In this article, we will show you how to import Android apps from the Google Play Store into the Cortado administration portal and then assign them to users' devices. In the Edit Android apps section, you can also find out how to specify whether new apps should be mandatory for users, rolled out initially or hidden in kiosk mode.
Add Android apps
- In the Administration Portal select Administration→ Apps.
- Click on the plus button (left arrow in illus.) and then select Android (right arrow in illus.).
- Select Google Play Store Apps now if you want to add apps from the Play Store.
A description for adding Self-Hosted Apps can be found here.
Now you can add the following apps:
Note! All apps you add as described in the following section can be used for Android kiosk modus.
Add apps from Play Store
Note! Many Android devices that are completely managed with Cortado do not have the camera app (by default) available. If you still want to make a camera available to your users, proceed as described in the following section.
- Under Search Play Store, enter the name of the app and then click on the Search button (arrow in illus.).
- Select the desired app and then click on Select (upper arrow in illus.).
- You can now select more apps and then in the next step, click Import selection (lower arrow in illus.) to add them all together.
- You will now find the apps you added through this process in the console, on the left.
- Assign the app to the users or groups.
Add own (self-developed) Apps
You can either upload your own (self-developed) apps in the Google Play Store or add them directly via the Cortado Administration Portal. Please note the hints given in the Google Help for creating apps or managing APK files.
- Under Private apps (left arrow in illus.) click on the Plus button (right arrow in illus.).
Note! Read the advice from Google under Learn more.
- Allocate a title and upload your app.
- Then click on Create (arrow in illus.).
- Enter your email address.
- The app will then be uploaded. However, it may take up to 10 minutes until the app is unlocked by Google.
- Wait until the app is visible in the overview and then select it (illus.).
- Then click on Select and then on Import selection.
- You can now find your app in the left column of the Administration Portal.
- Assign the app to the users/groups.
Adding web apps
- Under web apps (left arrow in illus.), click on the Plus button (right arrow in illus.).
Note! You can organise your apps into libraries using the Organize apps button. You can find how to do that in Google help.
- Enter a title and the URL of the web app and under Display, select how the web app should be displayed on the device.
- Upload an icon as well.
- Click on Create to save your work.
- The release of a web app through Google can take up to 10 minutes. You should therefore firstly set up all the web apps you want to make available to your users.
- Wait until the web apps are visible in the overview and then select them (arrow in illus.).
- Then click on Select (right arrow in illus.) and then on Import selection (left arrow in illus.).
- The newly set up web apps should be displayed in the left column (left arrow in illus.).
- Assign the app to the users/groups.
The users will then find the web apps on their devices.
Edit Android apps
- Select an app in the left-hand column and then click on Edit (left arrow in illus.).
- The apps are set to Mandatory (right arrow in illus.) by default and, after being assigned, are consequently pushed onto the users‘ devices.
- If you do not want to push the apps, uncheck the Mandatory checkbox (right arrow in illus.).
- The user can then locate the app in the Business Play Store.
You can also configure other app settings here:
- If you do not want the use of an app to be mandatory, but still want it to be initially pushed to the user's device, tick the Rollout initially checkbox. Users can then delete the app individually.
- If you want to use an app for Kiosk mode that should not be visible on the user's device, activate the Hide in kiosk mode checkbox. This can be useful, for example, when using remote assistance tools that should only run in the background.
- You can also specify when app updates should be carried out under Update behavior. You can find detailed information on this in our help article Distribute updates from Android apps to users.