Radix MDM: Installing an App Directly from the Google Play Store

Overview

Installing applications directly from the Google Play store to one or many devices is done by first creating a repository “installation package”. Direct installation is possible only for free apps. There is no need to have Google Play services or even to have a Google account on the devices you wish to install the apps on.

Note! When installing from the Google Play store, be aware that the apps will not be updated automatically. Whenever there is an update, you will need to repeat the process and create a new package. This is because you are not actually installing directly from the Google Play store, but rather from the Radix server.

Retrieving a Package from the Google Play Store

There are several methods to retrieve a package from the Google Play Store in the Radix Device Manager. First, you have to get to the Install Package command. There are three ways to do this:

Method One: From the Repositories Console

1. On the left side menu, click on the Repositories icon, and from the dropdown menu select Packages.
   
   A new window will open with a list of existing packages.
   
   
2. On the lower left side, click on Add New to add a new installation package.
   
   The New Package window opens.
   
3. Proceed from Installing a Software Package from the Google Play Store below.

Method Two: Via the Device’s Kebab Menu

1. In the Overview Dashboard, click on the “Devices” icon on the left side. The Devices Console window opens.
   
   
2. Find the device onto which you would like to install a software package. Click on the device’s kebab menu in the far-right column.
   
   
3. Click on Install Package in the grid of commands that opens up.
   
   The Install Package window will open with a list of existing packages.
   
   
4. Click on Add New. The New Package window opens.
   
   
5. Proceed from the section Installing a Software Package from the Google Play Store below.

Method Three: From the Device Dashboard

1. In the Overview Dashboard, click on the Devices icon on the left side. The Devices Console window opens.
   
   
2. Find the device onto which you would like to install a software package. Click anywhere on the row of the listing of that device, to open the Device Dashboard.
   
   The Device Dashboard opens up.
   
   
3. Click on the row Repositories Actions in the panel on the right.
   
   A drop-down list appears of Repository actions.
4. Click on Install Packages.
   
   The Install Package window will open with a list of existing packages.
   
   
5. Click on Add New. The New Package window opens.
   
   
6. Proceed from the section Installing a Software Package from the Google Play Store.

Method Four: From the Devices Console Ribbon

1. In the Overview Dashboard, click on the Devices icon on the left side. The Devices Console window opens.
   
2. Find the device onto which you would like to install a software package. Click the checkbox on the far left of the row of that device, to open the Device Dashboard.
   
   The icons on the top of the screen (the Device Console Ribbon) become active.
3. Click on the Install Package icon in the Device Console Ribbon.
   
   The Install Package window will open with a list of existing packages.
   
4. Click on Add New. The New Package window opens.
   
5. Proceed from Installing a Software Package from the Google Play Store below.

Installing a Software Package from the Google Play Store

1. From the New Package window, click on Select Upload Method, and select Package from Play Store drop-down list.
   
   
   You’ll see options to supply the URL for the desired Google Play Store app. (If you know the exact name of the APK bundle, there is no need to open the Google Play store).
   
   Note: The system will automatically trim the link and use only the relevant package name of the APK.
   For this example, we chose the spelling game Gubbins, and we intend to install it on Android tablets.
   
   
2. After you supply the URL, click on Sync.
3. After the synchronization is completed with the Google Play Store, click Confirm.
   
   The selected Google Play Store App (in our case, Gubbins) will now appear in the repository of Packages.
   
   

Installing the Google Play Store App to a Device

Once you have stored the Google Play Store App in the Repository of software packages, you can access it easily whenever you wish to install it on a device.

1. In the Device Console, find the device onto which you’d like to install the Google Play Store App.
   
   
2. Click on the row of the device. The Device Dashboard opens.
   
   
3. Click on Repository Actions in the right-hand pane and select Install Packages.
   
   The Install Package window opens.
4. Click on the desired app (here, Gubbins), and click Apply.
   
   
5. If the remote device is compatible with the app, it will be installed on the remote device.