Enhancing Android Enterprise OS Update Management
Hi, The way the Android API implements OS update management on Android Enterprise devices is not particularly useful for devices with user affinity. Are there any upcoming API changes for EMM solutions like Microsoft Intune? From my experience with the current API: AUTOMATIC – The OS update is installed as soon as it becomes available via OTA, which is not practical for real-time scenarios. WINDOWED – Similar to AUTOMATIC but with the limitation that OS updates can only be installed within a defined maintenance window. This means that if a user needs to update their device due to a software bug fixed in the latest OS version, they may not be able to do so immediately if the maintenance window is set outside working hours. Source: https://support.google.com/work/android/answer/13791272?hl=en#zippy=%2Cmanaging-system-updates-using-system-update-policies Suggested Improvements: Provide an option to control OS updates on BYOD (Work Profile only). I understand that when enrolling a device through Work Profile, only the work container can be managed via EMM. Google may need to reconsider this approach. It would be beneficial to have an approach similar to Apple’s, where EMM admins can manage OS updates (e.g., push specific updates, set deadlines, etc.) through DDM (Declarative Device Management - Source: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/deployment/depc30268577/web ), even on BYOD devices (Device Enrollment) — without requiring supervision like DO (Device Owner mode). I’m aware that Samsung Knox E-FOTA exists, but it is limited to Samsung devices. Expanding this capability to all Android devices (like Google Pixel devices) would greatly improve update management in enterprise environments. BR, Marco