Update device category via Graph API
This is a knowledge base item. Hope it helps you if you want to update the device category of your Intune-managed device via Graph API.
While working on one of my projects, I needed to update the device category for multiple devices. I am not a PowerShell guru, so I decided to use the Graph API in conjunction with Power Automate.
First, I opened Graph Explorer to do it manually. I opened a device via the Graph API and tried to update the device category via the post, patch, and put actions. All those actions did not work.
My next step was to check the documentation. The documentation did not really help me. So, I opened the developer tool in Edge and went to the network tab. I changed the device category in Intune and saved the device properties and checked which Graph API URL is being used by the portal.
In this KB I will show how the issues that I had and how to resolve those issues and change the device category of your devices via Graph API.
Get the Device category of a device via Graph API
To get the device category of a device use the following URL with the get option in Graph API.
URL:
https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/devicemanagement/manageddevices/{Device-ID}?$select=deviceCategoryDisplayName
Issues
For the first attempt, I tried to change the device category via the Graph API I used the put and post option and the below URL, but with both options, I got the same result.
URL:
https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/devicemanagement/manageddevices/{Device-ID}Request body:
{
"deviceCategoryDisplayName": "Laptop"
}
On the second attempt, I tried to change the device category via the Graph API, I used this time the patch option. But still, this was not the fix.
URL:
https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/devicemanagement/manageddevices/{Device-ID}Request body:
{
"deviceCategoryDisplayName": "Laptop"
}
On the third attempt, I tried to change the device category via the Graph API with another Graph API URL, I used again the patch option. But still, this was not the fix.
URL:
https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/devicemanagement/manageddevices/{Device-ID}/devicecategoryRequest body:
{
"deviceCategoryDisplayName": "Laptop"
}
On the fourth attempt, I tried to change the device category via the Graph API, the put and patch option, and the below URL, but with both options, I got the same result and still, this was not the fix.
URL:
https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/devicemanagement/manageddevices/{Device-ID}/devicecategoryRequest body:
{
"deviceCategoryDisplayName": "Laptop"
}
Still no luck, I changed the device category in Intune and saved the device properties, and checked which Graph API URL is being used by the Intune portal via the developer menu in Edge.
Get device category ID via Graph API
Now I had the right Graph API URL. I still needed the device category ID to set the right category for the devices. To get the ID of a device category, I use the following URL with the get option in Graph API.
URL:
https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/devicemanagement/devicecategories
The correct Graph API URL to update the device category
On the next attempt, I tried to change the device category via the put option and the below URL and body via the Graph API, this time I get a success 204 message back from the Graph API. With the correct Graph API URL and device category, I was able to create the Power Automate flow.
URL:
https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/deviceManagement/managedDevices/{Device-ID}/deviceCategory/$refRequest body:
{
"@odata.id": "https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/deviceManagement/deviceCategories/{Device Category ID}"
}
Hi! My name is René Laas. I have passion and enthusiasm for the Microsoft 365 Cloud. I am based in the Netherlands.
Rami Al-zayat 
Albert Stoynov
Andrea De Santis
Alexander Shatov
Helena Lopes
Can you share the power automate flow, I am facing an issue with putting @odata.id in the body of HTTP request