Private Play Store & Chrome web store - Force install / Block Apps and Web extensions
As an Admin, we can prevent the users from installing Android applications from the Play Store and Web extensions from the Chrome web store.
Make sure that the Chrome devices are enrolled in the Admin console.
Blocking App Store & Chrome Web Store
- In the Admin console, go to Menu > Devices> Chrome > App & Extensions > Users & Browsers.
- Click Additional Settings.
- Allow / block mode > click Edit
- Select the particular Organizational unit where we need to apply the policy.
- For Play Store, Two options are available:
- Allow all apps, admin manage blocklist - It will allow the installation of all the apps except the apps which are blocked by the Admin.
- Block all apps, admin manage allowlist - Only the Admin-allowed apps will be available in the Play Store.
- Select the option and click Save.
- For Chrome Web Store, three options are available:
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- Allow all app, admin manage blocklist - It will allow adding all the web extensions except the extensions which are blocked by the Admin.
- Block all apps, admin manage allowlist - Only the Admin-allowed Web extensions will be available in the Chrome Web Store.
- Block all apps, admin manage allowlist, users may request extensions - same as the previous one, but here the user can request for the Extensions to the admin as per their needs.
- Select the option and click Save.
Installing and Blocking Apps
- Select the particular Organizational unit where we need to Install / Block apps.
- Click on the + icon below on the Apps & Extension page.
- Click Add from Google Play
- It will take you to the Play Store and you can select the app which needs to be installed/blocked.
- Once you select the app, there are four Installation policies available:
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- Force install + pin to ChromeOS taskbar - It will force install the app and the app will be pinned to the ChromeOS taskbar.
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- Force install - It will force install the app to the particular device.
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- Allow install - The user can manually install the app from the Play Store.
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- Block - Blocking the app from the Play Store.
- Select the required installation policy and click Save.
- Apply the same steps for managing Chrome Web extensions also.
Please find the support article to get further details on the same.