Flexible Manager device setup: multi-app mode with Play Store access and app notification control

Android

Improved title: Multi-app mode with Play Store access — flexible Blueprint setup

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When management users need to install their own apps and your technicians need remote access to the same devices, a standard kiosk-mode Blueprint is too restrictive. This article shows how to configure a flexible Blueprint that enables multi-app mode, exposes the Play Store, and silences disruptive Esper Agent notifications without breaking device management.

Why this happens

Esper Blueprints default toward restrictive settings suited for kiosk deployments. Multi-app use cases require deliberate changes to the launcher, device mode, and app visibility settings. Esper Agent also generates periodic background notifications as part of normal management operations; these are on by default and must be disabled at the device level if your Blueprint does not include a notification policy override.

Part 1: Create a flexible Blueprint

1. Open the Esper Console and go to Blueprints. Create a new Blueprint or clone an existing one to use as your baseline.
2. Under Launcher Settings, select Android Launcher. This uses the native Android home screen instead of the Esper Launcher, giving users full access to installed apps.
3. Under Device Mode, select Multi-App Mode. This removes the kiosk restrictions that would otherwise lock the device to a single app.
4. Go to Apps & Configuration and add the Google Play Store. Set its visibility to Visible and its state to Enabled. This allows users to discover and install apps directly from Play without IT involvement.
5. Review your restrictions settings. Do not enforce an app allowlist if users need to install apps independently, and do not block unknown sources if sideloading is required for your workflow.
6. Confirm that Remote Viewer is enabled. This allows your technicians to take remote control of the device when support is needed.
7. Save the Blueprint.
8. Apply the Blueprint to your target devices by going to Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Blueprint and selecting Apply Blueprint.

Part 2: Install an app remotely on behalf of a user

1. In the Esper Console, go to Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Apps.
2. Click Install App.
3. Select the app from your approved app list or private app catalog.
4. Click Install. The app is pushed to the device silently without requiring user action.

Part 3: Silence Esper Agent notifications on the device

Esper Agent generates periodic notifications as part of normal management operations. These can be disabled directly on the device without affecting management connectivity.

1. On the physical device, open Settings → Apps and locate the Esper Agent. Depending on your enrollment method, it may appear as Esper, Esper Agent, or Android Device Policy.
2. Tap Notifications.
3. Disable all notification categories, or mute individual channels selectively if you want to preserve any critical alerts.

Verify: After applying the Blueprint, the device should appear as In Sync in Devices & Groups within 5 minutes. Confirm the device shows Online in the Esper Console and responds to a test command such as a location ping. Ask the device user to confirm that Esper Agent notifications no longer appear. Online status confirms that silencing notifications has not interrupted management connectivity.

Troubleshooting

Notifications reappear after being disabled on the device

A notification policy in your Blueprint may be overwriting the on-device setting. Go to Blueprints → [Your Blueprint] → Apps & Configuration and review any notification or app permission policies applied to Esper Agent. Adjust the policy to allow users to control notification behavior, then re-apply the Blueprint.

Users cannot install apps from the Play Store

Check the following in your Blueprint under Device Settings → Restrictions:

• Google Play Store is not blocked or hidden
• The device is enrolled with a Google account that has Play Store access
• No app allowlist is active that prevents user-initiated installs

After making changes, re-apply the Blueprint and ask the user to reopen the Play Store.

If this doesn't resolve it

Contact Esper Support with the following information:

• The Blueprint name and the device serial number or Esper Device ID
• A screenshot of the Device Mode and Launcher Settings sections of your Blueprint
• The device's Activity Feed from Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Activity Feed, filtered to the last 24 hours
• A description of whether the issue affects all devices on this Blueprint or only specific devices

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.