Distributing apps to devices
You can distribute and install Android apps silently without any user intervention as explained here. Silent distribution and installation of iOS apps can be done as explained here. In case you distribute Android apps to the App Catalog instead of silently installing them, the device user can uninstall the distributed apps, which is by default restricted in case of silent installation. To test and deploy enterprise apps seamlessly refer to this link.
Distribute apps to devices
Follow the steps mentioned below to distribute the Apps from the App repository to the devices. To test and deploy enterprise apps seamlessly refer to this link
- On the web console, navigate to Groups and Devices
- Click on Devices and select the list of Devices based on the platform as iOS /Android/Windows.
- Click on Distribute Apps
- Enable the Checkbox to Notify the end user after the App is distributed
- Enable the Checkbox to Install enterprise apps silently, if required
- Select the Apps from the list of Available Apps and move them to the Added Apps
- Click on Save changes to distribute the Apps to the devices.
You have successfully distributed Apps to devices. The distributed Apps will be listed in the App Catalog of the user's mobile device. Users can click on it and install the Apps. Google Play Store Apps and Enterprise Apps can be distributed to Knox devices whereas, only enterprise apps can be distributed to Knox Containers. You can force install enterprise apps on Supervised iOS devices, Samsung devices, Knox Containers, Non-Samsung devices provisioned as Device Owner and Windows devices without any user intervention. The App will get installed automatically when the device is reachable by Mobile Device Manager Plus. App distribution for Windows phones will be not done immediately unlike iOS and Android devices. Task will be initiated and the Apps will be distributed to the windows devices, only when the device reaches the Mobile Device Manager Plus server.
- For devices provisioned as Profile Owner, different versions of the same application cannot exist, both inside and outside the work profile / container.
- For enterprise apps, when an app is present in the personal space and a lower version of the same app is distributed to the work profile, the app installation fails. Similarly, when a higher version of the same app is distributed to the work profile, the app present in the personal space is updated to the version being distributed.
- For Play Store apps, the version of the app in the personal space is updated to the version being distributed to the work profile.
Upgrade enterprise apps
Enterprise Apps which are distributed using Mobile Device Manager Plus can be upgraded to the latest version, by following the steps mentioned below:
- On the web console, navigate to Groups and Devices
- Click on Groups and select the list of Groups based on the platform as iOS /Android/Windows Groups.
- Under Actions click Upgrade icon against the App that needs to be upgraded.
The latest version of the App will be distributed to all the devices on which the App will installed. This does not require user intervention and is done automatically.
- Enterprise apps distributed via MDM can be installed on the device, even if Play Store is restricted. To install enterprise apps without user intervention, refer to this.
- In case you've added an unsigned enterprise app and have issues installing the same, it is recommended to have the app signed by the developer. To know more about app signing, click here. If you’re unable to install a signed enterprise app to the App Repository, you can file an appeal here.
Remove apps from devices
Apps which are distributed through Mobile Device Manager Plus can be removed. Apps which are not installed through Mobile Device Manager Plus cannot be removed using Mobile Device Manager Plus. To remove an App from the Device by following the steps mentioned below;
- On the web console, navigate to Groups and Devices
- Click on Devices and select the list of Devices based on the platform as iOS /Android/Windows Groups.
- Click on Apps
- Select the App that needs to be removed
- Under Actions, click remove icon to remove the app.
You can see the status would be changed as marked for delete, and the app will be removed from the device.
Apps can be uninstalled silently only in Samsung devices. For silent uninstallation of apps in Non-Samsung devices, it must be configured as Device Owner or the apps must be approved and installed as explained here