Business Central has a dedicated mobile app for iOS and Android. It connects to the same data as the browser version, so anything you do on mobile is reflected immediately in the system. The mobile app is useful for approval workflows, quick lookups, and basic data entry when you are away from your desk.
The experience is not identical to the browser version. The layout adapts for smaller screens and touch input, and some features that work well on desktop are limited or unavailable on mobile.
Installing the App
The Business Central app is available from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Search for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
After installing, sign in with the same Microsoft 365 account you use on desktop. If your organisation has multiple companies or environments, the app will prompt you to select which one to open.
How Navigation Differs on Mobile
The mobile app adapts the standard Business Central layout for touch screens. The Role Center is the starting point, but the layout is stacked vertically rather than spread across a wide screen.
Key differences from the desktop version:
- The navigation bar is condensed. Menu items that sit across the top on desktop appear in a hamburger-style menu on mobile.
- FactBoxes are not shown by default. You access related information by tapping through to the record.
- The action bar on pages shows fewer actions at once. Additional actions are grouped under a More or overflow menu.
- Column visibility on list pages is limited. Fewer columns display on a narrow screen, and you may need to open the record to see all fields.
Touch Gestures
The mobile app supports standard touch interactions:
- Tap, select a record or activate a button
- Long press, select a row in a list (equivalent to a checkbox click on desktop)
- Swipe left on a list row, reveals quick actions such as Delete or Edit depending on the page
- Pull down to refresh, reloads the current list or page
- Pinch to zoom, works in some document views
On list pages, long-pressing a row enters multi-select mode, which allows you to perform actions on several records at once.
What Works Well on Mobile
| Task | Notes |
|---|---|
| Approving purchase orders and sales quotes | Approval requests appear as notifications; one-tap approval from the app |
| Looking up customer or vendor details | Card pages load quickly; contact info, balance, and address visible immediately |
| Checking item availability | Item card and availability by location accessible on mobile |
| Entering simple journal lines | General Journal and Payment Journal are usable for basic entries |
| Viewing posted invoices and receipts | Document pages open and display correctly |
| Responding to workflow notifications | Notifications link directly to the relevant record |
| Recording time or expenses | Time Sheet and Expense pages work on mobile |
What Requires Desktop
| Task | Why Desktop Is Better |
|---|---|
| Complex G/L journal entry with many lines | Entering many lines on a small screen is slow and error-prone |
| VAT Posting Setup or Posting Group configuration | Setup pages with many fields are difficult to navigate on mobile |
| Report generation and printing | Reports run but scheduling and printer selection require desktop |
| Installing or managing Extensions | Extension Management is not available on mobile |
| Personalising pages | The Personalise mode is not supported in the mobile app |
| Bulk editing list pages | Edit List mode is limited on mobile |
| Chart of Accounts maintenance | G/L account setup requires desktop for practical use |
Tips for Common Mobile Tasks
Approvals. If your organisation uses approval workflows, the mobile app is the most practical way to approve requests while away from the office. Approval requests arrive as push notifications. Tapping the notification opens the document directly.
Customer lookups. Searching for a customer and checking their balance, address, or recent transactions works well. Use Alt + Q, on mobile this is a search icon at the top of the screen, to find records and pages quickly.
Quick data entry. For simple tasks like updating a field on a customer card or entering a single journal line, the mobile app is sufficient. For anything requiring you to work across multiple fields or pages at once, desktop is faster.
Camera integration. On mobile, you can use the device camera to attach photos or scan documents directly to a record. This is useful for attaching receipts to expense entries or photos of delivered goods to a warehouse receipt.
Offline limitations. The Business Central mobile app requires an internet connection. There is no offline mode. If you need to work without connectivity, prepare what you need on desktop before going offline.
Switching Between Companies and Environments
If you have access to multiple companies or sandbox environments, you can switch between them from within the app.
Tap your profile icon or the company name at the top of the screen. A list of available companies and environments appears. Selecting a different company reloads the app in that context.
This is useful for consultants or administrators who manage multiple tenants, though switching between environments on mobile is slower than on desktop.
If you are new to Business Central and want to understand the page types and navigation structure before using them on mobile, see How to Navigate Business Central: Pages, Lists, and FactBoxes Explained.