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NinjaOne IT Asset Management: Create an Unmanaged Device via Command Line Interface (CLI)

  • Last Updated March 11, 2026

Topic

This article explains how to create an unmanaged device in NinjaOne using command-line interface (CLI) tools. 

Environment

NinjaOne Endpoint Management

Description

When creating unmanaged devices via CLI, you can detect items such as monitors, USB printers, and other peripherals, and define the relationship these items have with managed devices in NinjaOne. Additionally, you can assign the unmanaged device to a user via CLI, and NinjaOne will populate the data in the console where applicable.

When you install the NinjaOne RMM agent on the device, NinjaOne sends the system and BIOS serial numbers to the initial payload to optimize data mapping.

Index

Select a category to learn more:

New Command Line Options

We created new command lines and added options to existing command lines to facilitate this process. 

Command Line name Description
unmanaged-new Create an unmanaged device and pass in a JSON object to define it. When you create an unmanaged device via the CLI, the device will be automatically assigned to the same organization and location as its related managed device.
unmanaged-get Obtain the values of unmanaged devices related to the managed device, including ID numbers for each asset (excluding secure fields). The unmanaged device must belong to the same organization and location as its related managed device.
unmanaged-set Update values for existing unmanaged devices using the device ID. This command line only works if the unmanaged device is related to an existing managed device and belongs to the same organization and location.
user-set Set the currently assigned user of the device. You can use an email address as the parameter, and NinjaOne will search end users, technicians, and contacts. If an account or contact is limited to an organization, NinjaOne will only match devices that belong to the same organization as the user. Technicians must have permission to access the device. 

The following table lists the fields you can use with the unmanaged-new command line to define unmanaged devices.

Field name Required (Yes/No) Type Notes
Role Yes String  
Name Yes String  
Relation Yes String The directional asset relation name between the creating and created device.
Warranty Start Date No String Accepts dates in YYYY-MM-DD format.
Warranty End Date No String Accepts dates in YYYY-MM-DD format.
Assign to Device User No Boolean This option is "false" by default.
Asset ID No String  
Asset Status No String  
Purchase Date No String Accepts dates in YYYY-MM-DD format.
Purchase Amount No Float  
Expected Lifetime No String Accepts 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years.
End of Life Date No String Accepts dates in YYYY-MM-DD format.
Asset Serial Number No String  
Custom Field Values No Multiple As defined when created.

For example:

.ninjarmm-clie.exe unmanaged-new '{ "assignToDeviceUser":true, "assetId": "asset-001", 
"assetSerialNumber": "asset-serial-001", "assetStatus": "in use", "customFieldValues": 
{"exampleCustomFieldName": "Custom Field Value", "typeipaddress": "255.255.255.255"},
"endOfLifeDate": "2025-12-31", "expectedLifetime": "5 years", "name": "Test Device with 
CF", "purchaseAmount": 1000, "purchaseDate": "2020-01-01", "relation": "related to", 
"role": "Another Role", "warrantyEndDate": "2023-12-31", "warrantyStartDate": "2021-01-01"}'

Using PowerShell Commands

NinjaOne supports PowerShell commands for the following:

  • New-NinjaUnmanagedDevice
  • Get-NinjaUnmanagedDevice
  • Set-NinjaUnmanagedDevice
  • Set-NinjaUser

For example: 

$DiscoveredMonitor = @{
   role               = "Monitor"
   name               = "AEG-12345 on Lukes Desktop"
   relation           = "Connected To"
   assignToDeviceUser = $true
   assetId            = "123456"
   assetSerialNumber  = "123456"
   customFieldHashMap = @{
       monitorResolution   = "1920 x 1080"
       monitorManufacturer = "AEG"
       monitorModel        = "12345"
   }
}
$Null = New-NinjaUnmanagedDevice $DiscoveredMonitor
$Devices = Get-NinjaUnmanagedDevice -Role 'Monitor' -Relation 'Connected To'
$UpdateDevice = $Devices[0]
$UpdateDevice.monitorResolution = '5120 x 1440'
$Null = Set-NinjaUnmanagedDevice $UpdateDevice

Additional Resources

Refer to NinjaOne IT Asset Management: Resource Catalog to view all related articles. 

FAQ

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