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Zebra DNA Cloud Device Management Software

Zebra DNA Cloud — device setup, updates, and remote support for Zebra Android devices, for operations without an EMM, IT teams that already run one, and multi-site fleets.

THE SHORT ANSWER

Zebra DNA Cloud is Zebra’s cloud console for managing Zebra Android mobile computers, tablets, and wearables. IT teams enroll devices with a barcode scan, push settings and apps, deliver LifeGuard security updates over the air, and remote-control screens, on its own or alongside an existing EMM. Every business is unique, so each deployment is scoped and quoted.

Talk to an Expert Find Your Fit

  • Free Console Tools

    See devices and build enrollment barcodes and profiles before licensing

  • LifeGuard OTA

    Zebra security updates delivered over the air

  • Works with Your EMM

    Built-in enrollment for Microsoft Intune and the other major EMMs

SIZE IT

Zebra DNA Cloud Deployment Scope

Every business is unique, so each deployment is scoped and quoted to the operation’s needs. Zebra DNA Cloud is licensed per device as a 1-, 3-, or 5-year subscription, and some console tools work before any license is applied.

  • SCOPE 01

    Licensed, Standalone

    TYPICALLY INCLUDES

    Settings pushed to devices and groups, app installs and updates, Android and LifeGuard updates on a schedule, remote support, lock, wipe, reboot, message and locate, and sequenced profile deployment.

    Does not include iOS, Windows, or non-Zebra devices. Full management requires a factory reset at enrollment.

    WHO IT FITS

    Zebra-only fleets with basic to moderate management needs and no EMM

  • SCOPE 02

    Licensed, Alongside an EMM

    TYPICALLY INCLUDES

    A Zebra layer on devices your EMM already manages: LifeGuard updates, Zebra app installs and configuration, remote support, battery health, and remote log capture. Device settings stay with the EMM, and sequenced profile deployment works only on devices enrolled in DNA Cloud.

    WHO IT FITS

    Operations standardized on an EMM that want Zebra-only capabilities

  • SCOPE 03

    No-Cost Console

    TYPICALLY INCLUDES

    Seeing enrolled devices, creating enrollment barcodes, building and exporting settings profiles, designing Enterprise Keyboard layouts.

    Does not include applying settings to devices, installing apps over the air, or managing LifeGuard updates; those require a license.

    WHO IT FITS

    Teams that want to stage devices and try the console before licensing

ADD-ON

  • ADD-ON

    Other Zebra Licenses

    Identity Guardian, Enterprise Browser, and Wireless Insights licenses claimed and allocated from the same licensing page. Each is licensed separately, and managing them from DNA Cloud needs Zebra License Manager 15.2 or later on the device.

    Fits: Operations using shared-device sign-in, Enterprise Browser, or Wi-Fi diagnostics

Licenses end on their expiration date. Zebra removed the 30-day renewal grace period and the 5% license overage in 2025, so renewals need to be in place before the term runs out.

CHOOSE YOUR TERM

Zebra DNA Cloud Subscriptions

Zebra DNA Cloud is sold as a subscription in one-, three- or five-year terms. A one-year term suits a pilot or a small fleet. Three or five years covers devices for most of their working life, with fewer renewals to manage.

Not sure which term fits? Advanced Automation scopes it against your device count and rollout, and quotes the subscription alongside the Zebra hardware it manages.

Talk to an Expert
SW-DNACLOUD-1YR Zebra Service

SW-DNACLOUD-1YR Zebra Service

SW-DNACLOUD-1YR Zebra Service

UNDERSTAND

What Zebra DNA Cloud Does

01

ENROLL AND ORGANIZE

Set Up the Fleet

  • One Fleet List

    See every enrolled Zebra device in one list: model, Android version, security patch date, serial number, IMEI, battery health, and when it last checked in.

  • One-Barcode Setup

    Set up new or reset devices by scanning one barcode, with Wi-Fi and starting settings applied during setup.

  • Settings by Group

    Put devices into groups so every device in a group gets the same settings and apps, including new devices the moment they join.

02

KEEP IT CURRENT

Apps and Updates

  • Over-the-Air App Installs

    Install and update Zebra’s own apps and your line-of-business apps without collecting a single device.

  • Scheduled Security Updates

    Schedule Android and LifeGuard security updates for off-hours and set conditions a device must meet before it updates.

03

SUPPORT FROM YOUR DESK

Support and Recover

  • Remote Control

    Take control of a device screen from a browser to walk a worker through a fix, including the monitor on a Workstation Connect dock.

  • Lock, Wipe or Locate

    Lock, reboot, wipe, message, or map the location of a device from the console.

  • Logs and Battery Health

    Pull diagnostic logs remotely and flag batteries losing capacity so they are replaced on your schedule, not mid-shift.

QUALIFY

Who Zebra DNA Cloud Is For

ZEBRA DNA CLOUD FITS

  • Zebra Android Fleets

    Operations running Zebra Android mobile computers, tablets, or wearables that want central setup and updates without buying a full EMM.

  • Alongside Your EMM

    IT teams already running Microsoft Intune, SOTI MobiControl, 42Gears SureMDM, or another EMM that want Zebra-only tools (LifeGuard updates, Zebra app configuration, battery health) on the same devices.

  • Multi-Site Operations

    Multi-site operations that want each site’s devices configured by group the moment they enroll.

  • Shared Devices

    Shared-device operations using Identity Guardian or Enterprise Home Screen that want both deployed and licensed from one console.

Zebra DNA Cloud Is Not the Fit For

  • Fleets that include iPhones, iPads, Windows devices, or other brands of Android devices. DNA Cloud manages Zebra devices only. Mixed fleets are better served by a cross-platform EMM, and Advanced Automation can scope one with you.

  • Zebra devices on Android 10 or earlier, or legacy Windows CE and Windows Mobile units. DNA Cloud requires Android 11 or later.

  • Zebra label printers and barcode scanners. DNA Cloud manages Android devices, not printers or scanners.

  • Operations that need controls only a full EMM provides. Zebra positions DNA Cloud as a standalone option for basic management needs and as a companion to an EMM for everything else.

PREPARE

What You Need to Run Zebra DNA Cloud

SUPPORTED ANDROID

  • Android 11
  • Android 13
  • Android 14
  • Android 15
01

WHAT IT MANAGES

Devices and Enrollment

  • Compatible Devices

    Zebra Android mobile computers, tablets, wearables, and vehicle-mount computers on Android 11 or later, each at or above the minimum LifeGuard update Zebra lists for its platform. Current support spans Android 11, 13, 14, and 15.

  • Google Mobile Services

    Android Updates and Locate Device require GMS devices. The non-GMS WS50 wearable is supported for updates; Locate Device is not available on it.

  • Enrollment

    Devices fully managed by DNA Cloud are factory reset, then enrolled by scanning a DNA Cloud barcode. On Android 13 and later, Google requires three setup screens to be completed by hand before automated staging takes over.

02

WHAT IT NEEDS

Network and Hardware

  • Network

    The web addresses in Zebra’s DNA Cloud setup guide allowed through your firewall. Remote support runs best near 100 Mbps with under 15 ms latency, and Zebra does not recommend it over cellular. App deployment from Zebra Storage calls for about 3 Mbps per device.

  • Storage

    500 MB of Zebra Storage for apps and files, plus 500 MB of downloads per device per month. Apps can also be hosted on your own web or FTP server.

  • Battery Health and Docked Screens

    Battery health reporting works with Zebra PowerPrecision and PowerPrecision+ batteries (not supported on TC15 or TN28). Desktop-screen remote support works with Zebra Workstation Connect.

03

HOW IT CONNECTS

Admin, EMM and Security

  • Admin Access

    A web browser and Zebra.com single sign-on, with Super Admin, Admin, and Manager roles and feature-level Edit, View-only, or No-access permissions.

  • EMM Integrations

    Built-in enrollment barcode wizards for 42Gears SureMDM, Microsoft Intune, MobileIron Go, SOTI MobiControl, and VMware Intelligent Hub, plus custom settings for any other EMM. Supports Android Zero Touch, OEMConfig, and managed configurations. Devices managed by an EMM need Zebra Common Transport Layer 2.1 or later for presence reporting.

  • Security

    LifeGuard security patches delivered over the air, automatic encryption of certificate and key files in Zebra Storage, role-based access, and automatic sign-out after 30 minutes of inactivity.

APPLY

DNA Cloud Applications & the Problems They Solve

  • We don’t know what’s out there, what it’s running, or where it went.

    SOLVED WITH

    My Devices

    SOLUTION PAGE

    Mobile Device Deployment & Management

  • Setting up a new batch of handhelds takes someone all day.

    SOLVED WITH

    New Device Setup

    SOLUTION PAGE

    Mobile Device Deployment & Management

  • Every device is configured a little differently.

    SOLVED WITH

    Device Settings and Profile Deployment

    SOLUTION PAGE

    Mobile Device Deployment & Management

  • Rolling out a new app version means rounding up every device.

    SOLVED WITH

    My Apps (Zebra Collection, My Collection)

    SOLUTION PAGE

    Mobile Device Deployment & Management

  • Our security patches are months behind, and updates knock people offline mid-shift.

    SOLVED WITH

    Android Updates (LifeGuard OTA)

    SOLUTION PAGE

    Mobile Device Deployment & Management

  • When a handheld acts up, IT has to be standing next to it.

    SOLVED WITH

    Remote Support and Remote RxLogger

    SOLUTION PAGE

    Device Downtime & Battery Management

  • Batteries die before the shift ends, and nobody knows which ones are worn out.

    SOLVED WITH

    Battery Health

    SOLUTION PAGE

    Device Downtime & Battery Management

  • On shared devices, we can’t tell who had it last.

    SOLVED WITH

    Device Users (Identity Guardian)

  • The on-screen keyboard slows down data entry.

    SOLVED WITH

    Design Studio (Enterprise Keyboard)

ACROSS THE DEVICE’S WORKING LIFE

Together, these cover a device’s working life from unboxing to redeployment: enroll, configure, update, support, and wipe for the next worker.

COMPARE

How Zebra DNA Cloud Compares

WHERE DNA CLOUD WINS

Zebra-Native.

  • LifeGuard Updates

    Over the air

  • Battery Health

    For PowerPrecision batteries

  • Zebra App Configuration

    Built in

Zebra DNA Cloud is the strongest fit when every managed device is a Zebra Android device. Zebra builds both the hardware and the console, so Zebra-only capabilities are native: LifeGuard security updates over the air, battery health for PowerPrecision batteries, and configuration of Zebra’s own enterprise apps. It also works as a companion. Enroll the same devices in DNA Cloud and your EMM, and each tool handles what it does best.

WHEN THE FLEET IS MIXED

Mixed Fleets

It is the wrong fit when the fleet mixes in iOS, Windows, or other Android brands, or when policy calls for controls only a full EMM provides. A cross-platform EMM is the better foundation there, and because DNA Cloud runs alongside the major EMMs, the Zebra-only tools can stay in place on your Zebra devices.

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CHALLENGE

Zebra DNA Cloud Objections Answered

“How long until our devices are managed?” [CONFIRM]

  1. 01

    2 to 3 days

    Licenses issued (every scope)

  2. 02

    Devices in use in 3 to 5 days

    Single site, one device group, Zebra apps only

  3. 03

    A week or longer

    Multiple sites, your own apps, EMM co-management, admin training

TIP

The biggest factor is having one person inside your operation who owns the rollout.

MORE QUESTIONS BUYERS ASK

  • “Will it conflict with the EMM we already run?”

    No. Zebra designed DNA Cloud to run alongside an EMM, with built-in enrollment for the major ones. One rule applies: an app installed by DNA Cloud or by your EMM stays managed by that tool, so decide up front which tool owns each app. Remote support is not available on devices managed by SOTI.

  • “Do we have to reset our devices?”

    Only if DNA Cloud will fully manage them. Devices staying under your EMM enroll without a reset. Plan resets for devices moving to DNA Cloud as their primary tool.

  • “What happens when a license expires?”

    Licensed features stop on the expiration date; there is no longer a grace period. [CONFIRM] Advanced Automation tracks your renewal dates and reminds you before they run out.

  • “What happens when something breaks?”

    Console or update problems go straight to Zebra support. Devices, batteries, docks, and repairs come to Advanced Automation.

  • “Is it secure enough for our IT team?”

    Admins sign in with Zebra single sign-on, access is limited by role, sessions end after 30 minutes idle, certificate and key files are encrypted in storage, and LifeGuard patches keep devices current. Each license key works in only one DNA Cloud tenant.

  • “Are we locked in?”

    Settings profiles export as XML for an EMM, as printable staging barcodes, or as files another DNA Cloud tenant can import. Zebra supports moving to a third-party EMM later if your needs grow.

  • “Can someone stage our devices before they arrive?”

    [CONFIRM] Advanced Automation can stage and enroll devices before they ship, so they arrive ready to scan in.

TRUST

What Advanced Automation Does

You work directly with Zebra on DNA Cloud itself: the console, updates, and software support. That relationship stays yours. You can take DNA Cloud and your devices and deploy on your own, or Advanced Automation handles implementation and trains your team, project by project. Advanced Automation also covers the physical side: the devices, batteries, and docks, and the repair work that keeps them in service.

THE SOFTWARE

Zebra Handles

  • The DNA Cloud console, hosting, uptime, and new releases

  • LifeGuard Android and security updates

  • DNA Cloud software support and technical questions

  • Enrollment, EMM integration, and licensing features in the console

  • The product roadmap

THE PHYSICAL SIDE

Advanced Automation Handles

  • Implementation and admin training, when you want help rolling it out

  • Supplying the Zebra devices, batteries, and accessories DNA Cloud works with

  • Device repair, parts, and maintenance

  • DNA Cloud license purchase [CONFIRM: renewal tracking]

  • [CONFIRM] Device staging and enrollment before shipment

WHO TO CALL

  • DNA Cloud console or updatesZebra
  • Devices, batteries, docks and repairsAdvanced Automation

Where the Line Sits: questions about the DNA Cloud console or an update go straight to Zebra. Devices, batteries, docks, and repairs come to Advanced Automation. When it isn’t obvious which it is, contact either one and the two work it out together.

What Is Zebra DNA Cloud?

Zebra DNA Cloud is a cloud-based console from Zebra Technologies for managing and configuring Zebra Android mobile computers, tablets, and wearables and the apps on them. It brings Zebra DNA tools, including LifeGuard over-the-air updates and Mobility Extensions (MX) settings, into one browser-based console that works on its own or alongside an EMM. Zebra designs hardware, software, and automation solutions for frontline work in retail, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and beyond.

How Much Does Zebra DNA Cloud Cost, and Is Any of It Free?

Some of it is free. Viewing enrolled devices, creating enrollment barcodes, and building settings profiles work without a license. Applying settings, installing apps over the air, and managing LifeGuard updates require a per-device license, sold as 1-, 3-, or 5-year subscriptions. Every business is unique, so each deployment is scoped and quoted. Use Price My Solution for a quote on your fleet.

Does Zebra DNA Cloud Replace Our MDM or EMM?

It can for basic needs on an all-Zebra fleet. For everything else, it runs alongside your EMM and adds Zebra-only tools such as LifeGuard updates, Zebra app configuration, and battery health. Zebra supports enrolling the same device in both.

Does Zebra DNA Cloud Work with Microsoft Intune?

Yes. DNA Cloud has a built-in wizard that creates Intune enrollment barcodes, and the same for 42Gears SureMDM, MobileIron Go, SOTI MobiControl, and VMware Intelligent Hub. Other EMMs can be set up with custom enrollment settings.

How Is Zebra DNA Cloud Different from StageNow?

StageNow is Zebra’s free staging tool that sets up a device when it scans a barcode. Zebra describes DNA Cloud as working like a cloud-based version of StageNow: it builds the same kind of setup barcodes, then keeps managing devices over the air after setup. Settings profiles built in DNA Cloud can be exported as StageNow barcodes or as XML.

What Is Zebra LifeGuard OTA, and How Does DNA Cloud Handle It?

LifeGuard is Zebra’s security and Android update service for its Android devices. DNA Cloud delivers those updates over the air: update devices to the latest release or an earlier one, apply future updates automatically, schedule them for off-hours, and set conditions a device must meet first. Over-the-air updates require a DNA Cloud license and work on Google Mobile Services devices and the WS50.

Which Zebra Devices Does DNA Cloud Support?

Zebra Android mobile computers, tablets, wearables, and vehicle-mount computers running Android 11 or later with a minimum LifeGuard update, including the TC22, TC27, TC53, TC58, TC73, TC78, MC3400, MC9400, ET40, ET45, ET60, ET65, HC55, WT6400, WS50, TC501, and TC701. It does not manage Zebra printers, barcode scanners, or Windows devices.

Can Zebra DNA Cloud Find a Lost Device?

Yes, on licensed devices with Google Mobile Services. Locate Device shows a device’s GPS location on a map. It is not available on the WS50. Finding a misplaced device indoors, even when it is powered off, is the job of Zebra Device Tracker, which is licensed separately.

Who Do We Call for Support After We Go Live?

Call Zebra for anything about the DNA Cloud console, enrollment, or updates. Call Advanced Automation for devices, batteries, docks, and repairs. If you are not sure which it is, contact either one and the two will sort it out together.

How Long Does It Take to Set Up Zebra DNA Cloud?

Licenses are typically issued in 2 to 3 days, and a single-site fleet is usually in use within 3 to 5 days. Multi-site rollouts, EMM co-management, and admin training take a week or longer. Having one internal owner for the project is the biggest factor in speed. [CONFIRM]

GET STARTED

Scope Your Zebra DNA Cloud Deployment

Pick the path that matches where you are. Every deployment is scoped and quoted to your fleet.

  • Want to Test It First

    See it run against your own work.

    [CONFIRM: eval license via AAI?]

    Start a Free Trial

  • I’m Close but Unsure

    Get a scoped price for your sites and devices.

    Price My Solution

  • This Is Bigger Than a License

    Talk the whole project through with us.

    Request a Consult

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Reviewed October 2026