Enterprise app type changes to "Play Store" after OTA update from private server: reinstall via Esper to restore Enterprise designation

Android

When an app deployed through Esper receives an over-the-air update from a private server, Esper Console reclassifies it from Enterprise to Play Store and the Uninstall button becomes unavailable.

Why this happens

Android records which installer source deployed each app. When Esper installs an app, Android logs Esper as the installer of record. When your private server later pushes an update, Android's system package installer takes over and replaces that record. Esper reads the updated installer record and reclassifies the app as a Play Store app, which disables Console-level uninstall. This is standard Android behavior that Esper cannot override.

Steps

1. Confirm the reclassification. In Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Apps, verify the affected app shows Play Store as its installation source and that the Uninstall button is unavailable. This confirms the installer record has changed and the steps below apply.
2. Uninstall the app using a Pipeline. Because the Console Uninstall button is inactive, a Pipeline is required to remove the app remotely. Navigate to Pipelines in the Esper Console, create a new pipeline or open an existing one targeting the affected device or group, add an Uninstall App operation, and enter the app's package name. Run the pipeline and wait for the confirmation that the app has been removed.
3. Confirm the app is no longer present on the device. Return to Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Apps and verify the app no longer appears in the installed app list before proceeding.
4. Upload the APK to Esper if it is not already there. Navigate to Apps & Configuration and upload the APK. This ensures Esper, not a third-party source, becomes the installer of record when the app is reinstalled.
5. Reinstall the app through Esper. Deploy the app using one of the following methods:
   • Blueprints — recommended for fleet-wide deployment; add the app to the relevant blueprint and apply it to the target group.
   • Apps & Configuration → Install — for individual devices.
6. Disable private-server self-updates for this app. To prevent reclassification from recurring, configure the app so it no longer pulls updates from your private server. Push all future version updates by uploading a new APK to Apps & Configuration and redeploying through Esper or a blueprint.

Verify: In Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Apps, the app should show Enterprise as the installation source and the Uninstall button should be active immediately after reinstallation completes.

If this doesn't resolve it

If the Pipeline uninstall fails — for example, the device is offline, the app is installed as a Device Owner app, or the app reappears as Play Store type after reinstallation — contact Esper Support. Collect the following before reaching out:

• Device serial number
• App package name and version numbers (before and after the private-server update)
• Pipeline execution log from Pipelines → [Pipeline Name] → Activity Feed
• A description of your private-server update workflow

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.