Distributing apps to Groups

You can distribute and install Android apps silently without any user intervention as explained here. Silent distribution and installation of Apple 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 using multi version management, refer to this link.

Distribute apps to groups

Follow the steps mentioned below to distribute the Apps from the App repository to the groups/devices.

1. On the web console, navigate to Groups and Devices
2. Click on Groups/Devices and select the list of Devices based on the platform.
3. Click on Distribute Apps from the Actions dropdown.
4. Under deployment settings, configure the following options:
5. Distribution Type:
   Distribute to app catalog: This option allows users to discover and install the app themselves from the MDM app catalog.
   Silent installation: This option automatically installs the app on devices without any user interaction. This is useful for mandatory applications or when you want to ensure consistent deployments. 
6. Restrict users from uninstalling the app: Check this box if you want to prevent users from uninstalling the app after it has been installed. This is often used for critical system applications or when you want to enforce compliance.
7. Download preference: (Applicable only on Android devices)
   Conserve Bandwidth: This option downloads the app only when the device is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
   Download Immediately: This option downloads the app as soon as possible, regardless of network conditions.
8. Notify through- Select the desired notification platforms to inform users about the app deployment:
   App Catalog: Notifications will be sent to the ME MDM App Catalog present on the users' device.
   Email: Notifications will be sent to the user's email address.
9. Click on Distribute App to proceed with app distribution.

Note:

1. In a scenario where a device belongs to multiple groups, and each group has different app deployment settings configured, the most recently applied settings will take precedence on the device.
2. You have already distributed app deployment settings to a group or device, but now you want to change those settings. To do this, you need to reconfigure the settings and distribute them again to the required group or device.
3. Uninstallation Restrictions Remain Intact: When you distribute app updates, the existing deployment settings, including the restriction on uninstallation, will not be overridden. The restriction will remain the same on the device.

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.

• 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:

1. On the web console, navigate to Groups and Devices
2. Click on Groups and select the list of Groups based on the platform as Apple /Android/Windows Groups.
3. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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;

1. On the web console, navigate to Groups and Devices
2. Click on Groupsand select the list of Devices based on the platform as Apple /Android/Windows Groups.
3. Click on Apps
4. Select the App that needs to be removed
5. 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