What’s changing
In 2019, we announced that a new Android management client, Android Device Policy, would replace the legacy Google Apps Device Policy client. We’re now in the final stages of this upgrade.
All devices with the Google Apps Device Policy will lose access during March 2023 if they have not already upgraded. Existing Google Apps Device Policy app users must switch to Android Device Policy before then to continue syncing work data. Note that, per our last update, the new user registration flow on the legacy Google Apps Device Policy will be blocked and users may see errors during the registration process as of January 2022. Admins can act directly from the alert in the Admin console to identify users who need to upgrade.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about migrating to Android Device Policy and our previous announcement for more information.
Getting started
- Admins: Admins can find devices which may need to act in the Admin console. Visit our Help Center to learn more about the differences between Android Device Policy and Google Apps Device Policy. Different devices may need to take different steps to upgrade:
- Advanced management devices:
- Find advanced management devices by going to Admin console > Mobile devices and filtering for Type: Android and Management level: Advanced.
- Determine which of these devices are currently managed by the Google Apps Device Policy app and support the Android Device Policy app (i.e. devices with Android 6+ and support for a work profile)
- Send these instructions to your users to help them migrate to Android Device Policy.
- Basic management devices:
- Find basic management devices by going to Admin console > Mobile devices and filtering for Type: Android and Management level: Basic.
- Instruct users of these devices to upgrade the Android OS to version 6.0 Marshmallow or later.
- End users: Affected users can visit our Help Center to learn how to transition devices from Google Apps Device Policy to Android Device Policy.
Rollout pace
- Devices on the old agent will lose access during March 2023.
- Android Device Policy is available now and all users should upgrade to avoid disruption.