Configure Managed Mode for Android and enforce a content blocking system in a more reliable way.
Our premium guide includes two main routes, depending whether you're self-managing or acting as an accountability partner:
- Full device management with remote capabilities: Ideal for parents or accountability partners who need to control a device without requiring physical access.
- Self-management with a device management app: Ideal for Adults who are self-managing their own Android device.
The premium guide will help you decide which is the best option for you. Here's what you will learn.
How To Enable Device Management on Android
First, you will need to take the correct steps to prepare your smartphone for device management.
In order to enable Managed Mode, a hard reset of your smartphone is required. The guide will walk you through ideal ways to back up your files safely before you start a factory reset.
Afterwards, you'll be able to restore your files in a way that doesn't interfere with the management process.
Manage and Enforce Settings
Device Management allows you to control settings not possible otherwise, and in a way that can't be easily disabled.
If you're self-managing, the device management app has several features that are specifically designed to help:
- Lock settings with either a password or time-delay.
- Disable the ability to factory reset or safe boot into your Android smartphone.
- Force a connection to a filtered VPN.
Full device management can be used to enforce content filtering, however, it also has the option to force changes to be made on a completely separate device. You can set restrictions without having physical access to the managed smartphone; a term we call remote management.
Manage Apps
Managed Mode unlocks the ability to completely control which apps are allowed to be installed or deleted.
- Block specific apps and prevent them from being opened on the device.
- Protect an app and remove the ability to uninstall or disable it.
- Prevent new apps from being installed, either from the Play Store or with an .apk file downloaded elsewhere.
Common Use Cases
Here are some of the common reasons why we recommend enabling Managed Mode on an android device.
Enforce a Content Filtering app
For most content filtering apps, it's too easy to simply uninstall the app; and remove filtering.
Using device management, you can protect apps from uninstall and force them on your smartphone.
Disable changes to settings that could bypass content filtering
In some cases, content filtering could instead be enforced by changing network settings on your smartphone. Hide access to settings or lock those options to keep filtering active.
Block conflicting VPNs or Proxies
Many apps can install a VPN profile on your smartphone that directly overrides any content filtering. Proxies through settings can work similarly.
Prevent unapproved apps from being installed, or block apps that you know shouldn't be allowed.
Get a more reliable alternative to Play Store app locker/blocker apps
App locker/blocker apps downloaded from the Play Store are easily bypassed on a standard Android device. It's not possible for a third-party app to effectively enforce itself. The enforcement methods that can be used are "hacky" and not reliable. Managed Mode is an elevated mode that is enforceable in a more reliable way.
Get Started
To get started,
sign up for a Tech Lockdown account
and start a free trial. Then, navigate to the Guides section of the dashboard and select the Managed Android guide.