Add website shortcuts to Android home screen using Managed Google Play Web AppsSolved

Hey @_ashur!

Android does not provide the same native MDM-based Web Clips behavior that iOS does. For Android devices, the recommended approach is to create the website as a Managed Google Play Web App and deploy it through Hexnode UEM.

For Android Enterprise devices enrolled as Device Owner or Profile Owner:

1. Go to the Apps tab in the Hexnode UEM portal.
2. Select + Add Apps > Managed Google Apps.
3. In the Add managed Google apps window, open Web Apps from the left menu.
4. Click the + button to create a new web app.
5. Enter the title, website URL, display mode, and icon.
6. Create the web app and wait a few minutes for Google to publish it.
7. Once it appears in the Hexnode app inventory, deploy it using Policies > Android > Required Apps.

This makes the website available on the Android device similar to a regular app.

If the devices are in Kiosk Mode, another option is to add the web shortcut directly to the custom kiosk home screen under Policies > Android > Kiosk Lockdown > Multi-App Kiosk.

Best Regards,
Isabel Lora
Hexnode UEM

I tried creating the Managed Google Play Web App, but it still isn’t showing in the Hexnode app list after around 30 minutes. The web app details were added in the Google Play window, but I can’t select it in the policy yet.

After creating the web app, make sure it is also selected before closing the window.

In the Add managed Google apps window, look for the Select app button at the bottom-right corner. Clicking Create, only creates/publishes the web app in Managed Google Play. The Select app action is what adds it to the Hexnode app inventory.

Once selected, the web app should appear in the Hexnode Apps list shortly after. You can then add it to the Android policy as a Required App and deploy it to the devices.

Best Regards,
Isabel Lora
Hexnode UEM

That was the missing step. I clicked Select app, pushed it as a required app to an Android device, and the website shortcut appeared like an app. Works now.

Thank you @isabel_lora.