Skip to main content
D
dhitomi
Level 1.5: Cupcake
February 9, 2025
Question

Google Play services for AR (ARCore) is not available as a Managed Play Store app

  • February 9, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 4 views

Hi - we have an AR app that our customer wants to distribute to their workers as a Managed Play Store app for a device setup in kiosk mode. They are using Microsoft Intune as their MDM.

 
The device is a Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ (Model #: SM-X616B / Chipset: Exynos) …that is on Google’s list of supported devices for ARCore. 
 
Our app relies on Google Play services for AR (ARCore). Customer is able to find, select and install as an non-managed app. However, when they try to add under the Managed Play Store - they cannot find it (see screenshot).
 
Finally, they noted the same issue with another MDM (IBM MaaS360). Therefore, it seems to be an issue with Google Play services for AR component/app being incompatible with Managed Play Store. Could someone from Google confirm this?
 

3 replies

Moombas
Moombas
Level 4.4: KitKat
February 10, 2025

I can just verify from our Side that this is also the case for Soti as MDM so I guess it's not MDM related.

But i see following in the app description:

"Google Play Services for AR is automatically installed and updated on eligible devices so that apps on the Google Play Store with AR functionality work without having to download and install anything further."

Which for me somehow means that it shouldn't be needed to be installed manually on a compatible device (this may be wrong) and because of that not able to be chosen to be installed manually on any managed device either.

 

but maybe @Lizzie can bring something up regarding this.

D
dhitomiAuthor
Level 1.5: Cupcake
February 11, 2025

Hi @Moombas -- we thought the same, but it seems the device and OS does not have it pre-installed nor auto-installs. The device is also on Google ARCore's supported device list.

 

The customer noted ability to find "Google Play Services for AR" and install it if the device is unmanaged. They also attempted to download and host the component on their own (instead of via Play Store).

 

Thanks,

Dan

Alex_Muc
Alex_Muc
Level 3.0: Honeycomb
February 11, 2025

It looks as if the AR Core is generally excluded from the search results. Presumably because the installation is performed automatically in the background on compatible devices.

 

Is the customer really sure that the app is not installed in the background? The AR Core is more of a headless app and does not have an app icon in the launcher.
In my case, the AR Core is installed in all areas of BYOD devices / COPE devices. (Personal Space, Private Space, Work Profile) I don't have a fully managed device to hand at the moment.

D
dhitomiAuthor
Level 1.5: Cupcake
February 18, 2025

Hi @Alex_Muc  thanks for the the response and I assumed the same (automatic download & install).

 

I also assumed "Google Play Services for AR" was a component (not an app). Thus, reason it would not show up as an "app" in the store. As I understand, it seems to be findable if device is not managed.

 

Would be of great help if someone could reproduce and verify this is an issue with Google's Managed Play Store and not with the MDM (Microsoft Intune, etc.).

Alex_Muc
Alex_Muc
Level 3.0: Honeycomb
February 18, 2025

@dhitomi I did not see the app in the search results on unmanaged devices.
The app is available for Managed Play, but since the app is probably excluded in the search, it cannot be explicitly assigned via MDM.

 

For testing purposes, you could use the developer options of the web browser to trick the search in the iFrame and open the app entry in the iFrame.

 

  1. Open the Google Play iFrame
  2. Right-click on any store entry (image or text) -> Inspect
  3. Replace the AppID in the html-code with com.google.ar.core
  4. Open the modified link in the iFrame

 

Original link

<a href="/managed/apps/details?id=com.android.chrome"><div class="WsMG1c nnK0zc" title="Google Chrome">Google Chrome</div></a>

 

Modified link

<a href="/managed/apps/details?id=com.google.ar.core" data-focusid="19"><div class="WsMG1c nnK0zc" title="Google Chrome">Google Chrome</div></a>

 

 

 

    D
    dhitomiAuthor
    Level 1.5: Cupcake
    February 19, 2025

    Hi @Alex_Muc -- our customer attempted the workaround above and provided this response:

    I’ve tried and I am able to edit the line as suggested but never changes to the Google Play Services for AR as in the second screenshot.

     

    This might be asking much - but would it be possible to do a screen recording, so they can see the steps performed and show the end result? Thank you.

    J
    jasonbayton
    Level: 4.1: Jelly bean
    February 18, 2025

    If the above workaround for any reason doesn't cover the requirement, you can also add the package name as an Android Enterprise system app in Intune. AMAPI doesn't see any notable difference so it'll pull it down on supported devices from Play (src: just tested on my Pixel).

     

     

      Terms & ConditionsCookie settingsAccessibility statement