Private App Distribution to Devices

FocusMDM includes a feature for distributing in-house developed Android Apps (i.e. apk files) to devices managed by FocusMDM. FocusMDM calls these "Private Apps" or "workspace Apps"

There are 2 options to distribute your Private Apps

1. Share Private Apps - available to devices in Basic and DO mode
   
   

2. Distribution is via the managed Google Play Store - Only available to devices in DO mode
   
   

How to distribute using the "Share Private Apps" Rule

Advantages

• This feature works for all devices enrolled on FocusMDM - both Basic and DO mode.

• It works from Android 4.4 upwards

• This method does not require you to have a Google developer account or need you to publish your private app on the Play Store

• It is simpler, and has a significantly reduced number of steps, than side-loading .apk files on devices.

Step 1 - Upload your private Apps into FocusMDM

To upload a Private App, you need the Android Application Package. This is a file with the .apk extension.

1. Go to the Private Apps page

2. In the top right corner, click the blue button "Upload app"

3. Add the .apk file

4. Enter a description that is useful for identifying the .apk file in the future

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Step 2 - Setup Rule to automatically share Private App with devices

Any of the Private Apps uploaded into FocusMDM can now be distributed to devices by creating a "Share Private Apps"  Rule 

1. Create a new Rule and select "Share private apps"
   
   
   

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2. When selecting the app to share, make sure its includes the "P" indicator to show its your organization app and not an app from the Play Store
   
   
   

Step 3 - Device Users install private app

When the device syncs with FocusMDM, there shared Private Apps all will be listed in the app screen called "workspace Apps".

1. After giving permission to FocusMDM for storage and to install from unknown sources (i.e. not the Play Store), users can click on the App

2. After the app is downloaded onto the device, its easy for your users to click and install the app on their device.

How to Distribute Private Apps via "Install/Update work apps" Rule

This feature ONLY works for devices enrolled on FocusMDM in DO mode.

NOTE:

1. This feature needs the Android for Work setup to be complete

2. Your Private Apps need to already be published to the managed Google Play Store

3. FocusMDM has the feature to Publish your private Apps to the Google Play Store. Its not essential to use this feature. You can deploy/distribute Private Apps that are already published on your company Play Store.
   
   
   

Step 1 -  Setup Rules to automatically distribute App to devices

Create a DO mode Rule "Install/update work apps" and find the Private App to be the app to install silently on your devices.

When searching for you Private App, both Play Store and Private Apps will be listed. Look for the little "P" indicator on the right of the app listed to identify the Private App you have uploaded into FocusMDM.