Android policies
A policy is the set of settings a phone keeps: camera, passcode, Play Store, and apps. A phone applies only one policy.
Settings → Android → Policies.
Create and assign
Click New policy. Give it a name. The form blocks are General (including Enable status reporting — turn it on so the device page can list apps), Device functions, Connectivity, Security, System update, Password policy, Applications, and Advanced.
Under Applications, Play Store mode: BLACKLIST allows Play apps except the ones you block. WHITELIST allows only the apps you list. An empty WHITELIST with an empty app list locks the Play Store.
Save. On the policy row, … → Assign to devices. The target is Entire customer, Device group, or one device.
Assign and the Apply command
| Assign to devices | Apply Android Policy | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | The menu on the policy row, or Install to devices. | The command box on one device. See Commands. |
| What it is for | This is what the phone should keep. Later assignments still follow this target. | Attaches one policy to that phone now, and does not record an assignment target. |
A policy whose id is default cannot be archived. Archive only hides it from the admin list. A phone already using that policy keeps the Google copy until you assign a different policy.
The small line under the policy name summarizes what is on, for example Camera off, Password, an app count, and Reporting.
Common questions
- I assigned it to the whole organization, but one phone did not change?
- An assignment directly on that phone wins over a group assignment and an organization assignment. Remove the assignment on the phone, or Assign again to that phone.
- The apps tab on the phone is empty after enrollment?
- The policy in effect must have Enable status reporting on. A new policy has it on by default. Wait for Google to report, then refresh the list on the device page.