Google Play: Kiosk Browser
On the 11th May 2022 our appeal was granted and we were able to publish an updated version of Kiosk Browser on Google Play. We still recommend provisioning devices rather than installing Kiosk Browser via Google Play.
Kiosk Browser has been published/listed on Google Play from the first day we made it available to customers. Since then a lot of things have changed, whilst installing Kiosk Browser from Google Play yielded great lockdown results, over time Android has changed and as such devices needed to be locked down differently (provisioning). Some of our customers still enjoyed installing from Google Play for one reason: simplicity.
As of 31/03/2022 Google decided that our app is in violation of their developer policies, this is caused by the use of "Update Manager" in Remote Management where Kiosk Browser downloads an updated APK file for Kiosk Browser and installs it. Only when a device has been provisioned can this happen. Google's policy states: An app distributed via Google Play may not modify, replace, or update itself using any method other than Google Play's update mechanism. We have appealed their decision because ONLY if a device has been provisioned can Kiosk Browser update itself via an apk programmatically, in which case the app is an MDM app installed using Google's official method (QR code, ADB set-device-owner).
It's official you can no longer install Kiosk Browser via Google Play but you can still install it by provisioning (QR code/install apk set-device-owner) OR just install the APK file but we cannot be guarantee a fully locked down device, the provisioning method remains our recommend installation method.
We are actively discussing whether we can submit a new version of the app to Google Play with the update management removed. This is purely for customers who wish to install Kiosk Browser in simplified way (not guaranteed full lockdown).
Yes, we are continuing to develop Kiosk Browser and plan to do so for years to come.
Kiosk Browser has been published/listed on Google Play from the first day we made it available to customers. Since then a lot of things have changed, whilst installing Kiosk Browser from Google Play yielded great lockdown results, over time Android has changed and as such devices needed to be locked down differently (provisioning). Some of our customers still enjoyed installing from Google Play for one reason: simplicity.
As of 31/03/2022 Google decided that our app is in violation of their developer policies, this is caused by the use of "Update Manager" in Remote Management where Kiosk Browser downloads an updated APK file for Kiosk Browser and installs it. Only when a device has been provisioned can this happen. Google's policy states: An app distributed via Google Play may not modify, replace, or update itself using any method other than Google Play's update mechanism. We have appealed their decision because ONLY if a device has been provisioned can Kiosk Browser update itself via an apk programmatically, in which case the app is an MDM app installed using Google's official method (QR code, ADB set-device-owner).
Yes, yes but what does this all mean to me?
It's official you can no longer install Kiosk Browser via Google Play but you can still install it by provisioning (QR code/install apk set-device-owner) OR just install the APK file but we cannot be guarantee a fully locked down device, the provisioning method remains our recommend installation method.
Will you publish Kiosk Browser on Google Play again?
We are actively discussing whether we can submit a new version of the app to Google Play with the update management removed. This is purely for customers who wish to install Kiosk Browser in simplified way (not guaranteed full lockdown).
Is Kiosk Browser development going to continue?
Yes, we are continuing to develop Kiosk Browser and plan to do so for years to come.
Updated on: 21/04/2022
Thank you!