Introduction

In this article, you will learn how to bulk deprovisioning Chrome devices in Google Workspace efficiently with xFanatical Foresight. Deprovisioning of a Chrome device is required when it is no longer needed. This action initiates a factory reset, erasing all data, encompassing device policies, enrollment data, and user data. Consequently, the device reverts to its initial state, devoid of all configurations, and prepared for subsequent provisioning and future use.

Illustration of bulk deprovisioning chromebooks in Google Workspace with xFanatical Foresight Automation
Illustration of bulk deprovisioning chromebooks in Google Workspace with xFanatical Foresight Automation

Deprovisioning thousands of Chrome devices for large organizations and institutes is impractical in Google Admin Console. However, with the help of the xFanatical Foresight automation platform, this task can be simplified and streamlined.

Introducing xFanatical Foresight Automation

xFanatical Foresight is an enterprise-grade software platform which helps automate and streamline the Google Workspace workflows. In today’s fast paced business environment, efficiency is the key. xFanatical Foresight automation permits administrators and users to create intricate business workflows, which consumes a lot more time doing it natively. It simplifies the process of deprovisioning Google Chrome devices in bulk in Google Workspace, so you can take care of more important tasks.

Automation Setup Instructions

In this section, we guide you through the automation setup in xFanatical Foresight. We have 2 ways to set up automation rules, Set up automation from a template and Set up automation from scratch. After completing the automation rule, verify whether the automation meets your requirements.

Set Up Automation From a Template

Set Up Automation From a Template

Supported plans: xFanatical Foresight Elite plan.

To set up this automation, admins need to extract the list of Chrome devices from the Google Workspace, then edit the list of Chrome devices and upload to xFanatical Foresight to deprovision Chrome devices in Google Workspace.

The workflow needs 2 rules.

  • Rule 1 lists and exports chrome devices to a CSV file, including the Device id, Serial number, Status, Last policy sync, and User. Admins need to keep only the rows they want to deprovision chrome devices in the CSV file, and delete the rest.
  • Rule 2 takes the extracted and edited CSV file from Rule 1 as input, and bulk deprovision chrome devices listed in the file.

Rule 1: Export chrome devices

  1. Sign into xFanatical Foresight with your Google Admin account. 
  2. Go to the Templates page.
  3. Search the Bulk deprovision chrome devices template, and click on it.
    Bulk deprovision chrome devices template on xFanatical Foresight templates page
  4. In the Templates > Bulk deprovision chrome devices page, click Copy rule 1.
    Bulk deprovision chrome devices template with copy rule 1 button
  5. For the first time use of the template rule, an dialog Action needed will display requesting necessary permissions required to copy the rule. Click Connect with Google and authorize the permissions.
  6. Upon authorization, a dialog titled Copy of Export chrome devices will display. 
  7. Click Next.
  8. Click Review.
  9. In the Review screen,
    1. Customize the Rule name.
      Copy of export chrome devices rule review screen
    2. Click Create.
  10. The rule is created in the Rules page.
    Copy of export chrome devices rule on xFanatical Foresight rules page
    xFanatical Foresight workflow for exporting chrome devices in Google Workspace.

Rule 2: Bulk deprovision chrome devices

  1. Go to the Templates page.
  2. Search the Bulk deprovision chrome devices template, and click on it.
  3. In the Templates > Bulk deprovision chrome devices page, click Copy rule 2.
    Bulk deprovision chrome devices template with copy rule 2 button
  4. Upon authorization, a dialog titled Copy of Bulk deprovision chrome devices will display. At the bottom of the dialog.
  5. Click Next.
  6. Click Review.
  7. In the Review screen,
    1. Customize the Rule name.
      Copy of bulk deprovision chrome devices rule review screen
    2. Click Create.
  8. The rule is created in the Rules page.
    xFanatical Foresight workflow for bulk deprovisioning chrome devices in Google Workspace.
    xFanatical Foresight workflow for bulk deprovisioning chrome devices in Google Workspace.
Set Up Automation From Scratch

Set Up Automation From Scratch

Supported plans: xFanatical Foresight Elite and Professional (Legacy).

Rule 1: Export chrome devices

  1. Sign into xFanatical Foresight with your Google Admin account. 
  2. Go to the Rules page, and click the new rule button button at the bottom right to create a new rule.
  3. In the Select a trigger screen, select Manual trigger.
    Select the manual trigger for the Export user's organizational unit information rule.
  4. Click Next.
  5. In the Select an action screen, select the List Chrome devices.
    On the Select an action screen, click the List Chrome devices action
  6. In Edit actions > List chrome devices screen,
    1. If you’re using this action for the first time, you will see Sign in with Google button. Click on it, and authorize xFanatical Foresight the necessary permissions to automate on behalf of your Google account.
      Sign in with Google button on List chrome devices edit action screen
    2. Click Review.
  7. In the Review screen,
    1. Enter the Rule name.
      Export chrome devices rule review screen
    2. Click Create.
  8. The automation rule is created.
    Export chrome devices rule on xFanatical Foresight rules page
    xFanatical Foresight workflow for exporting chrome devices in Google Workspace.

Rule 2: Bulk deprovision chrome devices

  1. Download the Sample CSV file for the automation rule creation process.
    Sample CSV file for bulk enable chrome device automation rule creation process
  2. Go to the Rules page.
  3. Click the New Rule new rule button button.
  4. In the Select a trigger screen, select Data uploaded trigger.
    The data uploaded trigger to trigger a rule by uploading a CSV file in xFanatical Foresight
  5. In the Edit trigger > Data uploaded screen,
    1. Click Choose a CSV file or drop it here to get started.
    2. Select the CSV file downloaded in Step 1.
    3. Wait for the CSV file to be analyzed.
    4. Click Next.
  6. In the Select an action screen, select Deprovision Chrome device.
    Selecting deprovision chrome device action from select an action screen
  7. In the Edit actions > Deprovision Chrome device screen,
    1. If you’re using this action for the first time, you will see Sign in with Google button. Click on it, and authorize xFanatical Foresight the necessary permissions to automate on behalf of your Google account.
      Sign in with google button on deprovision chrome device edit action screen
    2. In the Device ID field, select the Device ID variable from the Data uploaded trigger.
    3. In the Deprovision reason field, select the appropriate reason to deprovision the chrome devices.
    4. Click Review.
      Configuring device id, and deprovison chrome field on edit action screen
  8. In the Review screen,
    1. Enter the Rule name.
      Bulk deprovision chrome devices rule review screen
    2. Click Create.
  9. The automation rule is created.
    bulk deprovision chrome devices rule on xFanatical Foresight rules pagebulk deprovision chrome devices rule on xFanatical Foresight rules page
    xFanatical Foresight workflow for deprovisioning chrome devices in Google Workspace.
Verify Automation

Verify Automation

To ensure that your rule setup automates as expected, it’s essential to conduct a simple test. The following instructions demonstrate how the xFanatical Foresight automates the bulk deprovisioning Chrome devices in Google Workspace.

Before moving to verification, let’s check the chrome devices in Google Admin Console chrome devices page. Currently in our case, there are two devices which are provisioned. 
Chrome devices in the Google Admin Console
Chrome devices list page on Google Admin Console, shows provisioned status of devices.

  1. Go to the Rules page.
  2. Find the Copy of Export chrome devices rule, and click the play buttonbutton.
    Copy of export chrome device rule with play icon on xFanatical Foresight rules page
  3. Wait momentarily, and you will get a notification at the top right of xFanatical Foresight. In the notification message, click View log.
    Notification of copy of export chrome devices rule
  4. In the Logs > Log details screen, download the Chrome devices CSV file from here button.
    Log of bulk export chrome devicesLog of bulk export chrome devices
  5. Edit the CSV file, keep the chrome device details you want to disable, and delete the rest rows. Learn more in Edit CSV File in Google Sheets.
    CSV output of bulk export chrome devices for deprovision device
  6. Go to the Rules page.
  7. Find the Copy of Bulk deprovision chrome devices rule.
  8. Click upload-button. and select the CSV which you edited in Step 5.
    Copy of bulk deprovision chrome devices rule with upload icon

  9. Wait momentarily, and you will get a notification at the top right of xFanatical Foresight. In the notification message, click View log.
    notification message
  10. In the Logs > Logs details screen, confirm that chrome devices have been deprovisioned.
    Log of bulk deprovision chrome devices rule
  11. Go back to the Google admin console chrome devices list page, and confirm that the chrome device has been deprovisioned.
    Chrome device list on google admin console

Notes

  • The download link from Rule 1 will expire in 7 calendar days after the action is complete. For security, do not share the download link to unauthorized parties.
  • If no matching devices are found, the List chrome devices action does not create the CSV file, it will output no devices found.
  • Max of 5000 rows CSV can be processed at a time. If you have more than 5000 chrome devices to re-enable, consider breaking the large CSV file into multiple smaller CSV files.
  • The chrome devices re-enabling may take a few minutes to take effect. 

Conclusion

Bulk deprovisioning Chrome devices in Google Workspace using xFanatical Foresight is a game changer for your Chrome devices management. By leveraging its intuitive interface and powerful automation capabilities, you can streamline your automation process and ensure effective management in your teams. With xFanatical Foresight, you can effortlessly deprovision, disable, re-enable, and manage your chrome devices, and invest valuable time for more important tasks.

Try a 14-day free trial with xFanatical Foresight and manage your tasks.

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