Simplify and automate the management of your updates
TinyMDM is an MDM solution that simplifies the management and updating of applications on devices. This tutorial will guide you through the steps required to update public and private applications via the Google Play Store and the TinyMDM Store.
A. Updating public applications via the Play Store 
Public applications are those available to all Play Store users. TinyMDM offers several options for managing the updating of these applications on managed devices. You can choose an automatic update mode or allow users to decide when and how to install new versions.
Go to the Policies tab. Then go to the Apps Management sub-tab.
You can set the default update mode for the Play Store. There are 4 in total:
- By choosing Automatic, when a new app version is available, Google will update it on devices as a priority, but “without any time commitment, depending on conditions”. End-users will still be able to download the update from their device’s managed Play Store if their device is not locked to the kiosk.
- By choosing Automatic when Wi-Fi, when a new app version is available and the device is on Wi-Fi, Google will update it on the devices (with no particular priority).
- By choosing Never, applications will never be updated automatically.
- By choosing Chosen by user (Play Store), end-users choose how their applications are updated, via their managed Play Store.
Regardless of the chosen option, the end-user can always download the update from their device’s managed Play Store if it is not kiosk-locked.
B. Updating private applications via the Play Store
Private applications are developed specifically for a company and are not publicly available on the Play Store. Managing the updating of these applications via TinyMDM is essential. Here’s how to update your private apps via the Google Play Store:
- From the Enterprise approved apps tab, go to Private Apps and click on the relevant private app.
- Click on Modify and import the new .apk file (containing a different version number).
- Your application will be updated in the same way as public applications in the Google Play Store, according to the settings defined in the “Set the default update mode for the Play Store” section of your policy. For example, if you have selected the Always option, the new version of your APK will be installed automatically on the devices concerned.
C. Updating private applications via the TinyMDM Store
If you have installed a private application from the TinyMDM Store and wish to update it, please follow the steps below.
C.1. Publish the update on the TinyMDM Store
- Go to the Enterprise Approved Apps tab. Under TinyMDM Store, click on Private Apps button.
- In the list of applications, open the menu for the application you wish to update and click on Publish an update.
- Download the latest version of your apk, check the information about your application and click on Next.
- If you would like to push the update to your various policies, follow step C.2. If you do not wish to update the application automatically, you can click directly on Publish.
C.2. Deploying the update of the policies
1st option: while publishing the update
During the final step before publishing the update, you have the option to push it automatically to the devices where the application is installed. To do this:
- Click on Automatically update this application in the policies where it is installed. Then:
- If you wish to push the update to all policies where it is installed: click on Update app on all policies.
If you simply wish to push it to one or more specific policies, click in the Select policies box and add those of your choice.
Then, click on Publish to confirm your update request.
2nd option: from the policy
- You can push the update from the Policies tab by clicking Edit to modify the desired policy.
- Once in your policy, under the App Management sub-tab, find your application in the Policy approved apps list.
- Then, open the application menu and click Update.
By pushing the update via either of these two options, it will automatically update on the relevant devices.
Discover an article that will tell you more about these two application markets: Play Store and TinyMDM Store.