Managed Android devices must upgrade to Android Device Policy by March 19, 2022
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
[Updates]
March 7, 2023: All devices with the Google Apps Device Policy will lose access during March 2023. Existing Google Apps Device Policy app users must switch to Android Device Policy before then to continue syncing work data. Note that, per our last update, the new user registration flow on Google Apps Device Policy will be blocked and users may see errors during the registration process as of January 2022. See below for more information and instructions.
January 26, 2022: The new user registration flow on Google Apps Device Policy will be blocked and users may see errors during the registration process.
October 21, 2021: We have adjusted the timing for this change. Now, Google Apps Device Policy app won't be available for new enrollments beginning January 19, 2022. Existing Google Apps Device Policy app users must switch to Android Device Policy before March 19, 2022 to continue syncing work data. Previously, we stated that users must switch before October 26, 2021.
Last year, we announced that a new Android management client, Android Device Policy, would replace the legacy Google Apps Device Policy client. We’re now discontinuing the legacy client.
To ensure that devices enrolled by users with advanced management will continue to sync and have access to data, users in your organization must switch to Android Device Policy before March 19, 2022. Google Apps Device Policy app won't be available for new enrollments beginning January 19, 2022. If users still have Google Device Policy on this date, they won't be able to sync their devices or access data.
To switch to Android Device Policy, users must have an Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later device that supports a work profile. For users with devices that don’t meet these requirements, consider switching to basic mobile device management.
Devices enrolled by users with basic management must move to Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later before March 19, 2022 to continue enforcing a screen lock. If a user's device can't be upgraded to Android 6.0 or later, their device will continue to sync and retain access to data, however it will not be able to enforce a screen lock.
Admins and end users
The latest Android devices and operating system (OS) versions provide improved security features. Moving to Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or newer can help ensure all devices are protected by the latest security features, and can take advantage of improvements in the Android enterprise experience.
- Admins: Admins can find devices which may need to take action in the Admin console. Visit our Help Center to learn more about the differences between Android Device Policy and Google Apps Device Policy. Different devices may need to take different steps to upgrade:
- Advanced management devices:
- Find advanced management devices by going to Admin console > Mobile devices and filtering for Type: Android and Management level: Advanced.
- Determine which of these devices are currently managed by the Google Apps Device Policy app and support the Android Device Policy app (i.e. devices with Android 6+ and support for a work profile)
- Send these instructions to your users to help them migrate to Android Device Policy.
- Basic management devices:
- Find basic management devices by going to Admin console > Mobile devices and filtering for Type: Android and Management level: Basic.
- Instruct users of these devices to upgrade the Android OS to version 6.0 Marshmallow or later.
- End users: Affected users can visit our Help Center to learn how to transition devices from Google Apps Device Policy to Android Device Policy.
- Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: All devices must complete the upgrade by March 19, 2022. Google Apps Device Policy app won't be available for new enrollments beginning January 19, 2022. Android Device Policy is available now for all users.
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