> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getprimo.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Device assignment

> Effectively manage device assignment by leveraging automated processes through MDM, enabling seamless first assignments, unassignments, and reassignments, while adhering to best practices to maintain accurate inventory and protect company data.

This article explains how device assignment works, how the first assignment is created, how to manage unassignment and reassignment, and which best practices to follow to keep your inventory accurate.

## Device statuses

| Availability status | Assignment status | What it means                                              |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| **In use**          | **Assigned**      | The device is assigned to an employee and actively used.   |
| **In stock**        | **To assign**     | The device is in inventory but not yet assigned to anyone. |
| **In use**          | **To assign**     | The device is in use but has no assigned owner.            |
| **Archived**        | —                 | The device has been removed from the fleet.                |

## Understand the first device assignment

### Rely on automated assignment through MDM

It is **not necessary** to manually import your device list.

MDM deployment automatically creates and assigns devices during enrollment.

### Follow the enrollment process

1. The employee signs in with their email address on their dedicated Primo enrollment page. This allows Primo to generate a user-specific installer.
2. Primo then relies on a second verification: the email address actually used on the device via SSO.

This information can be found in FleetDM under the "used by" field.

### Result

When an employee installs the Primo MDM on a device:

* The device is **automatically created** in the Primo cockpit.
* The device is **automatically assigned** to the employee, without manual action.

## Use assignment suggestion

In some cases, Primo does not have enough information to assign a device automatically (multiple user sessions, generic installers).

In these cases, you can assign the device manually if you know the owner, or use the **Assignment suggestion** feature, which uses MDM data to assist or automate assignment.

### Enable the Assignment suggestion

Go to: **Settings → MDM → Assignment suggestion**

Available options:

1. **Enable assignment suggestion**

   Primo only displays assignment suggestions. You validate them manually.
2. **Automatically assign device based on suggestion**

   If the device is not already assigned, Primo automatically assigns it to the most relevant employee.

When enabled, devices in stock can be assigned automatically based on FleetDM information. This is especially useful in environments with high employee turnover.

## Unassign a device from an employee

### Unassign or reassign manually

From the device inventory page or the device panel, you can:

* Send a device back to stock.
* Reassign it to another employee.

Sending a device to stock immediately clears its current assignment.

### Unassign during offboarding

When an employee is offboarded, the offboarding flow asks what to do with the device:

* Return it to stock
* Remove it from the fleet
* Reassign it to another employee

Returning the device to stock automatically removes the previous assignment, the device can then be automatically assigned by the Automatically assign feature.

**Good practice**: wipe the device at this stage to remove all data from the former employee.

## Specific cases

Automatic assignment is **not yet available for iOS and Android devices**, but support is planned in an upcoming release.

<Info>
  **Best practices**

  * Manage all offboardings through Primo to ensure devices are properly unassigned.
  * Wipe devices when changing assignments to protect company data and user privacy.
  * Use Assignment suggestion to reduce manual work when managing a large number of devices or frequent turnover.
</Info>