What is managed app configuration?

Managed app configuration is a feature announced by Google to help IT admins remotely configure settings on work apps for different users. Managed app configuration shows its full potential when used along with a UEM like Hexnode that supports its use.

Built-in support for Managed app configuration must be provided during app development for it to work. App developers have to specify, within the app, what all options can be configured by an admin. With the help of EMMs or UEMs, custom configurations can be set and remotely applied to apps for different users, devices or groups.
Manage app configuration has evolved from just pushing out configurations to apps. Features such as the passing of data and credentials to particular apps, setting up of application permissions, tunneling of apps using an organizational firewall and so much more is now possible with Managed app configurations.

The workflow is really simple:

• First, the app developer has to add built-in support for Managed app configuration and also provide an XML file defining what all parameters can be configured.
• Then the app has to be pushed to the Managed Google Play store from where enterprises can add it to their UEM app inventory.
• The IT team has to configure each setting as defined by the app developer and push these configurations to the Managed Google Play.
• The app now can be pushed to the end user’s devices. If the app is already installed, then the app gets updated with the managed configurations added to it.

OEMConfig is a relatively new but powerful feature that makes use of Managed app configurations. OEMConfig is an app that allows admins to manage device functionalities using Managed app configuration. With the introduction of the App feedback channel, it is now possible for IT admins to check the status deployed configurations by requesting feedback.

Even though Managed app configurations open a whole new world of possibilities, there are some drawbacks. Sometimes there is a delay in the configuration getting applied to the app and also the feedbacks aren’t the most efficient since it can take up to 30 minutes or even more, to get a response from the app.