Microsoft 365, How do I undo the "Allow my organization to manage my device" setting?

If Windows is using a personal Microsoft account to log in:

If you sign in to Windows with a personal Microsoft account, but have connected your University account into it afterwards for Office licensing, it is often possible to disconnect the two by following these steps.

Please note that Windows may have retrieved and applied group policies or registry changes that are not un-done by these steps. If you are still unable to change some settings, such as PIN complexity, you may need to follow the other sections of this page.

1. Uninstall Microsoft software

Uninstall Microsoft 365 (the Office suite), as well as OneDrive and Skype For Business if they remain after removing Microsoft 365. These applications' licensing is usually what keeps the security policies in place.

2. Remove University account from Windows

Windows' account system may be remembering your University account.
Go to the Accounts page in Windows Settings (Start menu - gear icon - Accounts).

1. In the left menu of the Accounts page, select Email & accounts and look for an @illinois.edu account under the heading Accounts used by email, calendar, and contacts. Click your University account to select it, click the Manage button, then choose Delete account from this device in the window that appears.
2. In the left menu of the Accounts page, select Access work or school and look for an @illinois.edu account or a connection to ad.uillinois.edu or another University domain. Click on the University connection to select it, then click the Disconnect button.
3. Another route someone used was Settings > Accounts > Access work or school > netid@illinois.edu account > disconnect > yes 

3. Remove personal device from University account

The Microsoft account connected to your University NetID may be remembering the personal device that had the security policies applied to it.

1. Go to the Microsoft Office web portal at <https://portal.office.com/account/> and sign in with your @illinois.edu account.
2. Under the heading Office apps & devices, click the View apps & devices button to see Microsoft software that your account is licensed to use. In the pane labeled Office, click the drop-down menu next to the word DEVICES. Click Sign out next to any computer name you do not recognize, and any computer name that might be your personal PC.
3. Fully power off your personal PC, and wait 20 minutes for these changes to be applied.

When you turn on your PC again, use a personal Microsoft account to sign in to Windows.

4. Reinstall Microsoft software (if licensed)

Students and many staff members at the University are granted Office 365 licenses. If you see an orange Install Office button in step 3.b. of the above instructions, you can click it to download a .exe package that will install the Microsoft software your account is licensed for.

During the installation process, you will be asked to sign in with a Microsoft account. You should use your University account here. After this, a screen with the heading Use this account everywhere on your device will be shown.

It is ESSENTIAL that the "Allow my organization to manage my device" box NOT be checked here before you continue. Sign in to 'This app only' if possible.

Leaving this box checked will result in the University's security policies being applied to your device again, and you will need to restart these instructions from the beginning.

If Windows is using a University of Illinois account to log in:

Illinois accounts are only intended to be used to sign in to the operating system on University-issued computers.

If the Windows in your personal computer or the main user profile you use on it was set up with your @illinois.edu email address, we recommend the following.

This is also our recommendation in the event that the above instructions do not fully remove University group policies or registry modifications.

1. Set up a new user in Windows, either using a personal (non-University) Microsoft account or locally following Microsoft's instructions here.
2. Grant that new non-University user administrator permissions.
3. Move any important files and configurations into the new user profile.
4. Remove the user profile associated with your University account following Microsoft's instructions here, understanding that anything not moved somewhere else will be lost.

Please note that solving operating system problems, such as the management of user profiles, is considered outside the scope of the Technology Services Help Desk. We will not be able to assist with the above steps.

If you're still having trouble:

If the above processes do not solve issues with Windows, you may have success with more drastic options.

Using the "Reset this PC" feature, as mentioned in our article Security, Operating System Re-Image/Reinstallation, will completely replace most or all Windows configuration on the computer.