Managed Google Play allows administrators to control how and when applications are updated on enrolled Android devices. By default, apps update automatically when the device is on Wi-Fi, charging, and idle. Mobile Guardian gives administrators the ability to change this behaviour per app, including the option to postpone automatic updates for up to 90 days.
This is particularly useful when a new app version introduces breaking changes, when you need time to test an update before it reaches student devices, or when you want to avoid mid-term disruptions during exams or assessments.
What You Will Learn
- How app update policies work on managed Android devices
- How to configure update behaviour per app from the Mobile Guardian Dashboard
- The difference between Default, High Priority, and Postponed update modes
- Key limitations of app update control on Android
Prerequisites
- Android devices enrolled in Mobile Guardian via Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) or AMA Zero-Touch
- Apps approved and deployed through Managed Google Play (see Configuring Silent Installation for Android Apps)
- Admin access to the Mobile Guardian Dashboard
Understanding App Update Modes
Managed Google Play supports three update modes. These are set per app, not per device.
| Update Mode | Behaviour | When to Use |
| Default | App updates automatically when the device is on Wi-Fi, charging, idle, and the app is not in the foreground. Google Play checks for updates approximately once per day | Standard behaviour for most apps |
| High Priority | App updates as soon as a new version is published and reviewed by Google Play. If the device is offline, the update installs the next time it connects | Critical apps where you always want the latest version (e.g. security tools, the MG app itself) |
| Postponed | Automatic updates are paused for 90 days from when a new version becomes available. After 90 days, the latest version installs automatically using the default behaviour | Apps where you need time to test new versions, or where you want to avoid unexpected changes during a term |
Note: You cannot pin an app to a specific version. Postponed mode delays the update, but after 90 days the latest available version will always be installed. A new 90-day postponement period begins each time the developer publishes another update.
Configuring App Update Policy
Step 1: Navigate to Applications
- Navigate to Applications in the left-hand menu
- Click on the Android button
- Locate the app you want to configure from the list
Step 2: Open Application Settings
- Click the edit button (pencil icon) to the right of the app
- Select the Application Settings tab
Step 3: Set the Update Mode
- Locate the Auto Update Mode or Update Policy setting
- Select one of the following options:
- Default - app updates automatically under standard conditions
- High Priority - app updates immediately when a new version is available
- Postponed - app updates are delayed for 90 days
Step 4: Save Changes
- Click Save Changes at the bottom of the screen
- The update policy will apply to all devices that have this app installed at the next Google Play sync
Important: Changes to the update policy do not affect updates that are already in progress. The new policy will apply to the next update cycle.
Recommended Configuration by App Type
| App Category | Recommended Mode | Rationale |
| Mobile Guardian app | High Priority | Ensures devices always run the latest MG client for compatibility and security |
| Exam or assessment apps | Postponed | Avoid unexpected UI or functionality changes during exam periods |
| Core learning apps (Google Classroom, LMS apps) | Default | Regular updates are generally safe; teachers benefit from new features |
| Productivity apps (Google Docs, Office) | Default | Updates are typically non-disruptive |
| Custom or school-developed apps | Postponed | Allows IT to validate new versions before they reach student devices |
| Browser apps | Default | Security patches should be applied promptly |
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Likely Cause | Resolution |
| App updated despite being set to Postponed | User manually updated the app from the Play Store, or the 90-day postponement period has elapsed | Check the app’s version history; restrict Play Store access via profile restrictions if manual updates are not desired |
| Update policy not applying to a device | Device has not synced with Google Play since the policy was changed | Trigger a device refresh from the dashboard: Devices > Actions > Refresh Device |
| App not updating despite being set to High Priority | Device is offline or the update is still being reviewed by Google Play | Confirm the device is online; allow up to 24 hours for large-scale app rollouts |
| Postponed app is more than 90 days out of date and still not updating | Device has not met the default update conditions (Wi-Fi, charging, idle) since the postponement expired | Connect the device to Wi-Fi and power; trigger a device refresh |
| Cannot select an update mode for an app | App is not deployed through Managed Google Play, or is a system app | Update policies only apply to apps managed through Managed Google Play. System apps are updated via OS updates |
Please let us know if you found this helpful.
Thanks for reading! 🙂