FAQ
Good to know
The questions people ask most. Can't find yours? The full docs are on the wiki.
Which phones does it work on?
Any Android phone running Android 8.0 or newer, from any brand — including Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola and Xiaomi.
What's "device owner", and why does it matter?
Device owner is the highest level of control Android gives an app. It lets CORE MDM enforce real restrictions that the phone's user can't just switch back. Without it, CORE MDM still runs as a device admin (lock, wipe, alarm, the command queue and the app inventory work), but app hiding, kiosk, the enforced PIN and most system restrictions need device owner.
Why does the phone need to be reset first?
Android only lets an app become device owner on a phone with no accounts signed in — a safety rule so no one can quietly take over a phone that's already in use. A fresh or factory-reset phone, with Google sign-in skipped during setup, works every time.
What do I need to install it?
Either a computer with Chrome or Edge and a USB cable, or no cable at all: factory reset the phone, tap the welcome screen 6 times and scan our setup QR code. Our web installer walks you through both. There's nothing to download to your computer.
Does the online installer set device owner automatically?
Yes. The USB installer installs CORE MDM and runs device-owner setup for you; the QR flow provisions the phone as device owner during first-time setup. Both end with the phone ready to sign in.
Can the user just remove it?
No. As device owner, CORE MDM can block uninstalling, factory reset, safe mode and USB debugging, so the rules you set stay on. You remove it from inside the app, or by factory resetting the phone.
Do I need internet on the phone?
The phone gets new commands and rule changes over the internet as soon as they're made. Rules you've already applied keep working even when it's offline, and a command sent to an offline phone is delivered when it reconnects.
Who can see my devices?
Only you. Phones are tied to the account that signed in on them, so only that account sees and manages them.
Does CORE MDM read my messages or track location?
It never reads messages or records browsing — CORE MDM manages what a phone can do. Location is off by default: the phone reports its position only if you switch on location tracking for it in the console, and only you can see it — not us. A geofence is checked on the phone itself and doesn't send its position anywhere. See the Privacy Policy for exactly what's collected.
Will updates install over my current version?
Yes — releases install over each other, so updating is a normal in-place install. Grab the latest from Releases.
Still have a question?
See the Help page, or email us at support@coremdm.org.