# Device Control Trusted Devices

Create lists of approved peripheral devices that can securely access and handle sensitive organizational data.

## Create a trusted devices list

Name the list, describe its purpose, and choose how you want to add approved hardware.

### Start the list

![Trusted Devices page in Device Control Plus](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/dc-td1.png)

Open Trusted Devices to create an approved-device list.

1. Navigate to **Policies → Trusted Devices → Create**.
2. Enter the **Policy name** for the device list.
3. Optionally add a **Description** that explains the list's purpose.

![Form for naming and describing a trusted devices list](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/dc-td2.png)

Name the trusted devices list and add an optional description.

You can populate the list in three ways:

- **Add Existing Devices** already recognized on the network.
- **Add New Devices** by identifier or device path.
- **Import from CSV** to add devices in bulk.

## Add recognized devices

Select peripherals that Device Control Plus has already discovered on the network.

### Add an existing device

![Add Existing Devices interface for a trusted devices list](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/dc-td3.png)

Choose from devices already recognized on the network.

1. Select the device type.
2. Find the recognized device and select **Add** to include it in the list.
3. Select **Save** to store the trusted devices list.

## Add devices that are not yet recognized

Identify new hardware with vendor and product details or with its device paths.

### Add a new device

![Add New Devices interface for a trusted devices list](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/dc-td4.png)

Provide identifiers or device paths for new hardware.

1. Select the device type.
2. Choose to add the device with **IDs and Serial Number** or with a **Device Path**.
3. For IDs and Serial Number, enter the **Vendor ID**, **Product ID**, and **Serial Number**.
4. For Device Path, enter the **Parent device instance path** and **device instance path**.
5. Enter a custom name for the new device.
6. Select **Add**, then select **Save**.

See how to [find device paths, IDs, and serial numbers](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/how-to/device-control/get-device-instance-path.html).

## Trust similar devices with wildcards

Use a shared serial-number pattern instead of defining each matching device separately.

### Add a wildcard pattern

![Wildcard pattern fields for trusted device identifiers](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/dc-td6.png)

Apply a shared serial-number pattern to a group of similar devices.

1. Navigate to **Policies → Trusted Devices → Create New → Add New Devices**.
2. Choose the **IDs and Serial Number** method.
3. Enter the Product ID and Vendor ID, specify the serial-number wildcard with a **question mark (?)** or **asterisk (*)**, and select **Add**.

**Note**

Use **?** to replace one variable character.

Use **\*** to replace more than one variable character.

## Import trusted devices from CSV

Upload a prepared CSV file when you need to add multiple trusted devices together.

### Upload the device file

![CSV import interface for a trusted devices list](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/dc-td5.png)

Import trusted-device records from a CSV file.

1. Select the device type.
2. Select the CSV file containing the trusted-device data, then select **Add**.
3. After the devices are added, select **Save** to store the changes.

**Note**

CSV uploads support two formats. Review the [CSV format examples](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/device-control/csv-format.html) before preparing the file.

## Related

- [Find device instance paths and identifiers](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/how-to/device-control/get-device-instance-path.html)
- [Trusted devices CSV formats](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/device-control/csv-format.html)