CORE MDM Installer
Install CORE MDM on an Android phone and set it as device owner, over a USB cable or by scanning a QR code. Nothing to download to this computer.
How do you want to install?
Both ways give the same result.
Get the phone ready
Do this once, before connecting.
- Turn on developer options: Settings › About phone, then tap Build number 7 times.
- Turn on USB debugging in Settings › System › Developer options.
- Unlock the phone and connect it with a USB cable. If you have ADB on this computer, close it first by running
adb kill-server.
Accounts on the phone? Android won't set a device owner while any account is signed in. The installer turns off the apps that own them for a moment and turns them straight back on afterwards, so the accounts stay. On Samsung it asks first, and any account it can't handle has to be removed under Settings › Accounts.
Samsung phone not showing up? On Windows, install the Samsung USB driver, unplug and replug the phone, then try again.
Connect and install
Choose the phone in the browser popup and tap Allow on the phone's "Allow USB debugging?" prompt. The rest runs by itself: it checks the phone, installs CORE MDM (newest release) and makes it the device owner.
By installing, you confirm you own or are allowed to manage this phone, and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
- Check the phone (existing owner, work profile, extra users, Knox Guard)
- Clear accounts
- Install CORE MDM
- Set device owner
Samsung: turning off apps can make Knox react on some models (the app gets switched back on, or the phone asks for the Google account after a reset). The QR code method avoids this. Only tick an app if you're fine with that risk.
Tick the apps to turn off for a moment (they're turned back on as soon as device owner is set). Accounts without a box have to be removed under Settings › Accounts on the phone.
Log
Runs dpm set-device-owner com.core.mdm/.MdmDeviceAdmin · 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.
By installing, you confirm you own or are allowed to manage this phone, and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Downloads · Android 7 or newer