular, agent-level control |
Many organizations use both. If you need MDM and agent-based management in one place, ManageEngine Endpoint Central includes MDM capabilities alongside patch management, remote control, script deployment, and BitLocker management.
Mobile Device Manager Plus (MDM) manages Windows 10 and Windows 11 laptops, desktops, and Surface Pro tablets alongside smartphones and tablets, using the native Windows MDM protocol. For a full view of what's supported on each Windows edition, refer to the Windows feature comparison matrix.
After your Windows laptops are enrolled into the MDM, profiles need to be configured as per your organization's policies and requirements. You can create and publish profiles which can later be associated with individual devices or groups. Supported Windows profiles include Passcode, Restrictions, Wi-Fi, VPN, E-mail, Exchange ActiveSync, Kiosk, SCEP, Certificate, and Custom Configuration. For single purpose Windows laptops, lock them down with a single app of your choice by configuring a Kiosk policy. Learn more about Windows profile management.
Installing and updating apps on your Windows laptops becomes a tedious task without any device management solution. MDM lets you add apps to the App Repository, distribute them to device groups, and install them silently without any user intervention. For Windows 10 and later devices, MDM supports:
Windows Store app management is no longer available, following Microsoft's discontinuation of the Windows Business Store. Learn more about Windows app management.
Unpatched systems are one of the easiest ways into a network, so knowing which laptops have fallen behind matters. Mobile Device Manager Plus shows the OS version, installed apps, and hardware details of every managed Windows laptop in its inventory and reports, which helps IT spot outdated devices quickly.
Deploying Windows OS updates and third-party application patches is handled by ManageEngine Endpoint Central, which includes MDM capabilities along with agent-based patch and vulnerability management. If automated patching is a core requirement for your Windows fleet, Endpoint Central is the recommended option.
Laptops are portable, and portability introduces risk. Lost or stolen devices can expose corporate data if not quickly secured. ManageEngine MDM Plus lets IT act on managed Windows laptops without physical access.
Remote lock and remote control sessions are not supported on Windows devices in Mobile Device Manager Plus. Endpoint Central offers remote control for Windows machines.
The Restrictions profile in MDM gives you several controls that protect data on Windows laptops:
BitLocker drive encryption, including encryption policies and recovery key management, is available through ManageEngine Endpoint Central.
You can remotely configure Email and Exchange accounts in your managed Windows laptops. Since these are user-specific configurations, MDM supports the usage of dynamic variables which automatically fetch requisite information from the enrollment data. By configuring Conditional Exchange Access, you can provide users with access to your organization's exchange accounts, only from Windows laptops which are under management. Learn more about Conditional Exchange Access.
Use MDM's security commands to respond when a Windows laptop is misplaced or stolen. A corporate wipe removes the profiles distributed through MDM and ends management, without touching the user's personal data. On Windows, apps installed through MDM aren't removed by a corporate wipe. A complete wipe erases all data on the device. MDM also lets you remotely restart and locate managed devices. Learn more about Windows security management.
With MDM generate instant, on-the-go reports for your managed Windows laptops based on your requirements. App based reports, hardware based reports, security reports, enrollment reports, and custom reports can be generated instantly or scheduled for a later period of time. An audit log also records the actions admins perform on devices. Learn more about Audits and Reports.
MDM Plus manages laptops, desktops, and Surface Pro tablets running Windows 10 and 11, including LTSB 2016 and LTSC 2019 editions, from the same console as iOS, Android, and macOS devices. It provides over-the-air enrollment methods, categorized into user and admin enrollment methods, and also supports mandatory management of Windows devices, where the user can be restricted from revoking management. Some features, such as kiosk mode, location tracking, MSI app installation, and most restrictions, require Windows Pro or Enterprise editions and aren't available on Windows Home. Windows laptops can be enrolled using the following methods.
A Windows laptop passes through the same stages whether it's the first device you manage or the thousandth. Here's what MDM Plus handles at each stage:
When employees work from home, a coworking space, or a different country, the laptop may never come back to the office network. MDM Plus manages these devices over the internet, so location stops being a factor.
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. The devices still work, but without Extended Security Updates (ESU) they no longer receive security fixes, which means every new vulnerability stays open on them. A few details matter for managed fleets:
Here's how IT teams can use MDM Plus to handle the Windows 10 devices that remain:
Here's a step-by-step guide to getting your Windows laptop fleet under management with ManageEngine MDM Plus:
MDM Plus manages Windows laptops, tablets, Surface Pros, and desktops from the same console used for iOS, Android, and macOS devices, so IT teams aren't stuck switching between separate tools for different platforms. It connects to the native Windows MDM protocol built into Windows 10 and 11, so policies and commands work without installing a separate agent.
MDM Plus is available on-premises and in the cloud, which gives organizations a choice over infrastructure. It supports user-initiated BYOD enrollment, and a corporate wipe removes MDM-distributed profiles without touching an employee's personal data. For hardware asset tracking, MDM Plus integrates with ManageEngine AssetExplorer to extend visibility from procurement through retirement. And if your Windows fleet later needs patch management, BitLocker, or remote control, ManageEngine Endpoint Central adds those capabilities on top of MDM, from the same vendor.
Yes. MDM Plus manages Windows laptops, tablets, and desktops running Windows 10 and Windows 11 by connecting to the native Windows MDM protocol, letting you apply the same profiles, policies, and security configurations across both versions from a single console. Some features require Pro or Enterprise editions.
MDM Plus shows the OS version and installed apps of every managed Windows laptop, so you can identify devices that are out of date. Deploying Windows OS updates and third-party patches is handled by ManageEngine Endpoint Central, which includes MDM capabilities along with patch management.
Yes. You can enforce passcode policies, restrict external storage, camera, and network settings, enable FIPS compliance, distribute certificates, and lock devices down to a single app with Kiosk profiles, all pushed remotely to enrolled laptops. BitLocker encryption management is available through Endpoint Central.
Yes. MDM Plus lets you locate, restart, corporate wipe, or completely wipe a lost or stolen Windows laptop without physical access. Remote lock and live remote control sessions aren't supported on Windows devices in MDM Plus. Endpoint Central offers remote control for Windows machines.
Yes. Company-owned laptops can be enrolled in bulk using Autopilot, Entra ID, or ICD provisioning, while employee-owned laptops can enroll via email invite or self enrollment. When an employee leaves, a corporate wipe removes the profiles distributed through MDM and leaves personal data untouched.
Yes. MDM Plus manages Windows laptops, tablets, and desktops alongside iOS, Android, and macOS devices from the same console, so you can apply consistent policies across your entire mixed-device fleet.