search
Ctrlk

Upgrading to L4

Migrating from Launcher 3 to Launcher 4 equips your devices with the latest feature enhancements, new functionalities and improved performance. Launcher 4 also aligns strongly with Google Play app policies and requirements requiring a namespace change for customers that use the sideload version of the APK. Because of this, BlueFletch has provided both manual and automated procedures to ensure a smooth upgrade from Launcher 3 to Launcher 4.

hashtag
Upgrading Launcher in Managed Play Store

circle-check

This applies to your environment if your currently installed Launcher has the package name com.bluefletch.ems.emm.launcher

If you have installed Launcher via the Managed Play Store (e.g. via Intune or other MDM via Android Enterprise), this process will be a simple version upgrade — select the latest 4.x closed track and Launcher 4 will install over the existing Launcher 3.

hashtag
Upgrading Launcher installed via MDM (sideload)

circle-check

This applies to your environment if your currently installed Launcher has the package name com.bluefletch.launcher.

If you have installed Launcher by downloading the APK from the BFE Portal, this process involves uninstalling the Launcher 3 package named com.bluefletch.launcher and installing the new Launcher 4 package named com.bluefletch.ems.emm.launcher. Since MDMs have varying degrees of capabilities in terms of swapping applications, below are both manual and automated processes that can be used to upgrade to Launcher 4.

The manual process follows a standard procedure including checksum validation to ensure APK integrity. The automated process leverages the Launcher Migration Tool for a seamless transition to the latest version.

hashtag
Manual Process

  1. Navigate to your BlueFletch Portal and go to Admin > Downloads.

  2. Download the latest version of Launcher 4 (or a desired previous version).

  3. (Optional) Use an MD5 tool to generate a checksum for the downloaded APK and save it for future reference.

  4. Retrieve the checksum from Admin > Downloads and compare it to the one generated in the previous step.

  5. Install the downloaded application on a device currently running Launcher 3.

  6. Uninstall the previous Launcher 3 version using the following command:

adb uninstall com.bluefletch.launcher (or the relevant BlueFletch package name)

  1. Install the new Launcher 4 APK using the following command:

adb install {EMS Launcher apk file path}

hashtag
Automated Process

  1. Navigate to your BlueFletch Portal and go to Admin > Downloads.

  2. Download the latest Launcher 4 Migration Tool.

  3. Install the Launcher 4 Migration Tool on the device.

  4. Use the dropdown menu where you downloaded the APK and select Copy URL to retrieve the Launcher 4 download link. The copied url should look similar to this:

https://ems-services-portal.bluefletch.com/services/apiv1/files/download/1eb3f73-cbe3-44f4-a1bf-83bfarrow-up-right

  1. Run the following intent from your MDM to initiate the migration process:

adb shell am start-n com.bluefletch.upgradetool/com.bluefletch.upgradetool.ui.silent.SilentInitActivity --es url "PATH_TO_LAUNCHER4_DOWNLOAD" --es orgId "YOUR_BF_ORG_ID" --es checksum "CHECKSUM_FROM_PREVIOUS_STEP”

  • To obtain the URL, navigate to Admin > Beta Downloads in your BlueFletch Portal and click Copy URL.

  • To obtain your orgId, navigate to Admin > Organization in your BlueFletch Portal.

  • To obtain the checksum value, navigate to Admin > Beta > Downloads in your BlueFletch Portal and click Copy Checksum.

hashtag
Configuration Changes

You should be able to use your current Launcher 3 configuration with the new Launcher 4. Some newer features may require using the new app configuration section, but you can make those changes after you've upgraded the Launcher application.

Last updated