Granting unrestricted access to all installed apps for a device group: use Blueprint app state + Group App Management

Android

Learn how to grant users unrestricted access to all installed apps on your managed Android devices. This article covers two methods: configuring your Blueprint to show all preloaded apps, or switching to an unrestricted launcher mode.

Before you begin

This solution applies to Android devices managed under Esper Blueprints. Confirm your device fleet is on a current Esper Agent version before making Blueprint changes.

Be aware that showing all apps may expose system utilities to end users. Review this with your team before applying changes to your production fleet.

Option A: Configure Blueprint to show all preloaded apps

In the Esper Console, navigate to Blueprints and open the Blueprint applied to your target group.
Go to the Apps section.
Set the app state to Show for all preloaded and system apps. You can use the bulk state option to make this faster — see Add or Hide Preloaded Apps on Devices for detailed steps on bulk app state configuration.
Save and publish the updated Blueprint.
Apply the Blueprint to your target group: Devices & Groups → [Your Group] → Blueprint → Apply.
Verify the change by checking a test device in the group. The launcher should display all installed applications without restriction.

Option B: Switch to an unrestricted launcher mode

In the Blueprint applied to your group, navigate to Launcher settings.
Change Launcher Mode to a configuration that does not restrict app visibility. Avoid kiosk or single-app modes, which limit user access.
Save and publish the updated Blueprint.
Apply the Blueprint to your group: Devices & Groups → [Your Group] → Blueprint → Apply.
Verify that devices in the group now display the standard Android launcher with all installed apps accessible.

Troubleshooting

Blueprint changes are not reaching devices: Confirm your devices are online and connected to the Esper MQTT channel. Offline devices will not receive Blueprint updates until they reconnect.
Certain system apps remain hidden: Verify the app is not being suppressed by an OEM-level restriction or a separate compliance policy.
Group-level app state still requires per-Apps & Configuration: There may be a Blueprint inheritance conflict from a parent group. Contact Esper Support with a screenshot of your console workflow and your affected group ID.

Important notes

This configuration is applied at the group level, so all devices in the group will inherit the same unrestricted access. Individual device-level exceptions require moving the device to a separate group with a different Blueprint.
You can also use Group Apps & Configuration as an alternative to Blueprint-level configuration. Both approaches are effective.

Still need help?

If you've tried these steps and your devices still don't have access to all apps, submit a support ticket. Include a screenshot of your Blueprint configuration and your group ID.