Here is how you can install a virtual android application using Microsoft Intune. Before we dive into the topic, here are two things, which we cover in the article, that you need to be aware of.
- Bluestacks
- Intune Company Portal
And if you already know about these two, you can jump straight to Step 1.
What is BlueStacks?
You must have heard about Bluestacks already, it is a free-to-download, Android emulator. This means it lets you virtually download android applications available on Play Store, into your desktop.
What does “virtually” here mean?
It creates a replica / virtual version of an Android Mobile device on your desktop.
While you can use BlueStacks to run almost any Android app (it’s compatible with about 97% of the apps in the Google Play Store), the app has found its largest audience with Android users who want to play mobile games on their desktop computer.
What is Intune Company Portal?
Company portal is an app that provides access to corporate apps from any network. A few prerequisites should be met such as your company must have a Microsoft Intune subscription and your account should also be set up before you begin using this app. Please ensure that you must have a work account to enroll yourself in Intune.
Why install Company Portal?
It lets you browse and install company applications
Because of it being associated with Intune, it lets you manage devices that are enrolled inyour organization and in Intune, it also lets you wipe all information from the device of an employee you may have left the organization.
Step 1: Install Bluestacks application from the below link. https://www.bluestacks.com/fr/index.html
The screen that you see below, is the Bluestacks home page.
Step 2: Login into Play Store.
Step 3: Download Intune Company Portal from Play Store.
Step 4: Once the app gets downloaded, open Company Portal and sign in with your Office 365 Credentials.
Step 5: Accept the Terms and Conditions.
Step 6: Add your device to the Company portal.
Step 7: Allow the system to sync with Microsoft Intune.
Step 8: Now login to portal.azure.com
Step 9: Select or click on Intune option
Step 10: Click on Endpoint Manager Admin Center.
Step 11: Click on Apps on your left side pane and click on Android.
Step 12: Then Download the .apk file (the executable app file) of any application of your choice. Here for example purposes, I was downloading Facebook’s .apk file.
Step 13: Go back to the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin centre.
Step 14: Click on Add
Step 15: Select App type and choose Line of business app and then select
Step 16: Click on Select app package file and choose your .apk file which you download. And then OK.
Step 17: Give the name, FACEBOOK, in publisher and click on Next
Step 18: In Group mode click on Add group and select in which group you want to add.
Step 19: Then Review and Create the Policy.
Step 20: Check your Bluestack Homepage (shown below) and you can see your application. In my case, I Installed the Facebook application which is shown on the Homepage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bluestacks? Is it safe to use?
As long as you install Bluestacks through their own website, it’s safe. You should be more careful if you’re trying to install it from other 3u003csupu003erdu003c/supu003e party sources.
How do I deploy an app using Intune?
Intune supports a wide range of app types. If you want a detailed procedure of how you can deploy a Line-of-Business App via Intune, then check out this u003ca href=u0022https://www.infrassist.com/install-line-of-business-lob-apps-via-intune/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003earticleu003c/au003e.
Can Android be virtualized?
Android devices can run virtual machines and even emulate other operating systems.
What are android application types?
There are 3 types of Android apps: u003cstrongu003eNative Apps, Web Apps and Hybrid Apps.u003c/strongu003eu003cbru003eu003cstrongu003eNative Appsu003c/strongu003e are built for a mobile device’s operating system, irrespective of whether it is an Android or iOS. As it is Native, a native Android app cannot be used on an iOS device and an iOS device cannot be used on an Android phone.u003cbru003eWeb Apps are accessed via a web browser. These are actually responsive websites that can mould themselves based on the device it’s been used on. Web Apps use minimal resources and hence may or may not have reduced performance.u003cbru003eu003cstrongu003eHybrid Appsu003c/strongu003e are the offline versions of native apps. They don’t need an active internet connection for you to use them. They need much less coding and are less expensive. These apps have access to your camera, gallery, contact lists etc.
What is Company Portal used for?
It is an app that lets employees securely have access to organizational resources and simplifies the tasks you need to do for work.u003cbru003eEnroll your device to access corporate resources, view and manage enrolled devices and wipe them off when the employee leaves or theft takes place, single sign-on to reduce the number of sign-ins, browse and install business apps.u003cbru003eu003cbru003e
Conclusion
This is how you can install any Google Play Store Android application on your desktop with the help of Microsoft Intune.
If you want to know how you can install Line of Business Apps using Intune, then make sure you read this blog right here, where we show you a step-by-step procedure of how you can do the same.
