# How to install Android apps (Store/Enterprise apps) silently?

Last updated: July 24, 2026

This guide explains how to silently install Store and Enterprise apps on Android devices without user intervention, based on device type (Samsung or non-Samsung) and provisioning mode (Fully Managed or Work Profile). It covers enrolling devices, configuring Managed Google Play, adding apps to the App Repository, and distributing apps with Silent Installation selected, ensuring users cannot uninstall the silently installed apps.

## Description

With mobile devices becoming the cornerstone of the corporate workforce, apps have now become integral to productivity. With IT admins required to keep devices usage-ready by installing all the requisite corporate apps, MDM lets you install apps silently, without any user action making bulk installation of apps easier. The advantage of silently installing apps on Android devices is that, **it requires minimal admin action to install apps on devices** and **provides for bulk installation of apps over-the-air**. Besides being able to install apps without any user intervention, MDM ensures **users cannot uninstall these silently installed apps**. This is applicable for [Fully managed (Device Owner)](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/android_for_work/mdm_android_for_work_introduction.html?andsilentapp#Device_Owner_Provisioning) devices (including Fully Managed Samsung devices enrolled via invite) and [Work profile (Profile Owner)](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/android_for_work/mdm_android_for_work_introduction.html?andsilentapp#Profile_Owner) devices.

MDM facilitates apps to be installed silently as explained in the table below:

| DEVICE/APP TYPE | ENTERPRISE APPS |  | STORE APPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Samsung devices** | [Distribute and install apps, using MDM app repository](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/mdm-silent-installation-android-apps.html#app_repository) |  | - Provision the device as a [Work Profile](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/mdm-silent-installation-android-apps.html#profile_owner)/[Fully-managed](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/mdm-silent-installation-android-apps.html#device_owner) device, if supported by the device (as in **Android 6.0 or above**), [configure Managed Google Play, approve and install apps](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/mdm-silent-installation-android-apps.html#android_for_work)<br><br>- If the device does not support Fully managed/Work profile provisioning (as in **Android 5.0 or below**), grant Device Administrator privilege to the Self Service app (previously ME MDM app), [configure Managed Google Play, approve and install apps](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/mdm-silent-installation-android-apps.html#android_for_work)<br><br>- If a device running **Android 5.1 - 6.0** supports [Device Owner](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/android_for_work/mdm_android_for_work_introduction.html) Provisioning, it must be provisioned as Device Owner to silently install apps. |
| **Non-Samsung devices** | *OS<6.0* | [Configure Managed Google Play, add the app as a private app, approve, and install it](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/mdm-silent-installation-android-apps.html#android_for_work) | [Configure Managed Google Play, approve, and install apps](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/mdm-silent-installation-android-apps.html#android_for_work) |
|  | *OS>6.0* | If provisioned as **[Fully managed](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/mdm-silent-installation-android-apps.html#device_owner)**,<br>[Distribute and install apps, using MDM app repository](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/mdm-silent-installation-android-apps.html#android_for_work)<br><br>If provisioned as **[Work profile](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/mdm-silent-installation-android-apps.html#profile_owner)**,<br>[Add the app as a private app, approve, and install it](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/mdm-silent-installation-android-apps.html#android_for_work) |  |

## Demo Video

Learn Managing Play Store app Distributions in Bulk using Managed Google Play:

[Managing Play Store app Distributions in Bulk using Managed Google Play | ME MDM | Endpoint Central](https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Ztp2UpvQ4o)

## Steps

### Provisioning device as Fully managed

- Enroll the device using any of the [enrollment methods listed here](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/android_for_work/mdm_android_for_work_introduction.html?andsilentapp#Device_Owner_Provisioning) to provision the device as Fully managed.

### Work Profile provisioning of the device

- Enroll the device using [Enrollment by Invites](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/android_for_work/mdm_android_for_work_introduction.html?andsilentapp#Profile_Owner) or [Self-Enrollment](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/enrollment/mdm_byod.html?andsilentapp), to provision the enrolled device as Work profile.

### Distributing and installing Enterprise apps, using MDM App Repository

- On the MDM console, add enterprise apps to the **App Repository** as [explained here](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/app_management/mdm_creating_app_repository.html?andsilentapp#android_enterprise_apps). Once the app has been added, it is ready for distribution.
- Navigate to **Groups & Devices** and select the **Devices** tab.
- Select the device(s) to which the app is to be distributed and click on **Distribute Apps** from the **Action** dropdown.
- Search and select the app you want to distribute, from **Available Apps**.
- Choose **Silent Installation** for **Installation type** is selected.
- Click on **Select** to distribute and install the app(s) silently on the selected device(s).

In case there is an update to the enterprise app, it can be [tested before deployment](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/app_management/mdm_app_management.html?andsilentapp#Test_and_Deploy_Enterprise_Apps) to the production environment. This eliminates the productivity and security issues that arise due to bugs in the app update.

### Configure Managed Google Play, Approve, and Install apps

- You can configure Managed Google Play using both G Suite or without G Suite (using your Google account). **Configuring Managed Google Play, without G Suite lets you install apps, without configuring Play Store on the devices as [explained here](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/mdm-silent-install-without-configuring-playstore.html?andsilentapp)**.
- The next step is to add the Store apps to the App Repository as [explained here](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/app_management/android_app_management.html?andsilentapp#AfW_App_Management). These apps are then distributed to the devices, where they get installed silently.

**In the case of Store apps:**

- Login to [Google Play for Work](https://play.google.com/work) using the **same account used to configure Managed Google Play in the previous step**.
- **Approve** the apps, which are to be installed silently on the device. Here, by approving you are actually purchasing the apps. For more details, [refer to this](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/app_management/android_app_management.html?andsilentapp#AfW_App_Management).
- For **paid app and in-app purchases**, you can [refer to this](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/faq.html#a31).

**In the case of enterprise apps:**

First, you need to [privately publish the enterprise apps](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/app_management/android_app_management.html?andsilentapp#private_enterprise_apps) on Google Play, to ensure silent installation of the enterprise apps on managed devices. After completing that, follow the steps given below to distribute and install the apps to your devices.

- On the MDM server, navigate to **Device Mgmt** and select **App Repository**.
- Click on **Sync Apps** and select **Sync Play Store Apps** from the dropdown. All the approved apps get added to the App Repository.
- Navigate to **Groups & Devices** and select the **Devices** tab. Select the devices to which you want to associate the apps.
- Select the device(s) to which the app is to be distributed and click on **Distribute Apps** from the **Action dropdown**.
- Search and select the app you want to distribute, from **Available Apps**.
- Choose **Silent Installation** for **Installation type.**
- Click on **Select** to distribute and install the apps, silently on the selected devices.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can silently installed apps be uninstalled by the device user?

No — apps installed silently through MDM cannot be uninstalled by users on Fully managed (Device Owner) or Work profile (Profile Owner) devices.

### How does silent installation differ for Samsung versus non-Samsung Android devices?

Samsung devices can have enterprise apps distributed and installed directly through the MDM App Repository, while non-Samsung devices generally need Managed Google Play configured first, with private/enterprise apps published there before they can be silently installed.

### What option needs to be selected while distributing an app for it to install silently?

Select Silent Installation for Installation type when distributing the app from Groups & Devices, so it installs on the selected devices without any user action.