How to enable Smart Switch on Knox Manage devices

Environment

• Samsung Smart Switch
• Knox Manage
• Fully managed devices
• Company-owned devices with a work profile

Overview

On fully managed devices enrolled through Knox Manage, Smart Switch may be blocked by security policy with the following warning:

Security policy restricts use of Smart Switch

This article explains how to enable Smart Switch in Knox Manage for fully managed devices, whether you’re enabling it for the first time or modifying existing deployments.

Cause

On June 5th, 2020, v3.7.05.8 of the Smart Switch app removed its unofficial functionality on fully managed devices and company-owned devices with a work profile.

While Smart Switch previously worked in both deployment modes, the feature wasn’t officially supported for B2B apps. By Android Enterprise security design, all backup features including Smart Switch are now disabled by default.

As a workaround, you may enable Smart Switch on fully managed devices on the personal profile (User 0) side of the device using Knox Manage, explained in the steps below.

How do I enable Smart Switch in Knox Manage if I am adding it for the first time?

To enable Smart Switch for the first time, add the app from the Managed Google Play Store, then assign and configure it for your group or organization:

1. On your Knox Manage console, navigate to the Application page, then click Add. The Select Application Type dialog box opens.
2. On the Select Application Type dialog, select your device’s Platform. For Type & Source, select Public - Managed Google Play.
3. Click OK. The Managed Google Play store opens.
4. Search for com.sec.android.easyMover, then click the Samsung Smart Switch Mobile app in the search results.
5. Click Select. The Add Application page opens.
6. Fill in the app details, then click Save & Assign. The Save & Assign dialog opens.
7. Click OK. The Assign Application page opens.
8. Under Android Enterprise Settings, click Set Configuration. The Managed Configuration dialog opens.
9. Next to Managed Configuration, enter a configuration name.
10. Toggle Allow SmartSwitch Run to True, then click Save.
11. Under Target, select the group or organization to assign the application to, then click Assign. The Assign Application dialog opens.
12. Click OK.

How do I enable Smart Switch in Knox Manage if I have already added it to my organization?

To modify the Smart Switch configuration if you’ve already added it to your organization:

1. Navigate to the Organization page, then go to the Application tab.
2. Select the checkbox next to Samsung Smart Switch Mobile, then click Modify Setting.
3. Under Android Enterprise Settings, click Set Configuration. The Managed Configuration dialog opens.
4. Next to Managed Configuration, enter a configuration name.
5. Toggle Allow SmartSwitch Run to True, then click Save. The Modify Setting dialog opens.
6. Click OK.

Then, to assign the configured Smart Switch app to your group or organization:

1. Navigate to the Application page.
2. Click Samsung Smart Switch Mobile, then click Assign. The Assign Application page opens.
3. Under Android Enterprise Settings, click Set Configuration. The Managed Configuration dialog opens.
4. Next to Managed Configuration, enter a configuration name.
5. Toggle Allow SmartSwitch Run to True, then click Save.
6. Under Target, select the group or organization to assign the application to, then click Assign. The Assign Application dialog opens.
7. Click OK.