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Guide on how to add custom (private) app to Google Play Console and deploy via Fleet. --------- Co-authored-by: Noah Talerman <47070608+noahtalerman@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Mike Thomas <78363703+mike-j-thomas@users.noreply.github.com>
99 lines
4.9 KiB
Markdown
99 lines
4.9 KiB
Markdown
# Deploy custom Android apps
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_Available in Fleet Premium_
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In Fleet, you can deploy your own custom Android apps ([APK](https://w.wiki/9bMs)) to your organization's Android hosts. This is useful for distributing internal apps that aren't available on the public Google Play Store.
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To deploy custom Android apps, you'll publish them as private apps in the Google Play Console, making them available only to your organization through Android Enterprise.
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## Prerequisites
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Before deploying custom Android apps, you must first [turn on Android MDM](https://fleetdm.com/guides/android-mdm-setup). Once you've completed that setup, you can follow the directions below.
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If you don't already have a Google Play Console account, you'll need to create one. The [Google Play Console](https://play.google.com/console/signup) requires a one-time registration fee of $25.
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## Add a private app in Google Play Console
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1. In the [Google Play Console](https://play.google.com/console), select **Home** from the left navigation.
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2. Select **Create app**.
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3. Enter your app details:
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- **App name**: Enter the name of your app
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- **Default language**: Select your preferred language
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- **App or game**: Select app
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- **Free or paid**: Select **Free** (private apps must be free)
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4. Review and accept the Developer Program Policies and US export laws.
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5. Select **Create app**.
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### Configure the app details
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1. After creating the app, you'll be directed to the app dashboard.
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2. Complete the required sections in the left navigation:
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- **Store settings**: Configure your app's store listing details
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- **Privacy policy**: Provide your privacy policy URL (required for private apps)
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- **App access**: Specify if your app requires special access or credentials
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- **Ads**: Declare whether your app contains ads
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- **Content rating**: Complete the content rating questionnaire
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- **Target audience**: Select your target age group
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- **App content**: Complete the required declarations
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### Make the app private
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1. First, find your Android Enterprise ID in Fleet. Navigate to **Settings > Integrations > MDM > Android MDM > Edit** and copy the Android Enterprise ID (e.g., LC04yu8c9).
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2. In the left navigation, go to **Test and release > Advanced settings**.
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3. Select **Managed Google Play**, tab on the top, and select **Turn on**.
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4. Select **Add organization**, paste your Android Enterprise ID from the first step to **Organization ID** and add an **Organization name**, for example, "Fleet".
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5. Select **Add**, then select **Save** at the bottom, and select **Make app private**.
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> The app will now be private and only available to your organization through managed Google Play. It won't appear in the public Google Play Store.
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### Upload your custom app package
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1. In the left navigation, go to **Test and release > Production**.
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2. Select **Create new release**.
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3. Upload your package (`.apk` or `.aab`).
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4. The release name will be automatically populated after the package is uploaded.
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5. Select **Save** and then select **Save** on the next screen.
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6. Select **Go to overview** and then select **Send 1 change for review**. To confirm, select **Send changes for review**.
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> The Google Play Console displays messages about app review that can take up to 7 days. However, private apps are typically available for deployment within 10 minutes, and they don't go through the regular Google Play Store review.
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## Add the app to Fleet
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After publishing your private app in the Google Play Console, you can add it to Fleet.
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1. Find the application ID in the Google Play Console on the **Home** page. The app ID will be in the app list under the app name. It looks like "com.yourcompany.appname".
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2. In Fleet, head to the **Software** page and select a team in the teams dropdown.
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3. Select **Add software > App store**, choose the Android platform, then enter the application ID.
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> If your private app doesn't appear in Fleet after adding it, try again in 10 minutes. Sometimes it takes a bit more time for the app to become available for Android Enterprise.
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## Install, edit, and delete custom app
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Learn how to install, edit, and delete the app in the [Install app store apps guide](https://fleetdm.com/guides/install-app-store-apps#install-an-app).
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## Update new version in Google Play Console
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To release a new version of your custom app, please follow the steps described in [Upload your custom app package](#upload-your-custom-app-package). The process is the same as for uploading a new app.
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<meta name="articleTitle" value="Deploy custom Android apps (APK)">
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<meta name="authorFullName" value="Marko Lisica">
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<meta name="authorGitHubUsername" value="marko-lisica">
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<meta name="category" value="guides">
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<meta name="publishedOn" value="2026-02-04">
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<meta name="description" value="This guide will walk you through deploying custom Android apps to your organization's Android hosts using Google Play Console and Fleet.">
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