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csuke
csuke
Level 1.5: Cupcake
January 30, 2026
Question

"Your administrator has not given you access to this item" - Intune issues with Google accounts and previously used apps

  • January 30, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 79 views

Basic set up:

 

Managed Google Play + Intune

 

Devices all set up as "Corporate-owned, fully managed user devices"

 

Policies are set to allow all apps from store and to allow other accounts to be installed on devices.

 

GSuite individual Google accounts with corporate email addresses signed in to all devices to allow for things like Photos backup.

 

 

Problem:

 

When migrating a user to a new device, some apps cannot be installed.

 

When a user is signed into Google Play with their Google Account, any app that is already linked to their Google Account from their previous device (for example: WhatsApp, Samsung Notes, Translate), cannot be installed with the error "Your administrator has not given you access to this item".

 

If I sign the user out from their Google account, install the app and then sign them in again, it all works fine, but this should not be necessary.

 

It seems like the problem is stemming from the Play Store not liking the fact that the corporate Play Store profile is trying to install apps that the Google account has already signed in to previously.

 

 

Any thoughts on fixes?

 

Thanks.

 

 

    2 replies

    Emilie_B
    Emilie_BCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    February 2, 2026

    Hello @csuke 

     

    Welcome to the Customer Community! 

     

    Can I ask if you've reached out to InTune and raised a ticket with them? If so, have you heard back from them? 

     

    Looking forward to your update, 

    Emilie

    csuke
    csukeAuthor
    Level 1.5: Cupcake
    February 2, 2026

    No, we have not reached out to Intune support as this appears to be a Google Play Store issue, not an Intune one.

     

    This is due to the fact that this issue does not occur when setting up a new user, or when an existing user tries to install a previously unused app.

     

    This only occurs when a user tries to install a previously used app that is linked to their Google account.

    Emilie_B
    Emilie_BCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    March 17, 2026

    Hello ​@csuke - I hope you’re well!

     

    I’ve heard back from the team and they explained that this behaviour is actually a byproduct of a security feature in Android Enterprise. Think of it as a "handshake" issue between the corporate persona and the personal Google identity. When a user tries to install an app they've owned before, the Play Store checks for a "managed license." If it doesn't find one, it defaults to blocking the install to protect the corporate environment.


    Here are a few tips to smooth out this friction and make migrations seamless:
    1. The "Pre-Approval" Fast Pass
    Even if your policy allows "All Apps," the Play Store often needs a specific "nod" from the admin to let personal account history take over.
    Go into your Managed Google Play console via Intune and explicitly Approve and Sync the apps (like WhatsApp or Translate).
    This creates a "managed" entry for the app in your tenant. When the user tries to install it, the Play Store sees the app is already "Admin-approved," which satisfies the security check and lets the personal download proceed without the error.

    2. Streamline Google Workspace (GSuite) Settings
    Since you are using corporate GSuite accounts, there might be a "too many cooks in the kitchen" scenario where Google is also trying to apply its own management.
    In the Google Admin Console, ensure that Mobile Management is set to "Unmanaged" or "Basic."
    This ensures Intune is the sole authority. If Google Workspace thinks it should be managing the app licenses, it can clash with Intune’s "Fully Managed" status, leading to that "Administrator" error.

     

    Could you let us know how you get on and if this was helpful?

     

    Thanks,

    Emilie
     

    csuke
    csukeAuthor
    Level 1.5: Cupcake
    March 17, 2026

    Hi Emilie,

     

    Thank you for coming back to me.

     

    I can confirm that the device management is already set to basic.

     

    I can also confirm that when the app is set to approved for install in Intune, it does not affect this behaviour.

     

    What can we try next?

     

      Emilie_B
      Emilie_BCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      March 17, 2026

      Thanks so much for your update ​@csuke - I’ll follow-up with the team so they can try and suggest something else.

       

      I’ll get back to you as soon as i hear back from them!

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