Android kiosk app shows incompatible and policy changes do not reflect on devicesSolved

Hi @verbnigge,

This can happen when the Google Play Store package required for Managed Google Play app handling is not available to run in the kiosk environment.

On Android kiosk devices, check whether “com.android.vending” is listed under the device’s installed applications in Hexnode. If it is not listed or cannot run in kiosk, add it as a background app in the kiosk policy:

1. Go to Policies and open the active Android kiosk policy.
2. Navigate to Android Kiosk Lockdown > Background Apps.
3. Add com.android.vending.
4. Save the policy.
5. From Manage > Devices, select the affected device and run Scan Device.
6. Run Scan Device Apps after the device syncs.

Adding “com.android.vending” as a background app does not expose the Play Store icon to the user. It only allows the Play Store service to run silently so Managed Google Play app installs and dependencies can function correctly in kiosk mode.

Regards,
Sienna Carter
Hexnode UEM

I tried adding com.android.vending as a background app and pushed the policy again. The app still showed as incompatible when opened through the Play Store, and the install status stayed initiated. Removing the device from kiosk did not help either. The same app works on identical devices, so it does not look like a real OS compatibility issue.

Hi @verbnigge,

If the Play Store itself shows the app as incompatible even outside kiosk, while the device meets the app requirements, the issue is likely with the Managed Google Play work account state on that device rather than the kiosk policy alone.

In that case, refresh the Android Enterprise work account. If a simple refresh is not available or does not resolve it, factory reset and re-enroll the affected device. Re-enrollment recreates the managed work account and refreshes Managed Google Play app assignment on the device.

After re-enrollment, reapply the kiosk policy and verify the app installation again from the device Applications tab in Hexnode.

Regards,
Sienna Carter
Hexnode UEM