This feature is available for:
✓ Templates ✓ Blueprints
✓ GMS Devices
You must enroll in Google Play for Work before using this feature.
Approve apps and enable Console users to install only the apps they need for their devices. App approval also lets admins restrict unwanted apps from devices. Once approved, apps may be organized into collections.
In this article:
- Approving Applications
- Managing App Configurations
- Organizing Apps
- Unapproving Applications
- Private Apps
- Web Apps
- About Google Play Timeouts
Approving Applications
The Esper Console gives you access to Play for Work, the enterprise version of Google Play. Within Play for Work, you can approve applications, which can then be installed or deployed to devices.
Step 1: To approve a Google Play app, go to Apps > Play Store.
Step 2: Enter the name of the app in the search field.
Step 3: Select the application.
Step 4: From the app’s listing, click Select.
Step 5: From the modal that appears, you can: approve the app; check its approval status; and, if the app is approved, manage its configurations.
Note: When approving or unapproving an app before March 31st, 2023, the app status will still show the previous status in the Google Play store.
This functionality is controlled by Google and not by Esper. To check the app's actual approval status, click Select. The approval status will appear under the application’s name.
Refer to this modal for the app’s correct status. Unapproved apps will not appear in a user’s Google Play Store.
After approving applications, those applications may be installed on devices. Create a curated list of applications for end users to install.
Ensure the app supports the appropriate minimum API level and is available in the device's country or region. Google Play prevents apps from being installed on devices during provisioning or installing from Esper without the appropriate region or version.
Managing App Configurations
Once approved, you’ll be able to manage the app’s configurations. Enable the Managed Configurations toggle to access the configuration menu.
Managing application configurations here will override any configurations made in the Play Store. Converging a blueprint will also override any configurations made here.
Organizing Apps
After approving apps, you may also add those apps to a collection.
Make a collection of apps so that end users can pick from a curated list in the Google Play Store. Collections are managed by the Google Play Store, not Esper. To be added to a Collection, applications should be approved both in Esper and in the Google Play Store.
Step 1: To organize apps, go to Apps > Play Store and hover over the left panel until the menu appears. Then select Organize apps.
Step 2: Click on Create a collection.
Step 3: Name the collection. Then press Next.
Step 4: Then add apps to the collection by enabling on their checkboxes. You can also search for them.
Once you’re done adding apps, press Add Apps.
After you’ve made the Collection, you can manage the list by:
- Clicking on the pencil icon to edit the list
- Clicking on the trashcan to delete the list
- Clicking on the papers to copy the list
- Add an app by clicking Add apps
- Delete an app by clicking x on the top right corner of each app tile
Allow a few minutes for these changes to take effect on your devices. Once apps are added to a collection, they are available in the Google Play Store for users to install.
The console collection should reflect the device's Google Play Store collection.
Unapproving Applications
Unnaproving apps allow you to prevent end users from installing specific apps on your devices. Unapproved apps will not appear in a user’s Google Play Store.
Step 1: To unapprove an application, go to Apps > Play Store and select an application.
Step 2: Click Select.
Step 3: Select Unapprove.
The app is no longer approved and will show an Unapproved status below the app title.
You won’t be able to manage configurations for apps that are unnaproved.
Private Apps
Upload a private application to the Google Play Store and have it available in the Esper Console.
Locate the Private Apps sections in Apps > Play Store and then navigate to the sidebar and select Private Apps.
Private apps may take up to 10 minutes to display. Fifteen private apps may be uploaded per day (web apps are included in this total). See Google’s documentation for Publishing Private Apps.
Web Apps
Upload a web app to the Google Play Store and have it available in the Esper Console. Locate the Web Apps sections in Apps > Play Store, navigate to the sidebar, and select Web Apps.
Web apps may take up to 10 minutes to display. Fifteen web apps may be uploaded per day (private apps are included in this total). See Google’s documentation for Creating Web Apps.
About Google Play Timeouts
Google Play app installations and updates are dependent on Google’s services.
On a reliable network, apps usually install within 15 minutes.
Installations may be impacted by the following:
- Incompatibility: The device is not running the required Android version.
- Unavailability: The app you are trying to install is region-locked and the device is registered in a different region.
- Preloaded: You attempted to update an application to a version already on the device.
- Installation Rule: The device's installation rule may also impact installation. For example, if the device is in Default Update Mode, it will not update or install an app unless the device is:
-
- Connected to a network
- Charging
- Not actively being used
- Not running the app being updated in the foreground.
You can change the installation rule by updating the device’s blueprint. High-priority mode allows a device to update when a new version is available in the Play Store.
Ensure the app is not set to postpone mode, which will block updates for up to 90 days.
See Google Play EMM documentation to debug EMM issues.