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We manage a fleet of Android 8.1 devices enrolled as Android Enterprise Device Owner, and many of them run in kiosk mode. We’re trying to decide whether to keep Automatically Update Hexnode UEM Android Apps enabled or disabled. Our concern is that agent updates may reinstall the Hexnode UEM app in the background and interrupt active kiosk sessions. We also want to know the safest way to update the Hexnode app manually, whether we can test updates on a small group first, and whether Android 8.1 will continue to be supported by current Hexnode UEM app releases.
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Replies (3)
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Hexnode Expert
8 hours ago
Aug 31, 2026
Marked SolutionPending Review
For Android Enterprise Device Owner devices running Android 8.1 in kiosk mode, it is generally safer to disable Automatically Update Hexnode UEM Android Apps if uninterrupted kiosk operation is a priority.
You can disable it from:
Admin > General Settings > Hexnode App Updates > Automatically Update Hexnode UEM Android Apps
When this option is enabled, new Hexnode UEM app versions may be pushed automatically, which can trigger an app reinstall/update process. In kiosk environments, that can interrupt active kiosk sessions or end-user workflows.
Recommended rollout approach:
1. Keep automatic Hexnode app updates disabled globally.
2. Create a small test device group with representative Android 8.1 kiosk devices.
3. Push the Hexnode UEM app update only to that group first.
4. Verify kiosk behavior, policy sync, app stability, and device check-in.
5. Roll out the update to the rest of the fleet during a maintenance window.
Android 8.1 is supported for current Hexnode UEM Android app releases. The current minimum supported Android version for Android Enterprise enrollments is Android 5.0. Devices on Android 8.1 can continue receiving app updates unless support requirements change in the future.
Regards,
Mary Romero
Mary Romero
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Participant
5 hours ago
Aug 31, 2026
Marked SolutionPending Review
One thing I’m still unclear about: in Single App Kiosk, I don’t see the same Background Apps list that I’ve seen in Multi-App Kiosk setups. If the device is in Single App Kiosk on Device Owner, can Google Play Store still update the Hexnode app in the background?
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Hexnode Expert
3 hours ago
Aug 31, 2026
Marked SolutionPending Review
In Single App Kiosk, the primary control is still the global Hexnode app update setting under Admin > General Settings > Hexnode App Updates.
As an additional safeguard, you can use an App Management policy with a blocklist and add Google Play Store to the blocklist. Applying that policy to the kiosk devices helps prevent Play Store-driven background updates from occurring unexpectedly.
So, for stricter update control on Android Enterprise Device Owner devices in Single App Kiosk:
– Disable Automatically Update Hexnode UEM Android Apps globally.
– Apply an App Management blocklist policy that blocks Google Play Store, if your use case allows it.
– Manually push Hexnode UEM app updates during planned maintenance windows.
Single App Kiosk can also include background apps if needed, under:
Policies > Android > Kiosk Management > Single App Kiosk > Background Apps
However, if you are not intentionally allowing Play Store or other supporting apps in the background, using the global update setting and Play Store blocklist gives you better control over update timing.
Regards,
Mary Romero
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