Enrolling a GMS Device
Enrolling a GMS (Google Mobile Services) device into Springdel allows it to be managed under your organization’s policies and configurations. The process involves creating an enrollment method, generating a staging QR code with your desired settings, and scanning it on the device during setup. Once enrolled, the device automatically connects to Springdel and receives assigned applications and policies.
Key Benefits
- Centralized Device Management – Manage and monitor all devices directly from the Springdel console.
- Custom Enrollment Options – Configure fleets, naming formats, and security preferences to match organizational needs.
- Faster Deployment – Use staging QR codes to enroll multiple devices with consistent settings in less time.
- Support for System Apps – Retain essential manufacturer apps during setup for enterprise use.
- Easy Recovery & Reuse – Regenerate QR codes and reuse staging setups across multiple devices effortlessly.
Before You Begin
To complete this setup, ensure you have:
- GMS Android Device – Running Android 7.0 or later.
- Factory Reset Device – At the Welcome screen with no prior setup.
- Network Connectivity – Already connected to the network or set to configure via QR code.
Step 1 - Creating an Enrollment Method
- Log in to your Springdel console.
- Navigate to the Devices section from the left-hand menu.
- Click on the “+” button next to All Fleets to create a new fleet.
- In the pop-up dialog, enter a name for your fleet (e.g., Android) and click Create Fleet.
- Once the fleet is created, go to the Enrollments tab located at the top of the page.
- On the right-hand side, click Create Enrollment, then choose the appropriate platform from the dropdown (e.g., Android Edge).
- Enter a name for your enrollment (e.g., GMS) and click Continue.
- Select the fleet folder you created earlier (e.g., Android) and click Next.
- In the Device Naming section, configure how you want devices to be named. Choose the naming type (e.g., custom text, IMEI, or MAC address), set the values accordingly, and click Next.
- If needed, you can enable User Authorization to add an extra layer of security. Toggle the switch on to input a password or upload a CSV containing identifiers. If you prefer not to require authorization, simply toggle it off and click Next to proceed.
- Review the summary of your enrollment settings. If everything looks correct, click Next to complete the enrollment creation.
- After you click Next to complete the enrollment creation, an Enrollment ID and Enrollment QR Code will be shown.
Note: The QR code shown here is for Core Application enrollment.
Step 2 - Generating a Staging QR Code
- Once the enrollment method has been created successfully, it will be shown (e.g., GMS) under the Enrollments tab. Click the enrollment name to open the configuration panel.
- In the left sidebar, select Staging QR Code to access the staging configuration settings.
- Click the pencil icon next to the enrollment name to enter editing mode.
- Configure your preferred staging options, such as enabling system apps, using mobile data, or applying custom Wi-Fi settings.
- After setting your preferences, click the Generate QR Code button to create a QR code based on the configuration.
- Scan the generated QR code using the GMS Android device you want to enroll in. Once the device is successfully enrolled, click Save to retain the configuration.
- You can now reuse this saved configuration to enroll additional devices without having to repeat the setup process.
Note: To understand the functions of Skip Device Encryption, Leave All System Apps Enabled, and the Profile field, please refer to the FAQ.
Step 3 - Scanning the Staging QR Code on Your GMS Device
To enroll the device using the staging QR code, follow these steps:
- Turn on the GMS Android device. Once it reaches the welcome screen (as shown below), do the following: Tap anywhere on the welcome screen 8 times quickly to enable the hidden QR code scanner.
- After tapping 8 times, the device will show a QR code scanner interface. Scan the QR code generated from the Staging QR Code page in Springdel.
- After scanning the QR code, you’ll need to go through the initial device setup process.
- Once setup is complete, you should see the Springmatic Core app icon on the home screen.
- Tap the Springmatic Core app. It will automatically initiate the download and installation of the Springdel Remote Control Client. Once installation is complete, you’ll see two apps: Springmatic Core and Remote Control.
- After these steps, your device will be fully enrolled and visible in the Springdel dashboard under the selected fleet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. Which Android platform should I select when creating an enrollment?
Springmatic offers two Android platform options: Android Edge and Android Enterprise.
- Android Edge uses Springmatic Core, a Springdel’s proprietary Policy Controller — to communicate directly with the Springdel backend. This approach allows us to follow Android enterprise best practices while retaining full control over app versions, enforcing instant policy updates, and enabling granular per-device management.
- Android Enterprise uses Google’s built-in Device Policy Controller (DPC) and is suitable for organizations that rely on Google services like the Play Store. It provides standardized device management through Google’s ecosystem.
We recommend choosing Android Edge to unlock the full capabilities and control of your device. It gives administrators greater flexibility, speed, and security, especially for use cases involving internal apps, offline syncing, custom experiences, or stricter compliance needs.
2. What is the difference between a Fleet and an Enrollment?
A Fleet is used to group devices for management, while an Enrollment is the setup configuration to bring devices into the Springdel system.
3. How should I choose the Device Naming Type?
Device naming allows you to define how enrolled devices will be labeled in the platform. For example: If you configure the naming as follows:
- #1 → Manufacturer
- Separator → _ (underscore)
- #2 → Model
Then a device like a Samsung S24 will automatically be named: Samsung_S24. This format helps keep device names consistent and recognizable within your fleet.
4. What does Skip Device Encryption mean?
This option allows you to bypass the device encryption step enforced by Android Management APIs. While skipping encryption may slightly speed up enrollment on older devices, it has minimal impact on newer devices. It's generally recommended to keep encryption enabled unless you have a specific reason to disable it.
5. What does Leave All System Apps Enabled mean?
By default, Android Management disables most system apps during enrollment unless they are explicitly allowed. Enabling "Leave System Apps Enabled" ensures that all system apps (like barcode scanners, camera tools, etc.) remain available after setup. This is especially useful for devices such as PDAs or enterprise scanners that rely on manufacturer-installed system utilities during onboarding.
Generally, it is recommended to leave this option enabled to ensure all essential system applications remain functional.
6. What is the “Profile” option when creating a staging QR code?
It’s an optional field that lets you automatically apply a configuration profile during device setup. You can use it if you have a preconfigured profile ready.
However, Springdel’s best practice is to enroll the device into a Staging Fleet without any profiles attached. This ensures the device enrolls and syncs properly before any policies are applied. Once enrollment is successful and the device is checking in, you may move it into your production fleet or assign it to a profile.
7. What happens if I choose the wrong Locale or Timezone?
The phone’s language and time will follow the selected locale/timezone. Choose the correct settings to prevent post-setup adjustments.
8. Why doesn’t the QR code scanner appear on the welcome screen when I tapped 8 times?
Make sure you are enrolling a GMS device running Android 7.0 or above. The QR code scanner will not launch if the device doesn't meet these criteria.
9. Why does it say “Wrong QR code” when scanning during setup?
Ensure that you are scanning the correct Staging QR Code, not the Enrollment ID QR Code. The Enrollment ID QR Code is intended for manual enrollment scenarios — such as when the device is already set up and needs to be re-enrolled manually, when enrolling non-GMS (AOSP) devices, or when enrolling GMS devices using the Springdel Edge Tool.
10. My device enrolled successfully but is not syncing or checking in. What should I do?
As a best practice, re-enroll the device into a Staging Fleet with no profiles attached. Let it fully enroll and sync properly first. After successful enrollment, you may then move it into your production fleet/profile.
11. Can I reuse the same QR code for multiple devices?
Yes. The generated staging QR code can be used repeatedly to enroll other devices using the same configuration.