Managing apps for Android Enterprise

Information about managing Android Enterprise apps from the Google Play Store and from the Maas360 platform.

Authorizing apps for Android Enterprise

Android Enterprise allows IT administrators and enterprises to distribute apps into the Android Enterprise profile silently and in the cloud, including apps that are downloaded directly from Google Play for Work.

To authorize and install an app in the Android Enterprise profile, you must agree to permissions for the app in the Google Play Store.

  1. Open a browser, and then go to https://play.google.com/work.
  2. Use the Google administrator account that you used in Configuring MaaS360 integration with Android Enterprise by using a Google account (requires Google Admin account) to create users.
  3. Browse the Google Play Store and authorize the apps that you want to deploy to your users.
    Google Work Store window
  4. Select an app to set app permissions, and then click Approve.
  5. Review the app permissions. If the app permissions are acceptable, click Approve. Users cannot install non-approved apps in the work profile. Google Play for Work apps are generally approved for the entire organization.
    Approved apps from Google Play for Work

Distributing apps from the Google Play Store

The app distribution workflow is very similar to regular MDM application management, but with one exception: the MaaS360 App Catalog can contain unapproved apps for the work profile, but the Play Store cannot contain unapproved apps.

  1. From the MaaS360 Portal Home page, select Apps > Catalog.
  2. Click Add, and then click Google Play App.
    Add app from Google Play for Work
  3. In the App Name field, type the name of the app that you approved in the Google Play for Work, and then click Add.
    When an app is added, the administrator is prompted to accept the terms for the app. If the administrator does not accept these terms, then Android Enterprise users cannot install the app, even if the app is approved in the Google Play for Work. An exclamation point appears next to apps with terms that were not accepted by the administrator:
    Apps with unaccepted terms
  4. Optional: Android devices now support the Instant Install feature that automatically installs apps on the device. To deploy the app silently, select Instant Install. To deploy the bundle to a particular group, use Distribute.
  5. Click Add.

    The changes might take up to an hour to propagate through the Google Play Store. For apps that are distributed with Instant Install, users must open the Google Play Store to install the app.