This page is updated as we add features, enhancements, and fixes to Google endpoint management. For Google Credential Provider for Windows (GCPW) updates, go to What's new in GCPW.
Note: Features are typically available to customers within several days of release, but rollouts can take longer.
January 6, 2022: Learn if managed Android devices are out of dateYou can now search for Android devices that have security or operating system updates available, but not installed. In the devices list, you can filter by Pending updates.
On a device’s details page, an icon is added next to the operating system if an update is available. Point to the icon to see when the update was available.
Available for Android devices under advanced mobile management.
Learn more:
You can now add and assign digital certificates for computers with endpoint verification in your Google Admin console. You can use the certificates to control app access by setting an advanced access level for Context-Aware Access.
Learn more:
You can now add and manage private iOS apps for exclusive use by your organization. You add private apps in the Web and mobile apps list, the same place you already manage public iOS apps. When you add a private iOS app, the app is automatically set as managed and available for users to install with the Google Device Policy app. You can update the app by uploading a new version and it’s automatically updated on users’ devices.
For details, see Manage private iOS apps.
Android 12 is now available. In Google endpoint management, you’ll find the following changes for devices with Android 12 and under advanced mobile management:
- Personal devices with a work profile will report an enrollment-specific ID instead of serial number. IMEI and Wi-Fi MAC address aren’t reported.
- Devices must enroll using Android Device Policy, not the Google Apps Device Policy app.
For details and resources, see Android 12 and Google endpoint management.
The option to block Drive for desktop (formerly Drive File Stream) on personal devices is now generally available. When turned on, Drive for desktop is available only on company-owned devices. Learn more
You can now prevent users from sharing a work file in Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets and Slides to a personal account in another app. This closes a loophole in the existing iOS data protection setting. Learn more
You can now define Context-Aware Access levels to block user access to apps on Android and iOS devices that don’t meet minimum OS version requirements. You can also apply Context-Aware Access levels to Google mobile apps, not just Google web apps. For example, you can block access to Google apps on personal mobile devices.
Learn more:
You can now block and unblock mobile devices under basic mobile management. This update gives you more control over which users and devices can access work data.
For details, see Approve, block, unblock or delete a device.
Device management rules have a new and improved page. Rule setup is more intuitive and it’s easier to review your existing rules.
If your organization already has device management rules, they’ll be automatically migrated to the new page. The migration window starts the week of December 7, 2020.
- Before migration: Until your rules are migrated, you can use only the current rules management page.
- During migration: You won’t be able to create or edit rules in the current page, or use the new page. We expect migration to take no more than 1 day for each organization.
- After migration: Use the new page to manage your rules. The current page will be shut down after migration is complete for all organizations.
If your organization doesn’t have device management rules, you can use the new page whenever you’re ready to make your device management more automatic.
For details, see Automate mobile management tasks with rules.
You can now configure advanced device policies and Android settings in a clean, modern interface in your Admin console. With this update:
- Set up settings, including mobile management and device approvals, password settings, and advanced settings are now under Universal settings.
- We improved the descriptions for many Android settings.
- Android-specific settings that were under Advanced settings are now in Android settings. These include Google Play private apps and CTS compliance.
- Android-specific app management settings that were under App management are now in Android settings. These include Allowed apps and system apps.
Learn more:
To consolidate third-party service management, we moved the Android EMM set up from Security settings to the new Third-party integrations settings. Learn more
You can now manage all mobile apps, including public iOS and Android apps, Android private apps, and Android system apps, in one location in your Admin console. Learn more
You can now get a list of all apps installed on Windows 10 devices that you manage with Windows device management. The list includes when the app was first installed, the current version, and publisher. Use this information to identify devices that have malicious or untrusted apps on them. Learn more
In most cases, it now takes only a few minutes after you save your settings to push them to internet-connected Windows devices under Windows device management. However, it can take up to 6 hours.
You can now manage Windows 10 device sign in and settings with enhanced desktop security for Windows.
To let users sign in to Windows 10 computers with their work Google Account, you can now enable GCPW. GCPW includes 2-step verification and login challenges. Users can also access G Suite services and other single sign-on (SSO) apps without the need to re-enter their Google credentials. Learn more
For more control over company-owned Windows 10 computers, you can now use Windows device management. You can set users' administrative permission level for Windows. You can also apply Windows security, network, hardware, and software settings. Learn more
You can now control user access to your organization’s Wi-Fi networks, internal apps, and internal websites on mobile devices by distributing device certificates from your on-premises Certificate Authority (CA). Learn more
To make endpoint verification easier to deploy for your organization, users no longer need the native helper app on their Windows, Mac, or Linux computers. They still need the Chrome extension, which you can force install or let users install. Learn more
To make iOS mobile management easier, we updated the following settings:
-
The Managed Apps settings are now Data sharing.
-
Apple push certificates management is now under iOS settings. The setup process follows a new, simpler flow. Learn more
Android Device Policy is an Android management app that replaces the Google Apps Device Policy app. It still enforces your organization’s policies to protect corporate data, but it also allows Google to automatically add new security features.
New Android Device Policy features
- Zero-touch enrollment—Deploy company-owned devices in bulk without manually setting up each device. Learn more
- Advanced password management—Set advanced password requirements. For example, disallow repeating or sequential characters. Learn more
- Advanced VPN management—Specify an app to be an Always On VPN. Learn more
- Lock screen feature management—Disable notifications, trust agents, fingerprint unlocks, and keyguard features on fully managed devices. Learn more
Changes to existing features
- Remote device wipe—The data that’s removed depends on device ownership:
- If ownership of the device is company-owned, all data is wiped from the device and the device is factory reset.
- If the device is personally owned and has a work profile, only the work profile is wiped, leaving personal data untouched.
- Auto Wipe setting—Applies when a device falls out of sync and when devices don’t adhere to your organization’s policies, such as a weak device password. For details, see Autowipe.
- Device policy app icon—Android Device Policy is more tightly integrated into the operating system, so users won’t see a device policy app icon. For details, see About Android Device Policy.
- Policy conflict prevention—Users can only add one G Suite account to a device. This prevents conflicts that would arise if more than one managed account with different device-management policies were added to a device.
- Work profile setup—Personal Android devices that are used in your organization need to set up a work profile. You cannot disable the work profile setup.
Check which management app is on a device
You can see which app is managing a device in the Google Admin console.
-
Sign in to your Google Admin console.
Sign in using your administrator account (does not end in @gmail.com).
-
From the Admin console Home page, go to Devices.
- Click Mobile devices to see your managed mobile devices.
- Click the row of the device you want to view details for.
- Click Device security.
The device’s management is listed under User agent.
Related topics
Google, Google Workspace, and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. All other company and product names are trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.
