CORE MDM Installer
Install CORE MDM on an Android phone and set it as device owner — over a USB cable, by scanning a QR code, or with ADB commands you run yourself.
How do you want to install?
All three give the same result.
Get the phone ready
Do this once, before connecting.
- Factory reset the phone, or remove every account under Settings › Accounts. Android won't set a device owner while any account is on the phone.
- Skip Google sign-in during setup.
- Turn on developer options: Settings › About phone, then tap Build number 7 times.
- Turn on USB debugging in Settings › System › Developer options.
- Connect the phone with a USB cable. If you have ADB on this computer, close it first by running
adb kill-server. - Xiaomi / Redmi / POCO only: also turn on USB debugging (Security settings) in Developer options — needed for the permission step.
Samsung phone not showing up? On Windows, install the Samsung USB driver, unplug and replug the phone, then try again.
Connect
Choose the phone in the browser popup, then tap Allow on the phone's "Allow USB debugging?" prompt.
Install and set device owner
Installs CORE MDM (latest version) and makes it the device owner.
By installing, you confirm you own this phone or have permission to manage it, that you take full responsibility for it (we are not responsible for any problem, including ones caused by the app), and you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
- Check for accounts
- Install the APK
- Set device owner
- Grant the required permission
Log
Runs dpm set-device-owner com.core.mdm/.MdmDeviceAdmin and pm grant com.core.mdm android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS · Chrome or Edge required
Get the phone ready
QR setup only works on the very first setup screen.
- Factory reset the phone, or start with a brand-new one. Don't go past the first Welcome / Start screen.
- Tap the same blank spot on the welcome screen 6 times. A QR scanner opens. On Android 7 and 8 it first connects to Wi-Fi to download the scanner.
- If the scanner doesn't open, this phone doesn't support QR setup. Use the USB cable method instead.
Wi-Fi (optional)
Put the Wi-Fi details in the code so the phone connects by itself. Leave empty to pick a network on the phone. Nothing you type here leaves this page.
Scan the code
Point the phone's scanner at this code, then follow the prompts on the phone.
- The phone connects to Wi-Fi, downloads CORE MDM and sets it as device owner. This takes a minute or two.
- Accept the prompts saying the phone will be managed. Finish setup, open CORE MDM and sign in.
You may need to finish it off with ADB. A QR setup can't give CORE MDM one permission that only ADB can grant. Without it, some phones' battery saver can pause CORE MDM and commands stop arriving. To add it, turn on USB debugging (Settings › About phone, tap Build number 7 times, then Developer options › USB debugging), connect the phone to a computer with ADB, and run:
adb shell pm grant com.core.mdm android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGSIt prints nothing when it works. On Xiaomi / Redmi / POCO, also turn on USB debugging (Security settings). See the Manual (ADB) method for help with ADB.
By installing, you confirm you own this phone or have permission to manage it, that you take full responsibility for it (we are not responsible for any problem, including ones caused by the app), and you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Downloads · Android 7 or newer
Download
You need ADB on this computer already.
Download not working? Get it from GitHub releases instead (then use that file name in the commands below).
- Open a terminal in the folder where ADB is (Windows: in the folder, type
cmdin the address bar and press Enter). - Move coremdm.apk into the same folder — or drag the file into the terminal to paste its full path in place of
coremdm.apk. - In Windows PowerShell, put
.\in front of each command, like.\adb devices. On Mac or Linux, use./adb.
Get the phone ready
Same as the USB method.
- Factory reset the phone, or remove every account under Settings › Accounts. Android won't set a device owner while any account is on the phone.
- Skip Google sign-in during setup.
- Turn on developer options: Settings › About phone, then tap Build number 7 times.
- Turn on USB debugging in Settings › System › Developer options, then connect the phone with a USB cable.
Run these commands
Copy each one into the terminal, in order, and press Enter.
adb devicesTap Allow on the phone's “Allow USB debugging?” prompt. The phone should be listed as device — not unauthorized.
adb install -r coremdm.apkShould end with Success.
adb shell dpm set-device-owner com.core.mdm/.MdmDeviceAdminShould print Success: Device owner set to package com.core.mdm.
adb shell pm grant com.core.mdm android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGSRequired. Prints nothing when it works. Lets CORE MDM stop the phone's battery saver from switching it off — without it, commands can stop arriving. On Xiaomi / Redmi / POCO, first turn on USB debugging (Security settings) in Developer options.
By installing, you confirm you own this phone or have permission to manage it, that you take full responsibility for it (we are not responsible for any problem, including ones caused by the app), and you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Then open the app
adb shell monkey -p com.core.mdm -c android.intent.category.LAUNCHER 1Opens CORE MDM on the phone. Sign in, set a PIN, and the phone appears in your console.
Something went wrong?
- “already some accounts on the device” — remove every account in Settings › Accounts (or factory reset). To see what's left:
adb shell dumpsys account - “already several users on the device” — remove the work profile / extra users. List them, then remove each one that isn't
0:
adb shell pm list usersadb shell pm remove-user 10Replace
10with the user number from the list. - Phone shows as
unauthorized— unlock the phone and accept the USB debugging prompt. Still stuck? Runadb kill-server, unplug, replug. - Phone not listed at all — try another cable or port. On Windows with a Samsung phone, install the Samsung USB driver.
INSTALL_FAILED_UPDATE_INCOMPATIBLE— an old CORE MDM signed with a different key is installed. Remove it first:
adb uninstall com.core.mdm
Manual install with ADB · Android 7 or newer