How do I disable applications on Android Devices?

How do I disable applications on Android Devices?

The ability to disable applications is essential for efficiently managing and securing mobile devices within an organization. WeGuard can disable specific apps and enhance security by preventing access to potential risks or sensitive information, a crucial aspect in enterprise settings prioritizing data protection, limiting access to social media or gaming apps during work hours, and eliminating unnecessary applications. Additionally, WeGuard facilitates device customization, allowing IT administrators to tailor settings according to organizational needs by disabling unwanted pre-installed or third-party apps.
Disabling specific apps contributes to data protection by minimizing the risk of unauthorized data sharing. Remote management capabilities empower IT administrators to disable or enable apps without physical device access, addressing security threats or compliance issues efficiently. Moreover, WeGuard supports app whitelisting/blacklisting, allowing organizations to control which applications are allowed or prohibited, ensuring a more secure and streamlined mobile device environment. In essence, disabling applications through WeGuard offers organizations comprehensive control over device security, compliance, productivity, and resource optimization.

Pre-requisites

Android devices must be running Android 6.0 or later versions and must be provisioned as Device Owner

Process for disabling applications through the WeGuard Enterprise Portal

  1. Login to the WeGuard Console.
  2. Click on Policy Groups and choose the Policy.


  1. Go to App Management and find Disable.


  1. Upon clicking the + button, the Add New and Available Apps options will be shown.
    1. Add New: It lets you add new applications to the disable list, i.e., the applications that are not added to the policy.
    2. Available Apps: It lets you disable the applications that are already added to the policy.


  1. If the admin wants to disable the new application for the user, the admin has to click on Add New, and then enter the App name and package ID of the application, and then click on Add.
The disable option will be by default toggeld ON


  1. If the admin wants to disable the application from the Available apps in the policy, the admin has to click on Available Apps from the + button, then select the app they want to disable by clicking on checkbox, toggle ON the disable option, and then click on Save.

  1. Once, clicked on Save, you can see both the New app and the Available app added to the disabled list. Click on Save and Continue to impose the policy on the devices.
  1. At the device end, the application will be shown as disabled or greyed out as shown below.


  1. When the user tries to access the disabled applications, it shows a custom alert message as shown below.




We hope this article was useful. Thank you for reading.

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