Publish private Android web apps

This feature is available with Cloud Identity Premium edition. Compare editions 

You can use the Google Admin console to publish internal web apps for Android devices to managed Google Play. A web app is an Android app that you create that has a website address (URL), icon image, and title. When a user opens a web app on their device, the app’s URL opens in Chrome Browser. Web apps are only available to users in your organization and can’t be made public. You distribute them to your users just like other Android apps through the Web and mobile app list.

Before you begin

Your web app’s title and icon must comply with Google Play policies. If the title or icon you provide uses another app or entity’s brand, title, logo, or name, your app may not be published. Unpublished apps are listed as Not available yet on the Web apps page. For details, see Google Play Developer Program Policies.

Add and publish a web app

1. Sign in to your Google Admin console.

   Sign in using your administrator account (does not end in @gmail.com).

2. In the Admin console, go to Menu  AppsWeb and mobile apps.

3. Click Add appAdd private Android web app.
4. Click Create .
5. Enter a title for your web app as you want it to be listed on managed Google Play.
6. Enter an HTTPS or HTTP URL for your web app.
7. Choose a display mode:

   Display mode only applies to pages belonging to the URL. If your web app’s URL redirects to a different website, the site will open in Chrome Browser.

   • Full screen—The app opens in full screen mode, hiding the device’s status and navigation bars.
   • Standalone—The device’s status bar and navigation bar are visible when the app is open (default).
   • Minimal UI—The device’s status bar, navigation bar, the app’s URL, and a reload button are visible when the app is open. For HTTP URLs, you can only select this option.
8. Click Upload icon.
9. Select your icon and click Upload.

   For best results, the icon should be a maskable, 512 x 512p JPG or 32-bit PNG.

10. At the bottom, click Create.

    Web apps are usually published in 10 minutes. During publishing or if publishing was unsuccessful, the Web apps page lists the app as Not available yet.

11. Click the app and then click Select.
12. Set who can find and download the app.
    • To let all users in your organization install the app, select Entire organization.
    • To allow only certain users to install the app, click Select groups or Select organizational units. You can add both groups and organizational units. This feature is available with Cloud Identity Premium edition. Compare editions 

      Groups settings are applied at the top organizational unit level and override organizational unit settings. If a user belongs to multiple groups with conflicting configurations, the settings are applied in order of group precedence, which you can set after you add the app.

13. Set app options:

    For devices under basic or advanced mobile management, you can automatically install the app on users' devices. For devices under advanced mobile management, you can prevent users from uninstalling the app.

    Note: The options to allow app widgets or set the app as VPN don't apply to web apps and you can skip them.

14. Click Finish.

Edit or delete a web app

Deleting a web app removes it from the managed Google Play Store for your users. However, users who already have the app installed may still be able to access it.

1. Sign in to your Google Admin console.

   Sign in using your administrator account (does not end in @gmail.com).

2. In the Admin console, go to Menu  AppsWeb and mobile apps.

3. Click the web app you want to edit or delete.
4. To edit an app, click Edit, make any changes, and click Save.
5. To delete an app, click Delete.