Samsung Knox Manage vs Android Enterprise Enrollment

Knox Manage is a cloud-based Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution. Knox Mobile Enrollment enrolls corporate-owned devices to an MDM using Android Enterprise provisioning.

Start your Samsung Knox Manage vs Android Enterprise enrollment comparison by naming the management service, the enrollment route and the intended control scope. Use the comparisons below to choose a route, then prepare the device and administrator details.

Start with the management scope

A DPC can run in profile owner mode on personal devices or device owner mode on fully managed devices.

For Android device owner questions, begin with the ownership and use case. Compare these management types in the Knox Manage new console:

Scroll horizontally to see all columns.

Management type	Administrative scope	Planning action
Fully managed	Fully managed enrollment gives Knox Manage complete administrative control over a device.	Evaluate for a company work-only device.
Work profile on a personal device	Work profile enrollment gives Knox Manage administrative control only over the work profile on a personal device.	Define the work-only administration boundary.
Work profile on a company-owned device	On company-owned devices with a work profile, Knox Manage controls the work profile and can apply certain device-level policies.	Record the intended device-level policies.

In Android Management API provisioning, full device management suits company-owned devices intended exclusively for work.

For personally-owned devices, a work profile provides separate space for work apps and data.

In Android Management API provisioning, the enrollment token and provisioning method establish device ownership and management mode.

Personal-device planning workspace with a phone, bag and notebook — Record device ownership and intended personal use before choosing a management type.

For the broader management vocabulary, continue with Android Enterprise explained and MDM vs EMM for Android.

Compare enrollment routes in the right console

Knox Manage has a new console and an original console that users can switch between.

In the new console, device enrollment installs the Knox Manage agent and registers the device in a tenant.

The original-console enrollment overview supports manual, token, QR code, and Zero-touch enrollment.

Use the new-console route comparison below when planning your enrollment workflow:

Scroll horizontally to see all columns.

New-console route	Enrollment scope	Planning question
QR code	QR enrollment can provision devices individually or in bulk.	Which management type will the enrollment profile use?
Knox Mobile Enrollment	KME enrollment can provision devices individually or in bulk.	Which Samsung devices will you enroll?
Android zero-touch	Android zero-touch enrollment can provision devices individually or in bulk.	Which route is assigned to the device?
Direct agent sign-in	Direct agent sign-in enrollment can be used only for Work profile management and does not require a factory reset.	Is Work profile the intended management type?

For original-console fully managed enrollment, a device that is not new must be factory reset in advance.

Record the current setup state before scheduling enrollment. Separate new, reset and already-configured devices in your planning notes.

Fleet-preparation workbench with phones in a padded tray — Group the devices by planned enrollment route and current setup state.

Prepare the account and tenant access

Before managing Android devices in the new console, you must register Knox Manage as an EMM provider on the Managed Google Admin Console and link your Android Enterprise account to your Knox Manage tenant.

For that new-console registration workflow:

A personal Google account allows management of Android devices.
A Google account from an enterprise domain allows management of Android and ChromeOS devices.
Only the super admin who created the tenant can view the Android Enterprise settings page in the new console.

When using KME from the original console, a Samsung Knox Account is needed to connect the Knox Manage and KME accounts.

Write down the console choice, Google account type, tenant administrator and intended device user as separate fields. Keep passwords and enrollment credentials out of the planning worksheet.

Device-planning desk with a phone, clipboard and laptop keyboard — Prepare the device details and account roles before opening the enrollment workflow.

Check Samsung scope and supported versions

KME enrolls corporate-owned Samsung devices into an EMM solution and selected Knox cloud services.

In its original-console requirements, Samsung describes Knox Manage as an Android Enterprise Recommended (AER) certified solution compatible with all AER devices.

The original-console requirements list Android 12 or later for the Knox Manage Android Enterprise agent.

Samsung’s support-policy table lists Android 12.0 (Knox 3.8) as the minimum supported version for KME.

The same support-policy table lists Android 12.0 (Knox 3.8) as the minimum supported version for Knox Manage.

Older Android devices are not automatically unenrolled or interrupted by the support-version policy.

Record the exact manufacturer, model and installed Android version. Check the relevant service’s support requirements before selecting the enrollment route.

Keep Android Management API instructions scoped

In the original-console Android Management API guide, Knox Manage 23.09 or later supports only work profile for Android Management API devices and restricts fully managed use.

For that original-console integration:

Android Management API devices require the Samsung Knox Manage (Companion) app.
Android Device Policy provides policy controller duties.
Android Management API app management uses Managed Google Play exclusively.

Match the instructions to your console and integration before following a setup procedure.

Frequently asked questions

Is Knox Mobile Enrollment free?

Knox Mobile Enrollment can be used free without a license.

Advanced settings such as device lock and app installation during enrollment require a relevant Knox Suite Plan.

Can I add devices that were not purchased from a reseller?

For devices not purchased from a reseller, use QR code enrollment to add devices to the KME console.

KME QR enrollment is supported for EMMs only.

What happens after a factory reset?

KME out-of-box enrollment can enroll devices into Knox cloud services after unboxing or factory reset.

In the original-console KME enrollment workflow, resetting KME-enrolled devices reinstalls the Knox Manage app and re-enrolls them into Knox Manage.

Does unlinking the Android Enterprise account unenroll the devices?

In the new console, devices stay enrolled in Knox Manage after changing or unlinking the Android Enterprise account.

Prepare your enrollment decision

Complete a short handoff note before starting:

Device manufacturer: Samsung or another manufacturer; exact model and installed Android version.
Ownership and use: company or personal; work-only or personal use allowed.
Management choice: intended mode, console and integration.
Setup state: new, reset or already configured.
Enrollment route: selected method and profile.
Account roles: Google account type, tenant administrator and intended device user.

Keep the completed note with your deployment plan. Browse Device Guides for the next compatibility or setup question.

Sources

Samsung — Knox Manage
Samsung — Client integration
Google — Device control
Samsung — Enroll a device
Google — Enroll and provision a device
Samsung — Enroll a single device
Samsung — Get started tutorial
Samsung — Configure Android Enterprise settings
Samsung — Use Samsung Knox Mobile Enrollment
Samsung — Knox Mobile Enrollment frequently asked questions
Samsung — Minimum requirements and supported languages
Samsung — Policy update on Knox supported versions
Samsung — Manage Android devices with the Android Management API
Samsung — Complete device enrollment