SkieWhat are essential apps and does Skie ever block them?
Essential apps are the system apps a device needs to work, such as the phone dialler, settings and the core services. Skie never touches them, whatever an app list says. This keeps a managed device usable and avoids breaking calls, notifications or the launcher by an overzealous list.
A tablet or phone has built-in system components that other things rely on. If a list removed those, the device could fail to boot cleanly, lose its keyboard or be unable to place an emergency call. Skie treats these essential system apps as off limits to the install guard and to app lists.
The same caution applies to models. New device models go through a one-time model review during setup. On a model that has not been reviewed, built-in apps are left alone entirely, so nothing is hidden on the basis of a guess.
Essential does not mean allowed to be misused. Settings screens that matter for safety are controlled through policy switches instead, such as blocked developer options, locked date and time, and blocked factory reset from Settings. The apps stay present, but what they can change is limited.
Hiding versus deleting is the other point to know. Skie hides or suspends apps that are not allowed, instead of deleting them, so their data comes back if you allow them again. A practical tip: do not worry about listing system apps in your own lists. Add the apps people actually use, check the effective policy view on a sample device, and if something basic seems missing, check the model review before you suspect the list.