managed google play account, disconnect MDM

[w4lter]

Dear Community,

We are planning to discontinue our Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution, which is connected to a managed Google Play account.

We have uploaded several private applications that appear to be permanently locked to this account. For our new MDM solution, we created a new account because it was not possible to link two MDM solutions to a single account. Additionally, transferring private applications between two Managed Google Play accounts seems to be impossible.

We have shared our private applications via the Google Play Console with the new Account ID, which is functioning properly.

My question is:

Will our account be suspended or retired if we disconnect the MDM solution?

Will we still have direct access to the console to manage the private applications afterward?

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Best regards,

Walter

[jasonbayton]

Hi Walter,

This may depend on the EMM so would be worthwhile raising a ticket there also. If you're able to disconnect your enterprise when you cease use of the product things will continue working and you'll maintain access in the play console against that bind to your private apps. 

If the EMM deletes the bind, access is revoked. 

Unfortunately it is becoming a recurring issue where Google does not support moving apps between binds, normally solved by reuploading new package names in the new bind, or uploading apps to a developer account not directly linked to a bind, but shared as private apps instead.

@Lizzie for vizzie.

[w4lter]

Hi Jason,

Thank you for the prompt response.

I have a quick question to ensure my understanding is correct:

"...or uploading apps to a developer account not directly linked to a bind, but shared as private apps instead."

Bind A = old EMM

Bind B = new EMM

We have uploaded several private apps to "Bind A" and shared these apps with "Bind B" to make them available on the other managed Play Store, which works well.

(Sharing process: Console Bind A -> Setup -> Advanced settings -> Managed Google Play -> entered Organisation ID from Bind B)

Our current plan is to create new package IDs and upload them to our Developer Account, then share them again via Advanced settings in Managed Google Play with Bind B.

If I understood you correctly, we can forego creating new package IDs and simply re-upload using the current package IDs? What would be the behavior on the devices? I assume there's no way to avoid uninstalling and reinstalling the apps, correct?

Ultimately, it appears that publishing in-house apps directly through a developer account, rather than using an iFrame in the EMM system, is the best approach. This method seems simpler for transitioning into a system.

Thank you for your time!

Walter