MDE steps for pre-release testing on Android

Author: diannegali

defender-endpoint/mobile-pretest.md

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+---
+title: Pre-release testing using Google Play pre-production tracks
+description: Describes how to conduct pre-release tests before mainstream release using Google Play pre-production tracks
+ms.service: defender-endpoint
+ms.author: diannegali
+author: diannegali
+ms.localizationpriority: medium
+manager: deniseb
+audience: ITPro
+ms.collection:
+- m365-security
+- tier3
+- mde-android
+ms.custom: partner-contribution
+ms.topic: how-to
+ms.subservice: android
+search.appverid: met150
+ms.date: 04/14/2025
+#customer intent: As an IT admin, I want to test custom APKs using Google Play pre-production tracks so that I can ensure the app is working as expected before deploying it to users.
+---
+
+# Conduct pre-release tests using Google Play pre-production tracks
+
+[!INCLUDE [Microsoft Defender XDR rebranding](../includes/microsoft-defender.md)]
+
+**Applies to:**
+- [Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 1](microsoft-defender-endpoint.md)
+- [Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2](microsoft-defender-endpoint.md)
+- [Microsoft Defender XDR](/defender-xdr)
+
+Learn how to deploy custom APKs or conduct pre-release testing using Google Play pre-production tracks. This is useful for testing custom APKs before deploying them to users in your organization. The pre-production track allows you to test the app with a limited number of users before making it available to everyone.
+
+It's common for organizations to have custom APKs that are not available on the Google Play Store. These APKs may be developed in-house or by third-party vendors. By using the pre-production track, you can ensure that these custom APKs are working as expected before deploying them to users.
+
+This article provides step-by-step instructions on how users can use custom APKs for Android devices that are onboarded to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint through the following methods:
+
+- Android Enterprise scenarios
+- Mobile Application Mangement (MAM) Enrollment scenarios
+
+## Deploy custom APKs in the Android Enterprise scenario
+
+To deploy custom APKs in the Android Enterprise scenario, follow these steps:
+
+1. Contact Microsoft Support to provide the Google Play STore Organization ID for your organization. This ID is required to add your information to an inclusion list and make the pre-production build available for testing.
+2. Once your organization is added to the inclusion list, your admin needs to sync a managed Google Play app with Microsoft Intune. To do this, see [Sync a Managed Google Play app with Intune](/intune/intune-service/apps/apps-add-android-for-work#sync-a-managed-google-play-app-with-intune).
+3. After a custom testing APK is published for your organization, your security admin can create a group of users who need the custom APK.