22.5 Distributing Android Apps

ZENworks lets you distribute Android work apps to Android devices enrolled in the work-managed or work profile modes. ZENworks distributes work apps to users through managed Google Play, which is Android’s app management platform for enterprise users. Subsequently, all app licenses are managed by ZENworks through managed Google Play.

ZENworks also lets you distribute the System App bundles and Android Enterprise App bundles to enable or disable apps on Android devices.

22.5.1 Distributing Android Enterprise Apps

To distribute apps from the Google Play Store, you need to create an Android Enterprise App bundle and assign these bundles to users or devices. On assigning the bundle to a mobile device, the assigned app will be distributed to the device based on the assignment schedule.:

  1. In ZENworks Control Center, click Bundles.

  2. In the Bundles page, click New, and then select Bundles.

  3. In the Select Bundle type page, select Android Bundle, and then select Android Enterprise App.

  4. Specify the bundle details, and then click Next.

  5. On the Search for an App in Google Play Store page.

    • Specify the app name in the search field and click the Search icon.

    • Choose the app. You can view additional details of the app on this page.

    • Click Select and then click Next.

    Click Select and then click Next.

    The bundle details page displays additional information about the new bundle. Review the information on this page and proceed further.

    The following details of the new bundle are displayed:

    • Bundle Name: Displays the default name of the app; however, you can edit the app name.

    • Folder: Displays the default folder in which the bundle will be created. You can edit the folder location by clicking the browse icon.

    • Description: Displays the default description of the app as displayed in the Google Play Store.

    The App Details Panel displays additional information about the app. The name of the app and the publisher is displayed along with the following information:

    • Android Package Name: Unique identifier of the app in Google Play Store. On clicking this link, you will be directed to the app’s page on the Google Play Store.

    • App version, Track: All the published app versions along with the track that indicates whether the app is published in the Alpha, Beta or Production version.

    • Categories: Google Play Store categories in which the app is included. For example, Games, Education, and Business.

    • Distribution channel: Android apps can be published as public apps.

    • Cost: Cost associated with the app.

    • Content rating: The rating of the app content that is provided by the rating authority, which denotes for what type of audience the app is suitable. The possible values are All, Mature, PreTeen, and Teen.

    • Last published on: The timestamp to indicate when the app was last published.

    You can configure additional settings of the app, before creating a bundle:

    • Create as Sandbox: (Optional) Select the Create as Sandbox option to create a sandbox-only version of the bundle. A Sandbox version of a bundle enables you to test it on your device before deploying it.

    • Define Additional Properties: (Optional) Select the Define Additional Properties option to display the bundle’s Action page after the wizard completes. You can use the various tabs to edit the bundle’s assignments, system requirements, actions, settings, and content replication settings.

  6. Click Finish to complete creating the bundle.

22.5.2 Updating Android Apps

NOTE:The option to update Android apps is only available if you are using ZENworks 2020 Update 2 - FTF 1008 and above.

Based on the schedule selected while creating the Android Enterprise Subscription, ZENworks syncs with Google to retrieve the latest apps. However, irrespective of the schedule selected, ZENworks automatically syncs with Google on a daily basis to retrieve the latest apps. Bundles are not created for any newly purchased apps during this sync.

You can also initiate this sync immediately by performing either of the following:

  • Click Run Now by navigating to Subscribe and Share > Quick Tasks > Run Now or by navigating to the Summary page of the subscription.

  • Click on the App Catalog page.