About Enterprise Home Screen

Enterprise Home Screen 3.0

Overview

Enterprise Home Screen is a free Android app from Zebra Technologies that provides a simple way for administrators to control access to apps and settings on a Zebra device without the need to write custom code. Using a simple touch interface, EHS easily limits usage to one or more specified applications, prevents changes to device settings and locks down the file system. It can be configured in seconds, and settings can be deployed via MDM. EHS settings are stored in a simple XML file that's easy to read and edit by hand, if necessary.

EHS works by inserting itself in place of the stock Android app launcher and home screen. When first run, it presents a screen like the one below, offering a choice of which home app to open and whether to make the selection permanent. EHS also can be installed as the default launcher, bypassing the selector dialog.

Note: Many of the capabilities of EHS can be accomplished manually on the device, programmatically through EMDK or remotely using StageNow or a third-party mobile device management (MDM) system (if supported by that MDM system). EHS simply puts the capabilities into a single tool, but does NOT provide a complete lockdown for securing devices. For maximum security, Zebra recommends using EHS with additional security options provided by Android and Zebra’s MX (via EMDK or StageNow).

Enterprise Home Screen supports the following languages:

  • US English
  • Simplified Chinese

What's New in EHS 3.0

The first time it's installed, EHS presents the admin with this simple choice:

Selecting "Always" locks EHS in as the default home app and locks users out of the following device features by default:

  • USB debugging
  • Access to the file system
  • Access to the Search app
  • Keyguard-screen camera and search functions
  • Full access to the System Settings panel
  • Recent apps button

Administrators can grant or restrict access to individual features or hide the settings panel entirely.

Note: After selecting "Always," some devices require a 10-second pause before restarting to ensure the change remains persistent.

Ready to get started? Download Enterprise Home Screen 3.0

Supported Devices

This version of Enterprise Home Screen has been approved for use with the Zebra Android devices listed below.

Device

Android 6.0 (Marshmallow)

Android 7.1 (Nougat)

Android 8.1 (Oreo)

ET50/ET55

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MC33

 

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PS20

 

 

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TC20, TC25

 

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TC51, TC56

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TC52, TC57

 

 

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TC72, TC77

 

 

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TC70x

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TC75x

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VC80x

 

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WT6000

 

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New in EHS 3.0

  • Support added for devices running Android 8.1 Oreo.
  • Supports Pinned Shortcuts feature of Oreo similar to traditional shortcuts.
  • Foreground services can now be auto-launched in devices running Oreo.
  • VectorDrawable format supported for app launcher icons. Learn more.
  • Privileged Settings feature requires manual activation of certain settings when entering Admin Mode on a device.
  • The default Config.xml file now places the DataWedge Demo app in the User screen, replacing the Calculator app found in prior versions.

Device Support

EHS 3.0 now supports these devices running Android 8.1 Oreo

  • MC33
  • PS20 Personal Shopper
  • TC52
  • TC57
  • TC72
  • TC77
  • TC51
  • TC56
  • TC70x
  • TC75x
  • VC80x

End of Support

  • Support for Android 5.x Lollipop is dropped. Use EHS 2.8 if Lollipop support is required.
  • Bypass Keyguard feature is dropped - Use DevAdmin through Zebra EMDK or StageNow tools to configure this setting. NOTE: Bypassing the keyguard in this way requires the Settings app (com.android.settings) to be enabled on the device; EHS disables it by default. Therefore, Zebra recommends bypassing the keyguard before EHS is installed or launched for the first time.
  • Secure Mode feature is dropped - Log files are no longer designated as "SECURED" or "UNSECURED" in log entries.

Android Oreo Notes

Applies to devices running Android 8.x Oreo and higher.

  • SSID and BSSID information do not appear in the "Wireless Info" or "Battery and Wi-Fi Quick View" screens on Oreo devices if Location services (Settings -> Security & Location -> Location) are turned off.
  • If the operating system on a device (except TC20/TC25) is being upgraded to Android 8.1 Oreo from Marshmallow or Nougat, the previous EHS installation must be removed before EHS 3.0 is installed. Follow instructions to uninstall EHS before installing EHS on an Oreo device. Prior configuration settings, if any, are re-applied automatically.
  • EHS can NOT launch links that reference local files though a “URL” tag (i.e. "file://*.html") on devices running Android 8.x Oreo (and newer).

Android Nougat Notes

Applies to devices running Android Nougat 7.x and higher:

  • Disabling access to the camera and/or search apps from the lock screen also might disable them from the User-Mode screen, even if camera/search usage is permitted on the device. This occurs on some devices running Android N (and higher) if the device is rebooted from the lock screen. To prevent this issue, use the Screen Lock Type parameter of DevAdmin CSP and disable the lock screen by selecting the "None" option.

Android Marshmallow and Nougat Notes

Applies to devices running Android Marshmallow and Nougat:

  • When referencing a file stored on a removable SD Card in a device running Android M or N (and higher), references to that card must include its symbolic link rather than its direct path. For example, while the file path on pre-M devices might be visible as /storage/sdcard1/image.png, the same path on M and N devices might appear in the file browser something like /storage/0097-B7BA/image.png. The symbolic link (which in this case is "0097-B7BA") is unique to the device. Therefore, Zebra recommends avoiding the use of removable storage in mass-deployment scenarios.

Applies to devices running Android Marshmallow 6.x and higher:

  • Airplane Option Disabled feature cannot be controlled through EHS on devices running Android M or N. For devices on which the "Airplane option disabled" feature appears "grayed out" in the Admin-Mode Preferences panel, it might still be possible to access the feature using the Power Key Manager through Zebra EMDK or StageNow tools.

  • Some devices retain the "Recent Apps" list after device reboot, posing a potential security risk. EHS disables the Recent Apps button on Nougat (and higher) devices to help address this risk. For all devices, the list can be cleared using App Manager through Zebra EMDK, StageNow or a third-party MDM system. For more information, see Security Notes in the Special Features section.

  • Kiosk Mode should not be used with Screen Pinning, an Android feature that works in a similar way.

  • Screen orientation can be changed through the Quick Settings panel on devices only when EHS is configured to accept the System orientation setting (the EHS default). If an EHS administrator sets the orientation to landscape or portrait mode, the device user will no longer be able to change the orientation setting.

Android Marshmallow Notes

Applies to devices running Android 6.x Marshmallow only:

  • Selecting EHS as the default launcher will not be permanent after a reboot on some devices if the selection was made while in User Mode. To avoid this issue, switch to Admin Mode and press the HOME button; the "Select a home app" pop-up appears. Select EHS and tap "Always" to make the selection permanent.

  • If Location Permission is revoked on a device running Android 6.0 Marshmallow, a blank list of available access points will be presented under "Scan Results" in the "Wireless info" screen in EHS. Enabled by default, Location Permission is accessed in Settings -> Apps -> EHS -> Permissions.

  • If Wi-Fi is disabled on a Marshmallow device, the MAC address will be shown as "Unknown" in the "Wireless info" screen in EHS.

ET50/ET55 Device Notes

Applies to Zebra ET50 and ET55 devices with Google Mobile Services (GMS) only.

  • The Launcher selection pop-up does not appear when the HOME button is pressed while in User Mode, preventing a user or administrator from easily selecting the default Launcher app on the device. To avoid this issue, switch to Admin Mode and press the HOME button; the "Select a home app" pop-up appears. Select EHS and tap "Always" to make the selection permanent.

  • A permanent system UI crash could occur if EHS is uninstalled remotely (i.e. via MDM) while in User Mode. Before uninstalling EHS remotely, Zebra recommends pushing to the device an EHS configuration file (enterprisehomescreen.xml) with the Search app enabled.

See the Advanced Settings section for a complete enterprisehomescreen.xml configuration file reference.

Version History

Added in 2.8

Device Support

EHS 2.8 adds support for the following devices running Android Nougat:

  • WT6000

New Features

  • Simplified Chinese - EHS has been approved to run on device operating systems localized for the Simplified Chinese language.

  • Enhanced Device Identifier Options - Information to uniquely identify a device—its serial number, MAC address, network host name, Bluetooth address, Bluetooth name or IMEI number—can be displayed as the title bar text of the EHS home screen.

  • Custom EHS icon no longer limited to home screen - When a custom icon is used to replace the stock EHS icon, the icon can optionally be set to also display on other screens, including those for Battery Info, Wireless Info, Preferences and the Tools menu.

  • File browsing in Preferences panel - When selecting a title-bar icon or wallpaper image through the Preferences panel, tap-navigation is now possible to locate the image file and specify its path. File location is no longer limited to /enterprise/usr folder.

Enhancements/Fixes

  • Airplane mode enable/disable option is displayed in the Preferences panel only on devices on which it is supported.

  • Disabling access to the camera and/or search apps from the lock screen no longer disables them from the User-Mode screen if camera and/or search usage are permitted on the device. This issue arose when rebooting from the lock screen, and has been fixed for TC20 and TC25 models as well as devices running KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow. See Android Nougat Notes.

  • Password encryption has been enhanced for the Admin login. See important notes.

  • A colored screen is displayed while EHS is starting up.

  • Wallpaper and Title Bar Icon features now support .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .png and .webp file formats and file location is no longer limited to /enterprise/usr folder.

Deprecations

  • Secure Mode remains supported but is no longer being advanced
  • The following features have been removed from EHS 2.8 and higher:
    • Enable/disable status bar pull-down
    • Enable/disable status bar settings icon
    • Enable/disable "exit instead of reboot"

Notes:

  • The discontinued features listed above can be accessed using Zebra's StageNow administrative tools or EMDK developer tools.
  • A config file that contains settings for discontinued features generates an error in the EHS log file.

Added in EHS 2.7

This version does not support Android KitKat.

EHS 2.7 supports Zebra devices running Android Lollipop and higher only. Zebra continues to support earlier versions of EHS for use on devices running KitKat. To use EHS on a device running KitKat, please download EHS 2.6 or an earlier version.

Device Support

EHS 2.7 adds support for the following devices running Android Nougat:

  • MC33
  • TC20*
  • TC25*
  • TC51
  • TC56
  • TC70x
  • TC75x

( * ) Requires a device-specific .apk file. See download page for details.

New Features

Added in EHS 2.6

  • Support for ET50/ET55 tablet computers running Marshmallow

Added in EHS 2.5

Device Support:

Update for June, 2017:

  • Support added for MC18 and MC40 running Lollipop
  • Support added for TC70x running Marshmallow

EHS 2.5 No Longer Supports:

  • Devices with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
  • TC70 with Android 4.4.2 KitKat (BSP version 112414)
    Zebra continues to support EHS on the TC70 with Android 4.4.2 KitKat and on Zebra devices running Jelly Bean. Download EHS 2.4 to target these devices.

New Features in EHS 2.5:

  • Easier download and installation. The EHS 2.5 download package now includes a single APK for installing on all supported Zebra devices; no more multi-APK installer.

  • Now links to TechDocs, Zebra's premier web site for user-facing documentation--now a standard component on every EHS installation.

Download Enterprise Home Screen 2.5

Added in EHS 2.4

  • Support for the Zebra WT6000 - wearable terminal running Android 5.0 Lollipop. (see Android Notes)

  • Bundle Data Option - allows injection of app parameters, user data or other key-value pairs into an app on launch.

  • App Launch Flags - permit one or more Android Intent flags to be specified when an application is launched, directing launch behavior as required.

  • Service Auto-Launch - permits one or more Android services to be started whenever EHS launches.

  • Wildcard Character - reduces the lines of code required in the EHS config file to specify apps for display in User Mode.

  • Custom App Icons - permits customized icons for apps and links, overriding the default system icons.

  • Custom Title-bar Icons - permits a custom icon to be displayed in the EHS Title Bar, overriding the default EHS icon.

  • App Icon Size - provides five sizes for Admin- and User-mode application icons.

Added in EHS 2.3