What is the difference between a device owner and a profile owner in Android Enterprise?

The Android Enterprise program offers two management modes – Device Owner for fully managed corporate devices, and Profile Owner for devices with a separate work container. Choosing the right mode depends on ownership, use case, and security needs. Read on to understand the difference between Device Owner vs Profile Owner.

What is a Device Owner?

The Device Owner mode in Android Enterprise is where the organization has end-to-end control and ownership of an Android device. The device is considered corporate property and is provisioned for business use only. It is provisioned as a Corporate-Owned, Business-Only (COBO) asset where the device is dedicated solely to work.

Key Features –

• Ability to schedule OS updates
• Bypassing factory reset protection
• Full control over hardware functionalities (e.g., camera, Bluetooth)
• Enforcing global settings and deep-level policies
• Lock the device into a single-app or multi-app kiosk mode

Use Cases –

• Corporate-owned, Single-use Devices
  When a company owns a device for a single purpose, such as a tablet for customer check-ins or a screen for digital signage, Device Owner mode is a handy way to ensure it stays focused. It allows the IT team to lock the device into kiosk mode, where only a single app or a group of apps can be used. This way, the device remains on the task.

• Dedicated Devices for Specific Roles
  For specific job roles, like a warehouse team or delivery drivers, Device Owner mode is the ideal setup. In this mode, a tablet can be configured with only the apps it needs, such as an inventory management system or a scanning app. The IT team can disable features like social media, games, or web browsing that may tend to cause distractions. This way, the device is always ready and optimized to help them complete the task quickly and efficiently.

What is a Profile Owner?

The Profile Owner mode gives a “work-only” space in the employee’s personal device. This is ideal for companies with a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. In this setup, the company will be able to manage work data without ever accessing personal information.

The work profile is like a secure and separate space, where all the company apps and data will be locked down and protected. This way, companies can have their data managed and protected, and at the same time, employees can use their devices personally.

Key Features –

• Enforce a separate work profile passcode
• Restrict data sharing (copy-paste) between the work and personal profiles
• Manage and distribute work apps through a separate, managed Google Play store
• Remotely wipe the work profile data, leaving the personal apps, media, or files
• Restrict or allow screen capture within the work profile

Use Cases –

• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Programs
  Lots of companies today are choosing to let employees use their own phones for work. The BYOD program is a great way for businesses to save money and avoid the hassle of managing a fleet of company phones. The key to making BYOD work is Profile Owner mode. It lets employees use their own smartphones for work tasks while giving the IT team a simple way to protect company data. All the work stuff stays secure in a separate work profile. If an employee ever leaves, the company can just wipe out the work data, without ever touching the employee’s personal photos or messages. It’s a clean and secure way to handle things.

Device Owner Vs. Profile Owner – A Comparison

Choosing between these modes is about ownership and security. Here’s a quick look at the differences between Profile Owner vs Device Owner.