Blocking GIFs on AndroidSolved

Hi @jayceon,

Thank you for reaching out! I checked the Dragon: Special ED app, and you are correct, there is no direct option within the app itself to block GIFs.

The GIFs are actually originating from the Android keyboard rather than the app. Are your students using third-party keyboards (like Gboard), or the default Samsung Keyboard?

As a first step, I highly recommend restricting keyboard features by blocking third-party keyboards via Hexnode policies. You can find this under Policies > Android > Advanced Restrictions > Allow input methods (set to disabled). Let me know if they are using the default Samsung keyboard instead!

Regards,
Sienna Carter
Hexnode UEM

Hi,

Thanks for the quick reply. We already block third-party keyboards. The students are just using the default Samsung Keyboard that comes with the OS.

Since it’s the default keyboard, can I just push an App Configuration via Hexnode to disable the GIF feature? I couldn’t find the Samsung Keyboard in the Managed Google Play store to approve it.

Hi @jayceon,

Since the Samsung Keyboard is a system app, it will not be visible in Hexnode’s Managed Google Play apps or the standard App Configurations list by default.

Even if you add it manually to your app inventory using its Bundle ID, it still won’t appear in the App Configurations menu because it requires specialized OEM management.

Since you are using Samsung Knox OS, the best workaround is to use the Knox Service Plugin (KSP). KSP allows you to control granular Samsung device settings.

Here is the recommended workflow:

1. Ensure your devices are enrolled via Android Enterprise.
2. Go to Policies > Knox Configurations > Knox Service Plugin.
3. Add the Knox Service Plugin app from Managed Google Play.
4. Select the KSP app and look for the Samsung Keyboard policies.
5. Configure the settings to disable GIFs/Stickers.

Accessing these specific advanced KSP features may require a paid Knox license, though some basic features are available on the free Knox plan. You may need to verify your current Knox license tier to ensure the keyboard configuration applies successfully.

Let us know if you have any more queries.

Regards,
Sienna Carter
Hexnode UEM

Thanks a bunch, that worked successfully for us.