Android kiosk: Excel app not visible or opening files until added to Required AppsSolved

Participant
Discussion
2 days ago Aug 09, 2026

I’m managing Android devices in multi-app kiosk mode and need users to open Excel files, mainly attachments from email. Google Play Store is already allowed as a background app, and Excel was added under the kiosk policy, but users still couldn’t see or access Excel on the device.

I also tried adding Excel under Background Apps, but it didn’t appear there. Is there a specific way to make Excel available in kiosk so files open with the Excel app without physically accessing the devices?

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Marked SolutionPending Review
Hexnode Expert
23 hours ago Aug 10, 2026
Marked SolutionPending Review

In Android multi-app kiosk, adding an app to the kiosk section controls whether the app is allowed or shown in the kiosk environment. It does not, by itself, install the app on the device.

Also, the same app cannot be added simultaneously to both the multi-app kiosk app list and the Background Apps section. If Excel is already added as a kiosk app, it will not appear as an option to add again under Background Apps.

To remotely install Excel and make it available for opening Excel files, add it as a Required App in the same policy:

1. Go to Policies and open the Android kiosk policy applied to the devices.

2. Click Manage > Modify.

3. Go to Android > App Management > Required Apps.

4. Add Microsoft Excel.

5. Save the policy.

Once the policy is saved, Hexnode will trigger the app installation on the associated Android devices. After the app is installed, users should be able to open supported Excel files using the Excel app from within the kiosk workflow.

Regards,
Mary Romero

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