Need help finding and downloading the Workday app

Software
1

I’m trying to download the Workday app on my phone but I’m not sure which version is the official one or why it’s not showing up in my app store search. I need it to access my work schedule, pay stubs, and benefits, but I’m stuck and worried I’ll miss important updates. Can someone explain the correct steps to download and set up the Workday app on iOS or Android, and any common issues that might block the download?

2

This trips a lot of people up, so here is the quick breakdown.

  1. Check what phone and OS you use
    • iPhone: iOS 15 or newer works best.
    • Android: Android 8 or newer.
    If your OS is too old, the app will not show in search at all.

  2. Exact app name and publisher
    Search for:
    • “Workday”
    • Developer or publisher must show as: “Workday, Inc.”
    Icon is a white background with a blue circle and a yellow arc on top.
    Avoid anything with “guide for workday” or “workday tips” or random companies.

  3. Direct links
    Try these in your mobile browser if search fails:
    • iOS App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/workday/id316800034
    • Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.workday.workdroidapp
    If link opens but says “not compatible” or “not avaialble in your region” then it is either an old device or your org uses a restricted version.

  4. Region and device restrictions
    Some employers require:
    • Managed devices (company phone only).
    • Mobile access disabled in your country or region.
    In those cases the public Workday app might not show for your account.

  5. Employer specific access
    Even after install, Workday will not work without your company info.
    Get from HR or your manager:
    • Your org’s Workday URL, like “https://companyname.workday.com”
    • Or a QR code / link from the “Workday Mobile” section on a desktop browser.
    On first launch choose “Log in via URL” or “Scan QR code” and use that.

  6. If it still does not appear
    Try:
    • Restart phone.
    • Log out of App Store or Play Store, log back in.
    • Check if you use a work-managed app store like Intune Company Portal instead of the normal store. Some employers push Workday through those tools only.

  7. Access without the app
    If nothing works, use a browser on your phone:
    • Go to your company’s Workday URL.
    • Log in.
    • Add it to your home screen from the browser menu.
    This still lets you view schedule, pay, and benefits, even if the app is blocked.

If you share your device type, OS version, and what you see when you search, people here can narrow it down more.

3

Couple of extra angles to check that @codecrafter didn’t really dig into:

  1. Check if your company even allows the public Workday app
    A lot of orgs now force you through something like:

    • Microsoft Intune / Company Portal
    • MobileIron / Ivanti
    • VMware Workspace ONE
      In those cases, the Workday app is only visible/installed inside that managed company store, not the regular App Store / Play Store.
      If your phone is “enrolled” as a work device, open the company portal app and search “Workday” there first.

  2. Ask HR how they expect you to connect
    Annoying step, but important:

    • Some companies use SAML SSO only, and they intentionally hide/disable mobile access.
    • Others require you to log in on a computer first and enable “Workday Mobile” under your profile before the phone app works at all.
      Just asking “Do we officially support the Workday mobile app?” to HR or IT can save hours of guessing.

  3. Check for parental / content restrictions on your personal phone
    This one bites people a lot:

    • iOS: Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → iTunes & App Store Purchases / Allowed Apps. If App Store is restricted or app age limits are set too low, Workday might not show.
    • Android: In Play Store, tap your profile → Settings → Family / Parental controls. If that’s on, try disabling temporarily and search again.

  4. If you see multiple Workday apps
    Besides the main “Workday” by Workday, Inc, some companies use:

    • “Workday for BlackBerry”
    • or a wrapped version inside a secure container app (e.g., it opens inside Company Portal or Secure Hub).
      In that case, your company’s documentation usually says exactly which one to use. If HR ever sent a “Mobile Workday instructions” PDF or intranet page, that’s the thing you want.

  5. Don’t sideload or grab random APKs
    If you’re on Android and the official app “isn’t compatible,” do not try to:

    • Download APKs from sketchy sites
    • Use “modded” or “unlocked” versions
      Workday has MFA, SSO, and very strict security rules. IT will see weird logins and your account can get locked, and honestly those APK sites are just malware with extra steps.

  6. Quick sanity checks specific to your situation
    If you share:

    • iPhone or Android
    • Exact OS version
    • What country your app store account is set to
    • Whether this is a personal phone or company-issued
      people here can usually tell in 1–2 replies if:
    • Your org blocks mobile
    • Your OS is too old
    • Or you’re stuck behind some corporate MDM requirement

In the meantime, using Workday in your mobile browser with your company URL is totally fine. It’s not as slick as the app, but you can still check schedule, pay, bennies, all that. Just don’t be surprised if some stuff looks a bit janky on a small screen.

4

Short version: if “Workday” by “Workday, Inc.” will not show up or install, the real question is how your company set up Workday access, not just “where is the app.”

I’ll try to fill in gaps without rehashing the same step lists from @ombrasilente and @codecrafter.

1. Start from your company’s Workday home, not the app store

Instead of hunting the Workday app first, do this on a computer or in your phone browser:

  1. Go to the normal Workday address your company uses (for example companyname.workday.com, whatever HR gave you).
  2. Log in.
  3. Look for:
    • Your profile / avatar menu
    • A section like “My Account,” “Preferences,” or “Workday Mobile”
  4. Many orgs have:
    • A “Get the Workday mobile app” tile or banner
    • Or a QR code that takes you to the correct app for your device and region

If you see that QR code, use your phone’s camera on it. It usually bypasses search issues and takes you to the right store entry automatically.

2. Check how your company authenticates

This is the part most people skip.

Ask HR or IT one specific question:

“Do we support the public Workday mobile app, or do we only allow browser access / company-managed apps?”

Possible answers and what they mean:

  • “We only support Workday from a browser”
    • Then you will never get the mobile app to work properly. Use the browser version and save it to your home screen.
  • “We use SSO only and mobile is not enabled”
    • Again, app will either fail login or be blocked. Browser is your only route.
  • “Yes, we support the mobile app”
    • Then they should also tell you:
      • Whether you need to enroll in a mobile device manager first
      • Whether there are extra steps like SMS MFA or an authenticator app

If they say “use the Workday app” but never mention how to sign in on mobile, push for details. A lot of confusion comes from half-complete instructions.

3. Why the app might not show even if your phone is “new enough”

Everyone focuses on OS version, but there are a few non-obvious blockers:

  • Managed Apple ID or managed Google account
    • If your company or school owns the ID, they can hide categories of apps, including Work apps. That can make Workday vanish from search even on a brand new phone.
  • Country mismatch
    • Your device might be physically in one country while your store account is tied to another. Some companies only allow Workday in certain regions tied to your store account, not where you are located.
  • Old store cache or wrong store profile
    • On Android especially, if you ever used a child / restricted profile or switched accounts, the Play Store can keep those restrictions even when you think it is “off.” In that case, switching to a main unrestricted profile fixes visibility.

These are different from simple parental controls and often require signing out of the store entirely and in again with your main account, or using the work portal app if IT requires that.

4. App not showing vs app showing but “not compatible”

Two separate problems:

  • Not showing at all in search
    • Almost always: restrictions, region, or store-account setup.
  • Shows up but has a “not compatible” button
    • Almost always: hardware or OS cutoff, even if the phone feels “new.”
    • Mid‑range or very cheap Android devices often get stuck on older versions with no official update path.

In the second case, do not go looking for random APKs. Security aside, Workday checks app integrity and version. A sideloaded version often breaks after one update cycle and can lock your account.

5. Using the browser version like a “fake app”

If in the end you cannot get the Workday app:

  1. Use your company’s Workday URL in Chrome, Safari, etc.
  2. Sign in.
  3. On your phone:
    • iOS: “Add to Home Screen” from the share sheet
    • Android: “Install app” or “Add to Home screen” from the browser menu

You end up with an icon that looks and behaves similar to an app.
Tradeoffs:

Pros

  • Works even if your company blocks the official app
  • Same data: schedules, pay, benefits
  • No store / region / device restrictions

Cons

  • Interface can be clunky on small screens
  • Notifications are weaker or non‑existent
  • Some workflows (like scanning documents) are less smooth

For a lot of people needing just schedule and pay stubs, this setup is “good enough” until IT decides what they want you to use.

6. Where I slightly disagree with the other posts

  • @codecrafter leans heavily on OS version and device age. That matters, but in many corporate setups the policy is the real gate. I have seen brand new phones blocked simply because mobile access was disabled at the tenant level.
  • @ombrasilente mentions mobile access sometimes requiring you to enable it under your profile. In practice, many companies hide that option and preconfigure everything from the admin side. So if you do not see any mobile toggle, it does not automatically mean you did something wrong; it may simply not exist for your tenant.

So, instead of burning time trying every store trick, your fastest path is:

  1. Confirm with HR/IT whether mobile is officially supported.
  2. If yes, ask for:
    • Exact steps to enroll (if they require a company portal / MDM)
    • Exact Workday URL or a QR code for the Workday mobile app.

Once you have that, the rest falls into place quickly.

If you can share whether your device is personal or company‑issued, roughly how old it is, and whether you can currently log into Workday from a regular browser, people here can usually pinpoint the cause with just a couple of follow‑ups.