The Autopilot icon on your computer

Your organization’s IT provider manages this computer with MSPControl Autopilot. It puts a small icon in the notification area, at the right-hand end of the Windows taskbar, next to the clock. You may need to click the ^ arrow to see it.

This page is for you — the person using the computer. You do not need any special access, and you do not need to understand how the system works. It explains what each button does and what to do when a message pops up.

You can usually fix these yourself

Most Autopilot messages ask for something small, like re-entering your password. Working through the matching section below is normally faster than raising a ticket.

Opening it

Double-click the Autopilot icon in the notification area. A window titled MSPControl Autopilot opens, showing Connected or Not Connected at the top.

Connected means the computer is talking to your IT provider normally. Not Connected means it is not — see Cannot find service below.

What the buttons do

Credential Manager

Stores the username and password the computer uses to reach your organization’s network drives and services.

• Save Credentials — stores what you typed in the Username and Password boxes. Use this after a password change.
• Clear Credentials — removes the stored details. You will be asked for them again.
• Forgot Password? — opens your organization’s password reset process.

Sign in with Entra ID

Signs you in with your Microsoft work account instead of a username and password. You are shown a short code to enter on another page or device to confirm it is you.

Remap Drive Maps

Reconnects your network drives. Use this when a drive letter has disappeared from File Explorer, or shows a red cross.

If it works you will see Network drives recconnected successfully! If there was nothing to reconnect, you will see a message saying the drives will not be remapped, with the reason.

Apply

Reapplies your organization’s default settings to the computer. Its full label is Apply your organizations default settings. Use it if something looks misconfigured and your IT provider asks you to.

Check for Update

Checks whether a newer version of the agent is available. If there is one, you are asked whether to install it. If there is not, you will see that you already have the most recent version.

Get Help

Opens a chat with your IT provider’s helpdesk.

Messages you may see

Autopilot shows small pop-up messages above the taskbar. Here is what each one means and what to do.

Credentials is empty

Please enter your username and password.

Nothing is stored yet. Open Autopilot, type your username and password into Credential Manager, and choose Save Credentials.

Credentials were changed

Your credentials are no longer valid. Click to update your credentials.

Your password changed somewhere else and the stored copy is now out of date. Click the message, enter your current password, and choose Save Credentials.

You may also see a version of this message reading Your password has been updated by Mspcontrol — that one is telling you the change has already been applied for you, and needs no action.

Credentials are invalid

Credentials are invalid. Click to update your credentials.

The stored username or password was rejected. Click the message and re-enter them. If they are definitely correct, your account may be locked — contact your IT provider.

User authentication failed

Device is online but your credentials are invalid. Click to update your credentials.

The same as above, and it confirms the computer’s connection itself is fine. Only the sign-in details need correcting.

Cannot find service

Cannot find service. Contact your administrator.

The computer cannot reach your IT provider’s system. This is not something you can fix from here.

1. Check you are connected to the internet — try loading any web page.
2. If you use a VPN, confirm it is connected.
3. Restart the computer.
4. If it still says Not Connected, contact your IT provider.

Updates Required

Your machine is missing critical updates. Click here to initiate Windows Updates now.

Security updates are outstanding. Click the message to start them. Save your work first — installing updates often needs a restart.

Windows Update

Windows Updates are now in progress.

Updates are installing. Leave the computer switched on. It may be slower than usual for a while, and may ask to restart when finished.

Migration Ready

Your device is ready for migration. Click to start.

Your organization is moving to a new Microsoft account system, and this computer is ready to be moved. See Moving to a new Microsoft account below before you click.

Moving to a new Microsoft account

If your organization is changing Microsoft tenants, Autopilot moves this computer and your files across. You will see a Start Migration button under Entra ID Migration.

Set aside time before you start

The computer restarts during the move and is unusable while it runs. Start it when you can be away from it — not just before a meeting. Save and close everything first.

What happens, in order:

1. You choose Start Migration and confirm.
2. A migration screen appears while the computer joins the new system.
3. The computer restarts.
4. At the Windows sign-in screen, choose Other user and sign in with your new Microsoft email address and password.
5. A second migration screen appears while your files and settings are copied into your new profile.
6. When it finishes, you can work normally.

Your old profile is kept

Your previous profile stays on the computer. If something is missing afterwards, it can be copied across — ask your IT provider rather than deleting anything yourself.

Two messages can stop you before you begin:

• Invalid User — the new account has not been set up for you yet. Contact your IT provider.
• Not enough disk space — the message tells you how many gigabytes to free up. Empty the Recycle Bin and remove large files you no longer need, then try again.

If none of this helps

Use Get Help in the Autopilot window to reach your IT provider’s helpdesk. Tell them what the message said and what you were doing — it saves a round trip.