NounDeskSupported devices
NounDesk manages company-owned Android phones and tablets running Android 8.0 or newer. A few settings and actions need a newer version, listed below.
Who: all roles. Adding devices needs Owner, Admin or Operator.
What NounDesk supports
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Android version | Android 8.0 or newer. Some settings need Android 9, 10 or 12 (see the table below). |
| Who owns the device | Your company. NounDesk sets devices up as company-owned, fully managed: the whole device is a work device. |
| Factory reset | Required. Android only allows company-owned setup during first-time setup, so a used device must be factory reset before you enroll it. |
| Internet during setup | Wi-Fi or mobile data, so the device can download its policy. |
| Google Play | Devices need Google Play to install apps. |
Personal phones (work profile) aren’t supported yet. NounDesk doesn’t enroll employees’ own phones. Every device you add becomes a fully managed company device.
Fully managed vs work profile
A device page shows its type under Overview → Management:
- Company-owned, fully managed: NounDesk manages the whole device. This is how every NounDesk enrollment is set up, and every feature on this page can work.
- Work profile: only a separate work area of the device is managed. Several settings and actions don’t work this way (see the last column below). If one of these devices ever shows up, NounDesk explains on the device that a setting is “Only available on fully managed (company-owned) devices.”
Feature requirements
“Any supported version” means it works on every device NounDesk can enroll (Android 8.0 and newer).
Security policy settings
| Feature | Minimum Android version | Fully managed only? |
|---|---|---|
| Screen lock | Any supported version. The strong password option needs Android 12. | No |
| Auto-lock, password expiry, password reuse | Any supported version | No |
| Failed unlock attempts (device erases itself after too many) | Any supported version | No |
| Camera, Screenshots | Any supported version | No |
| Apps from outside Google Play, Google Play Protect | Any supported version | No |
| Biometric unlock (blocking fingerprint and face unlock) | Android 9 | No |
| Printing | Android 9 | No |
| Always-on VPN | Any supported version | No |
| Website filtering | Any supported version | No |
| App rules, Google Play mode, App updates | Any supported version | No |
| Developer options | Any supported version | Yes |
| Factory reset by employee | Any supported version | Yes |
| Factory reset protection | Any supported version | Yes |
| Location services | Any supported version | Yes |
| Storage encryption | Any supported version | Yes |
| SD cards and USB drives | Any supported version | Yes |
| USB data transfer | Any supported version. Blocking all USB data needs Android 12; older devices only block file transfer. | Yes |
| Wi-Fi networks, Employee Wi-Fi changes | Any supported version | Yes |
| Hotspot / tethering, Bluetooth sharing | Any supported version | Yes |
| Private DNS | Android 10 | Yes |
| System updates | Any supported version | Yes |
| Remote support | Any supported version | Yes |
| Kiosk mode, Kiosk app, Kiosk behaviour | Any supported version | Yes |
| Screen brightness, Screen timeout | Android 9 | Yes |
| Stay awake while charging | Any supported version | Yes |
| Shared device restrictions (volume, Bluetooth, calls, SMS…) | Any supported version | Yes |
Remote actions
| Action | Minimum Android version | Fully managed only? |
|---|---|---|
| Lock | Any supported version | No |
| Refresh info | Any supported version | No |
| Erase device | Any supported version | No |
| Reboot | Any supported version | Yes |
| Reset password | Any supported version | Yes |
| Lost mode | Any supported version | Yes |
| Clear app data | Android 9 | No |
When a device can’t do something, its button is greyed out with the reason underneath, for example Needs Android 9 or newer. or Only on company-owned devices.
- The security policy editor shows which Android version each setting needs, so you can see before you publish.
- If a device is too old for a setting in its policy, it reports a compliance issue such as Needs a newer Android version. See Fix compliance issues.
- Manufacturers sometimes leave out Android features. A device can report Device does not support this setting even when its Android version is new enough.
Related
By device type
The requirements are the same whichever shape the device is. What differs is how you set it up. A device can be more than one of these: a rugged tablet in a van is usually managed as a kiosk.
PhonesOne per employee, travels with themDevice management → TabletsCounter, clinic desk, classroom trolley, van cradleTablet management → Rugged handhelds and scannersWarehouse, site, delivery roundRugged device management → Single-purpose devicesLocked to one app, shared or unattendedKiosk management →