Introduction

In this article, you will learn how to bulk block mobile devices in Google Workspace efficiently. One of common mobile device management tasks is blocking mobile devices in bulk, which can be a time-consuming and tedious process. Google Admin Console allows device blocking for up to 50 devices per page. However, it becomes inconvenient when the devices to be blocked are spread across multiple pages. The repetitive work of identifying and blocking the devices a few at a time is not the best use of your time. In large organizations or educational institutions with a significant number of mobile devices, blocking each device manually is impractical.

Illustration of bulk blocking mobile devices with xFanatical Foresight Automation
Illustration of bulk blocking mobile devices with xFanatical Foresight Automation

However, with the help of the xFanatical Foresight Automation platform, this task can be simplified and streamlined. It enables more efficient management of mobile devices across your organization while safeguarding organizational data from unauthorized access.

Introducing xFanatical Foresight Automation

xFanatical Foresight is an enterprise-grade platform which helps automate and streamline the Google Workspace workflows. In today’s fast paced business environment, efficiency is the key. xFanatical Foresight automation permits administrators and users to create intricate business workflows, which consumes a lot more time doing it natively. It simplifies the process of bulk blocking mobile devices in Google Workspace, so you can take care of more important tasks.

Automation Setup Instructions

In this section, we guide you through the automation setup in xFanatical Foresight. We have 2 ways to set up automation rules, Set up automation from a template and Set up automation from scratch. After completing the automation rule, verify whether the automation meets your requirements.

Set Up Automation From a Template

Set Up Automation From a Template

Supported plans: xFanatical Foresight Elite plan.

To set up this automation, admins need to extract the list of mobile devices from Google Workspace, edit the list of mobile devices to be blocked, and upload the edited list to xFanatical Foresight to block mobile devices in bulk.

The workflow needs 2 rules.

  • Rule 1 lists and exports mobile devices to a CSV file, including the Device id, Device user name, Device user email, Operating system, Device status, First sync time, and Last sync time. Admins need to keep only the rows they want to block mobiles in the CSV file, and delete the rest.
  • Rule 2 takes the extracted and edited CSV file from Rule 1 as input, and bulk block mobile devices listed in the file.

Rule 1: Export mobile devices

  1. Sign into xFanatical Foresight with your Google Admin account. 
  2. Go to the Templates page.
  3. Search the Bulk block mobile devices template, and click on it.
    Bulk block mobile devices template on xFanatical Foresight templates page
  4. In the Templates > Bulk block mobile devices, click Copy rule 1.

    Bulk block mobile devices template page with copy rule 1 button
  5. For the first time use of the template rule, an dialog Action needed will display requesting necessary permissions required to copy the rule. Click Connect with Google and authorize the permissions.
  6. Upon authorization, a dialog titled Copy of Export mobile devices will display.
  7. Click Next.
  8. Click Review.
  9. In the Review screen,
    1. Customize the Rule name.
      Copy of export mobile devices rule review screen
    2. Click Create.
  10. The rule is created in the Rules page.
    xFanatical Foresight workflow for exporting mobile devices in Google Workspace.
    xFanatical Foresight workflow for exporting mobile devices in Google Workspace.

Rule 2: Bulk block mobile devices

  1. Go to the Templates page.
  2. Search the Bulk block mobile devices template, and click on it.
  3. In the Templates >  Bulk block mobile devices page, click Copy rule 2.
    Bulk block mobile devices template with copy rule 2 screen
  4. Click Next.
  5. Click Review.
  6. In the Review screen,
    1. Customize the Rule name.
      Copy of bulk block mobile devices rule review screen
    2. Click Create.
  7. The rule is created in the Rules page.
    xFanatical Foresight workflow for bulk blocking mobile devices in Google Workspace.
    xFanatical Foresight workflow for bulk blocking mobile devices in Google Workspace.
Set Up Automation From Scratch

Set Up Automation From Scratch

Supported plans: xFanatical Foresight Elite and Professional (Legacy).

Rule 1: Export mobile devices

  1. Sign into xFanatical Foresight with your Google Admin account. 
  2. Go to the Rules page, and click the new rule button button at the bottom right to create a new rule.
  3. In the Select a trigger screen, select Manual trigger.
    Selecting Manual trigger from select a trigger screen
  4. Click Next.
  5. In the Select an action screen, select the List mobile devices action.
    Selecting list mobile devices action from select an action screen
  6. In Edit actions > List mobile devices screen,
    1. If you’re using this action for the first time, you will see Sign in with Google button. Click on it, and authorize xFanatical Foresight the necessary permissions to automate on behalf of your Google account.
      Sign in with google button on list mobile devices edit action screen
    2. Click Review.
  7. In the Review screen,
    1. Customize the Rule name.
      Export mobile devices rule review screen
    2. Click Create.
  8. The automation rule is created.
    Export mobile devices rule on xFanatical Foresight rules page
    xFanatical Foresight workflow for exporting mobile devices in Google Workspace.

Rule 2: Bulk block mobile devices

  1. Download the Sample CSV file for the bulk block mobile devices automation rule creation process.  Learn more about Editing CSV Files in Google Sheets.
    Sample CSV file for bulk block mobile devices rule setupSample CSV file for bulk block mobile devices rule setup
  2. Click the New Rule new rule button button.
  3. In the Select a trigger screen, select Data Uploaded trigger.
    Selecting Data uploaded trigger from select a trigger screen
  4. Select the CSV file downloaded in Step 1.
  5. Click Next.
  6. In the Select an action screen, select Block mobile device action.
    Selecting block mobile device action from select an action screen
  7. In the Edit actions > Block mobile device screen,
    1. If you’re using this action for the first time, you will see Sign in with Google button. Click on it, and authorize xFanatical Foresight the necessary permissions to automate on behalf of your Google account.
      Sign in with google button on block mobile device edit action screen
    2. In the Device ID field, select the Device ID variable from the Data uploaded trigger.
    3. In the User primary email field, select the Device user email variable from the Data uploaded trigger.
    4. Click Review.
      Configuring Device Id, user primary email fields and click on review button
  8. In the Review screen,
    1. Customize the Rule name.
      Bulk block mobile device rule review screen
    2. Click Create.
  9. The automation rule is created.
    xFanatical Foresight workflow for bulk blocking mobile devices in Google Workspace.
    xFanatical Foresight workflow for bulk blocking mobile devices in Google Workspace.
Verify Automation

Verify Automation

To ensure that your rule setup automates as expected, it’s essential to conduct a simple test. The following instructions demonstrate how the xFanatical Foresight automates the bulk block mobile devices in Google Workspace.

Before moving to verification, let’s check the mobile devices in Google Admin Console mobiles page. All the mobile devices are approved.
Mobile devices list on Google Admin Console before block

Mobile list page on Google Admin Console.

  1. Go to the Rules page.
  2. Find the Copy of Export mobile devices rule, and click the play button button.
    Copy of export mobile devices rule with play icon on xFanatical Foresight rules page
  3. Wait momentarily, and you will get a notification at the top right of xFanatical Foresight. In the notification message, click View log.
    Copy of export mobile devices successful execution notification with view log button.
  4. Download the Mobile devices CSV file from here button in the log screen.
    Success log of export mobile devices rule with CSV download link
  5. Edit the CSV file, keep the mobile device details which you want to block, and delete the rest rows. Learn more about Editing CSV Files in Google Sheets.
    CSV file downloaded from log screen on export mobile device rule execution
  6. Go to the Rules page.
  7. Find the Copy of Bulk block mobile devices rule.
  8. Click the upload-button. icon, and select the CSV file which you edited in Step 5.
    Copy of bulk block mobile devices rule with upload icon on xFanatical Foresight rules page
  9. Wait momentarily, and you will get a notification at the top right of xFanatical Foresight. In the notification message, click View log.
    Copy of bulk block mobile devices rule execution notitification
  10. In the Logs > Log details screen, confirm that mobile devices have been blocked.
    Success log of bulk block mobile devices rule
  11. Go back to the mobile devices list page in Google Admin Console, and confirm that the mobile devices have been blocked.
    Google admin mobile devices list on Admin console after devices have been blocked

Conclusion

Bulk blocking mobile devices in Google Workspace using xFanatical Foresight is a game changer for your mobile devices management. By leveraging its intuitive interface and powerful automation capabilities, you can streamline your automation process and ensure effective management of your devices. With xFanatical Foresight, you can effortlessly approve, block, wipe, and manage your mobile devices, and invest valuable time for more important tasks.

Try a 14-day free trial with xFanatical Foresight and manage your tasks.

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