Cannot add Play Store app via Esper Console: Managed Google Play must be used instead of direct upload

Android

Title: Play Store app missing from Esper Console — approve via Managed Google Play

When attempting to add a Google Play Store app in the Esper Console, the only visible option is an APK upload field, and Play Store apps cannot be added or distributed to devices.

Why this happens

Google Play Store apps cannot be uploaded directly to the Esper Console — that upload option is exclusively for private or enterprise APK files. Play Store apps must instead be approved through Managed Google Play, the Android Enterprise mechanism that controls which public apps an organization can distribute. If Managed Google Play is not yet enrolled for your tenant, the option will not appear at all.

Before you begin

• Your Esper Console role must include Apps & Configuration permissions (Enterprise Admin or equivalent).
• Your devices must be provisioned as Android Enterprise devices (Work Managed or COPE). Devices provisioned outside Android Enterprise cannot receive apps distributed through Managed Google Play.
• Your tenant must have completed Android Enterprise enrollment with Managed Google Play. If you are unsure, check Company Settings → Android Enterprise for an enrolled enterprise entry before proceeding.

How to approve and distribute a Play Store app

1. Navigate to Apps & Configuration → Apps in the left-hand navigation of the Esper Console.
2. Click Add/Upload App. A dialog opens with tab options for upload types.
3. Select the Play Store (Managed Google Play) tab. This opens the embedded Managed Google Play iframe directly in the Console — you do not need to leave Esper to complete this step.
4. Search for the app by name (for example, Dayforce) within the Managed Google Play interface.
5. Click Approve on the app listing, then confirm any permission prompts. Approving the app grants your organization's Managed Google Play enterprise the right to distribute it — without this step, the app cannot be pushed to devices.
6. Return to Apps & Configuration → Apps. The approved app now appears in your tenant's app inventory.
7. Distribute the app to devices using one of the following methods:
   • Via Blueprints: Add the app to a blueprint under Apps & Configuration → Blueprints, then apply the blueprint to the relevant device group.
   • Via individual device: Navigate to Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Apps, then install the app directly on that device.

Verify: After distribution, navigate to Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Apps. The app should appear with a status of Installed within 5–10 minutes. On the device itself, the app icon will be visible in the launcher or app drawer.

If the Play Store tab is not visible

If the Play Store or Managed Google Play tab does not appear in the Add/Upload App dialog, Managed Google Play enrollment has not been completed for your tenant.

1. Navigate to Company Settings → Android Enterprise.
2. Check whether a Managed Google Play enterprise is listed. If the section is empty or shows no enrolled enterprise, enrollment has not been completed.
3. Complete Android Enterprise enrollment by following the on-screen setup flow, which requires a Google account designated for your organization. This is a one-time setup per tenant.

Troubleshooting

• App not found in Managed Google Play: Confirm the app is publicly available on the Google Play Store in your region by searching for it at play.google.com before searching inside the Console.
• Managed Google Play loads but shows an access error: Your enterprise binding may be misconfigured. Collect a screenshot of the error and your tenant ID, then contact Esper Support.
• Apps & Configuration section is not visible: Your Console role does not have the required permissions. Ask your Enterprise Admin to grant Apps & Configuration access to your role.

If this doesn't resolve it

Contact Esper Support with the following information:

• Your tenant ID (found in Company Settings → General)
• The name and Play Store URL of the app you are trying to approve
• A screenshot of the Add/Upload App dialog showing the options visible to you
• A screenshot of Company Settings → Android Enterprise showing current enrollment status

Still need help?

If the steps above don't resolve the issue, submit a support ticket with your device model, Android version, Esper Agent version, and a description of what you've already tried — this helps the support team investigate without a follow-up.