Android Devices in Intune: What Changes
Android Devices in Intune
Android enrollment works differently from iOS. Android has several enrollment methods, but the most common for end users is "Personally-owned work profile" (BYOD). This creates a dedicated work space on your device.
How Android Enrollment Works
- Download Intune Company Portal from Google Play Store
- Open Company Portal and sign in with your work email
- Tap "Enroll this device"
- Review what IT can and can't see, then tap "Continue"
- Follow prompts to set up a work profile — Android creates a separate, encrypted container
- Tap "Accept & continue" on the terms screen
- Wait for the work profile to be created (1-3 minutes)
- Company apps will appear in your work profile
The Android Work Profile
This is the key concept on Android. The work profile creates a separate space on your device:
| Feature | Personal Profile | Work Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Apps | Your personal apps (Instagram, personal Gmail, etc.) | Work apps (Outlook, Teams, OneDrive) with blue briefcase icons |
| Data | Personal photos, files, messages | Company emails, documents, contacts |
| Storage | Personal Google Drive | Work OneDrive/SharePoint |
| Management | Not managed by IT | Managed by Intune — IT can wipe only this space |
| Notifications | Personal notifications | Work notifications (badged with briefcase icon) |
How to Tell Which Profile You're In
Android makes it easy to distinguish work from personal:
- App icons — Work apps have a small blue briefcase badge on the icon
- Notifications — Work notifications show the briefcase badge
- App drawer — You may see separate "Personal" and "Work" tabs in your app drawer
- Quick settings — There's a "Work" toggle to pause the work profile
The "Pause Work" Feature
One of the best Android features is the ability to pause your work profile:
- Swipe down to open Quick Settings
- Tap the "Work" toggle or "Pause work profile"
- Your work apps go dark and stop sending notifications
- To resume, tap the toggle again — work apps come back online
This is perfect for evenings, weekends, or vacations when you don't want work interruptions.
What Changes on Your Android Device
| Setting | Before Intune | After Intune |
|---|---|---|
| Screen lock | Your choice | Must meet IT requirements (PIN, pattern, or password) |
| Work apps | Install manually | Automatically available in work profile |
| Work email | Manual setup | Outlook auto-configured with work account |
| Data sharing | Unrestricted | Can't copy from work apps to personal apps (if IT enforces) |
| Work profile encryption | N/A | Work profile is encrypted by default |
What Stays the Same
- Personal apps — Instagram, personal Gmail, games — all stay
- Personal photos — Camera roll untouched
- Personal Google account — Play Store purchases, personal Drive, YouTube — all work
- Customization — Wallpaper, ringtones, widgets — all yours
- Personal messages — SMS, WhatsApp, personal messaging apps unaffected
Common Android Issues
- "Can't install work profile" — Usually a storage issue. Free up space (need ~500MB) and retry.
- Work apps not appearing — Open Company Portal in the work profile (not personal) and tap "Sync."
- "Device not compliant" — Usually the screen lock isn't set up or needs to meet IT's requirements.
- Outlook not syncing — Check if the work profile is paused. Resume it via Quick Settings.
Beawit Consulting provides Android device management with Microsoft Intune. Contact us for Android enrollment and work profile setup.
Now let's dive into the Company Portal app — your hub for everything Intune-related.
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