Android apps are not installing immediately

What

As an administrator, you use FileWave to send Android policy changes to a device. The policy is enforced on the device, but Android controls the exact timing for installing or updating apps.

When/Why

Google prioritizes battery life, network state, and user experience for Android users. As a result, Android Play Store Filesets associated with a device may take time to install or update. In normal priority mode, app changes can take up to 24 hours to apply.

How

You can check the Android Device Policy app on the device. The Policies section shows the status of apps specified by the policy.

Options to speed up app installation

There are several ways to reduce the wait, depending on the app configuration and whether the user can interact with the device:

1. If the app appears as available in the user's managed Play Store shortly after the Fileset is associated, the user can choose to install it immediately.
2. The user can put the device into a favorable state for policy processing: connect to Wi-Fi, connect to power, close running apps, and leave the device idle for a period of time.
3. For apps that need faster update behavior, configure the Android Play Store app payload's auto-update mode as High Priority. FileWave exposes this option for Play Store app payloads, and Google's Android Enterprise behavior expects high-priority app updates to start quickly when the device is online.

If none of the acceleration options are practical, wait for the Android policy cycle to complete. The policy will eventually apply and the apps will install or update.

Related Content

• Google Android Enterprise Help: Manage system apps on company-owned mobile devices