How To's

How to install Android apps (Store/Enterprise apps) silently?

Description

With mobile devices becoming the corners of corporate workforce, apps have now become integral to productivity, with IT admins are required to have the devices user-ready by installing all the requisite corporate apps. MDM MSP lets you install apps silently, without any user action. It is also makes bulk installation of apps easier. The advantage in silent installation, is that it requires minimal admin action for installing apps on the device.

Apps can be installed silently as explained in the table below:

DEVICE/APP TYPE ENTERPRISE APPS STORE APPS
Samsung devices Distribute and install apps, using MDM app repository

1. If device is running Android 6.0, provision device as Device Owner

2. Configure Android for Work. Approve and install apps
Non-Samsung devices OS<6.0

Configure Android for Work. Approve and install apps

 Configure Android for Work. Approve and install apps
OS>6.0 If provisioned as Device Owner,
Distribute and install apps, using MDM app repository

If the provisioned as Profile Owner,
Configure Android for Work. Approve and install apps


Demo Video

Learn how to install apps silently on Android devices in 4 minutes, through the demo video below:

Steps

Provisioning device as Device Owner

Provisioning device as Profile Owner

Distributing and install apps, using MDM App Repository

  • Add enterprise apps to the App Repository as explained here.Once the app has been added, it is ready for distribution.
  • Navigate to Groups & Devices and select the Devices tab.
  • Select the device(s) to which the app is to be distributed and click on Distribute Apps.
  • Search and select the app you want to distribute, from Available Apps.
  • Under distribution options, ensure Force install apps is selected.
  • Click on Select to distribute and install the apps, silently on the selected devices.

Configure Android for Work, Approve and install apps

  • You can configure Android for Work(AfW) using both G Suite or without G Suite(Using your Google account). Configuring Android for Work, without G Suite lets you install apps, without configuring Play Store on the devices as explained here.
  • The next step is to add the apps to the App Repository. These apps are then distributed to the devices, where they get installed silently.

    In case of Store apps,

    Login to Google Play for Work using the same account used to configure Android for Work in the previous step. Approve the apps, which are to be installed silently on the device. By approving, you are actually purchasing the app and thus, in case of paid apps, you have to pay before approving the app. For more details, refer to this.

    In case of enterprise apps,

    You need to privately publish the enterprise app on Google Play, to ensure the enterprise apps can be installed silently on managed devices. Follow the steps provided here.

  • Once done, go back to the MDM MSP server, navigate to Device Mgmt and select App Repository.
  • Click on Sync Apps and select Sync Play Store Apps from the dropdown. All the approved apps get added to the App Repository.
  • Navigate to Groups & Devices and select the Devices tab. Select the devices to which you want to associate the apps. Click on Distribute Apps and add the apps to be distributed silently.
  • Under distribution options, ensure Force install apps is selected.
  • Click on Select to distribute and install the apps, silently on the selected devices.