Submitting bulk device action requests
If you want to perform a device action on a large number of devices, you can upload a file of device identifiers and submit a single request.
The following device actions support bulk request by file upload:
- Add to or Create Static Device Group
- Freeze...
- Conditional Freeze
- Remove Freeze
- Send Message...
- Run Script...
- Delete File...
- Perform EDD Scan
- Manage Supervisor Password
- Report Missing…
- Unenroll
Depending on the Absolute product licenses associated with your account, and your permissions, some device actions may not be available.

Ensure that you upload a file that meets the following requirements:
- The file is in .txt or .csv format. Separate each identifier with a return (press Enter on your keyboard).
- The file does not exceed 2048 KB in size.
- The file contains a list of one of the following types of device identifiers:
- Serial Number The identification number assigned to the device by the device manufacturer. For Windows devices, this value may correspond to the serial number of the BIOS, the motherboard, or the chassis, depending on the manufacturer.
- Identifier The unique Electronic Serial Number (ESN) assigned to the Absolute agent that is installed on a device.
- IMEIs The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is an identifier used to identify GSM, UMTS and LTE mobile phones. Typically, you can find a phone's IMEI in the battery compartment, or on-screen in phone settings. (applies to Android devices only)
- The file contains valid devices only. Devices are valid if they belong to your account and your assigned device group (if you are assigned to only one device group).
NOTE If you include both valid and invalid devices in the uploaded file, the file is processed, but the invalid devices are removed from your device action request.

Some device actions are limited to a maximum number of devices. Therefore, even if your file does not exceed 2048 KB in size, some devices may not be processed if the file contains more than the following number of device identifiers:
Device action |
Maximum device count |
---|---|
Add to or Create Static Device Group |
10,000 |
Freeze |
|
Run Script |
|
Perform EDD Scan |
5000 |
Manage Supervisor Password |
2000 |
Send Message |
No defined limit (limited only by the 2048 KB file size) |
Delete File |
|
Report Missing | |
Unenroll Device |
NOTE If your file contains more than the maximum number of device identifiers, valid devices are processed in sequence until the maximum is reached. All remaining devices are excluded from your device action request.

To perform a device action by uploading a file of device identifiers:
- Prepare a file containing the list of device identifiers. Ensure the file meets the specified file requirements.
- Log in to the Absolute console as a user with the required permissions to perform the desired device action.
- On the quick access toolbar, click
> Upload Bulk Device File.
- On the Upload File for Bulk Device Action page, click Select Device Action and select a device action from the list.
- Click Choose File.
- Navigate to the file you created in step 1 and select the file. The file name of the uploaded file shows next to the Choose File button.
-
Under File List Types, select the type of device identifier you used in the uploaded file. You can select one type only.
NOTE If you select an incorrect File List Type, all devices are treated as invalid in the next step.
-
Click Upload File.
For device actions that include an eligibility check, wait for the file to finish uploading. For other device actions, go to step 10.
-
The File Uploaded dialog opens to show the total number of devices included in the file and the number of valid and invalid devices. Any invalid devices are excluded from the request. Do one of the following:
- If one or more devices are valid and you want to proceed, click Proceed with Valid Devices.
- If no devices are valid, click Re-Upload to make the required corrections.
- Complete the remaining steps to submit the device action request you selected. For details, see the Help topic for the applicable device action in Related Topics.
NOTE The results of the bulk Report Missing… request are generated in a CSV file and downloaded to your computer.