# How to install apps on Android devices? The rapidly evolving technology has driven businesses to use various apps throughout their organization. Apps have now become an integral part of an organization to boost productivity. Hence, IT admins are in dire need of a solution that can efficiently deploy, manage, and secure applications. The comprehensive ‘[App Management](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/app-management/)’ feature in Hexnode UEM lets you install, control, and secure apps seamlessly. This article will guide you to remotely install Android apps on your devices including Android TV OS. Hexnode simplifies the process for IT admins to install both store and enterprise apps to multiple devices. It also provides you with the option to [install Android apps silently](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/how-to-silently-install-applications-in-android-devices-using-hexnode-mdm/) on supported devices. Add Apps from Google Play ------------------------- To add an app from Google Play, Method 1: Add app to Hexnode console Add an app to the Hexnode console to have it quickly installed on selected devices at a later stage. 1. Login to your Hexnode portal. 2. Go to the **Apps** tab. 3. Select **+Add Apps > Store App**. 4. Choose the platform as **Android**. 5. Search the app using the search box. 6. To add an app, click on the **Add** button to the right of the required app. Note:- You can also add apps from Google Play using [Bundle ID](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/add-apps-using-bundle-id-in-android-kiosk-mode-using-hexnode-mdm/). Method 2: Install an app from Google Play directly to selected devices 1. Login to your Hexnode portal. 2. Go to **Manage > Devices** and select the devices. 3. Choose **Actions > Install Application**. 4. Click on the **Public Store** tab, choose the radio button as **Android** and search for apps. 5. Check all apps required and click **Done**. Method 3: Install app directly from Google Play to a single device 1. Login to your Hexnode portal. 2. Go to **Manage > Devices** and click on the device name. 3. On the **Device Summary** page, choose **Actions > Install Application**. 4. Click on the **Public Store** tab and search for apps. 5. Check all apps required and click **Done**. Note: If your organization has a firewall that restricts access to Google Play Services, you need to whitelist the following set of URLs on your firewall in order to install apps from the Google Play Store: - play.googleapis.com - googleusercontent.com - android.clients.google.com - ggpht.com - gvt1.com - com.android.providers.downloads Add Enterprise Apps ------------------- With Hexnode, you can add enterprise apps to the app inventory, which can later be pushed to the target devices via remote action or via automated rollout through policy. Enterprise apps can be added either through Manifest URL or using the APK file. [Learn more.](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/distribute-android-enterprise-apps/) Install Apps via Remote Actions ------------------------------- Two ways to install any previously added app(s): - Go to **Manage > Devices** , select devices > **Actions** > **Install Application**. Select the apps from the list and click **Done**. - Go to **Manage > Devices** and click on a device name. This will take you to the **Device Summary** page. Go to **Actions** > **Install application**. Select the apps from the list and click **Done**. You can choose to display apps via platform, while you are in the app selection window. Install Apps via Policies ------------------------- You can install apps from Policies in two ways: ### Method 1: Add as Required apps [Required apps](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/how-to-enforce-app-installation-on-android-devices-using-hexnode-mdm/) are defined to ensure that all the required apps are installed on the devices. To set the apps as required, 1. Log in to your Hexnode portal. 2. Go to **Policies**. 3. Select an existing policy or create a new one by clicking **New Policy**. 4. Go to **Android > App Management > Required Apps**. Click **Configure.** 5. You can optionally configure the following options: - **Remove apps from the device on policy removal**: Enable this option to remove apps from the device if: - The policy is deleted from the device. - The device is disassociated from the policy. - The apps are removed from the Required Apps policy. - **Enforce app downgrade**: Enable this option to [downgrade an already installed enterprise app](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/how-to-downgrade-apps-on-your-android-devices-using-hexnode-mdm/) by deploying the lower version of that app to the devices. Notes: - On [Samsung Knox](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/hexnode-mdm-for-samsung-knox-devices/) devices below Android 7.0, app downgrade silently without clearing the app data. - On Samsung Knox devices (Android 7.0+), [LG GATE](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/hexnode-mdm-for-lg-gate-devices/), and [Kyocera business phones](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/hexnode-mdm-for-kyocera-business-phones/), apps can be downgraded silently, but the app data will get cleared. 6. **Update apps only over Wi-Fi:** Checking this option allows apps to update only when the device is connected to a Wi-Fi network. When a new update for the application is available, connect the device to a Wi-Fi network and keep it in an inactive state. Ensure that the app to be updated is not running in the foreground and the device should be in charging mode. Note:- This option is supported only on apps deployed via Managed Google Play on devices enrolled via [Android Enterprise](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/how-to-enroll-organization-in-android-enterprise-using-hexnode-mdm/) program. 8. Click on **+Add** > select **Add App** or **Add Group**. 9. Select the apps already added to App settings. If you’ve [created an App Group](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/how-to-configure-app-groups-using-hexnode-mdm/) under **Apps > App groups**, then select the app group from the list. 10. Save and apply the policy to the target devices. ### Method 2: Deploy Apps via App Catalog [App Catalogs](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/mdm-app-catalog/) allows you to customize an app store of your choice to install the required apps seamlessly. You can include app groups and individual apps in an app catalog. To distribute an app catalog to the devices, 1. Login to your Hexnode portal. 2. Go to **Policies**. 3. Select an existing policy or create a new one by clicking **New Policy**. 4. Go to **Android > App Management > App Catalog**. Click **Configure.** 5. Click on **+Add Catalogs**, and select the app catalogs created under **Apps > App Catalogs.** 6. Save and apply the policy to target devices. Note: The **Downloads** tab in the Hexnode UEM/Hexnode for Work app helps users keep track of the download status of the enterprise apps (APK files) pushed from the Hexnode portal. As the download progresses, the Downloads tab displays the distributed files in either of the following sub-sections: **Active**, **Failed**, and **Completed**. - **Active**: Displays ongoing downloads. - **Failed**: Displays the files that failed to download. - **Completed**: Lists all of the successfully downloaded files. You can use the search option at the top of the Downloads tab to search any specific file. You can tap the ellipsis icon at the top right corner and click the **Refresh** button from the drop-down to refresh the download entries of the files pushed from the Hexnode portal. There is also a “**Clear All**” option to remove all the download entries. It will only remove the download entries from the Downloads tab, whereas the downloaded files will remain on the device. ![Download status of enterprise app shown in Downloads tab of Hexnode UEM/Hexnode for Work app](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Downloads-tab-in-Hexnode-UEMHexnode-for-Work-app..jpg " Downloads tab in Hexnode UEM/Hexnode for Work app") Troubleshooting tips -------------------- 1. [Common app installation issues – Android Enterprise](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/troubleshoot-common-app-installation-issues-android-enterprise/) 2. [Error when adding XAPK file as an enterprise app](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/add-xapk-files-as-enterprise-apps-in-hexnode/)