Overview
Swif.ai now supports deploying Apple App Store apps to managed iOS and iPadOS devices through your MDM console. This feature allows administrators to search the Apple App Store, add apps to a catalog, and assign them to company-owned devices — all without requiring Apple Business Manager (ABM) or the Volume Purchase Program (VPP).
Unlike force-installed apps on other platforms, iOS/iPadOS app installations require user confirmation. Device users will receive a notification prompting them to approve the installation.
Prerequisites
Company-owned devices enrolled via QR Code. This feature is supported only on QR Code-enrolled devices.
BYOD devices are not supported. Devices enrolled via Enrollment SSO (BYOD) cannot receive Apple App Store apps through MDM. Do not attempt to assign apps to BYOD devices.
How to Import an Apple App Store App
Navigate to Device Management → Software → Applications.
Click the Add Application button.
Select Import Apple App Store Apps from the dropdown menu.
In the search dialog, type the name of the app you want to add (e.g., "Slack", "WhatsApp"). The search uses Apple's iTunes Search API and will display matching results with app names, icons, and metadata.
Select the desired app from the results.
The app creation form will pre-populate with details pulled from the App Store, including the app name, description, and identifier.
The App Store ID and Identifier (bundle ID) fields are read-only and cannot be edited.
An informational banner will remind you that force install is not available — users must approve the installation on their device.
Fill in any additional fields as needed (e.g., catalogs, domain).
Click Save to add the app to your catalog.
Note: The Icon Image and Version fields are not available in the create or update flow for Apple App Store apps.
Viewing and Managing Apps
Once an app is saved, it will appear in the Applications table. You can:
View app details by clicking on an app in the table. The details panel displays the app name, icon, App Store ID, identifier, version, supported platforms, catalogs, domain, and description.
Edit editable fields such as description and catalogs. Read-only fields (App Store ID, Identifier) cannot be changed.
Delete an app from the catalog by opening the app and clicking Delete.
Important: The Clone and Extend functions are not supported for Apple App Store apps. These options will not appear in the app's detail panel.
Filtering the Applications Table
To view only iOS/iPadOS apps:
Open the Supported OS filter dropdown on the Applications table.
Select iOS/iPadOS.
The table will filter to show only Apple App Store apps.
Assigning Apps to Devices
Open an Apple App Store app from the catalog.
Navigate to the device assignment (manifest) section.
Select one or more QR Code-enrolled (Company Owned) iOS/iPadOS devices as targets.
Confirm the assignment.
The app will be added to each device's manifest and the MDM system will send an installation request to the device.
User Confirmation Flow
Apple App Store apps are not auto-installed. When an app is assigned to a device:
The device user receives a push notification prompting them to install the app.
The user taps Install to approve, and the app is downloaded from the Apple App Store.
If the user declines, the app is not installed.
Automatic Retry
If a user declines or has not yet installed the app, the system will automatically resend the installation request every 6 hours until the app is successfully installed. The user will receive a new notification each time.
Removing an App from a Device
To uninstall an app from a device:
Navigate to the device's manifest.
Remove the app from the install list.
The MDM system will send an uninstall command to the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I deploy Apple App Store apps to BYOD devices?
No. Apple App Store app deployment via MDM is only supported on company-owned devices enrolled via QR Code. BYOD devices enrolled through Enrollment SSO are not eligible.
Do I need Apple Business Manager (ABM) or VPP for this feature?
No. This feature uses the standard Apple App Store search API and is completely independent of ABM and VPP.
Why can't I clone or extend an Apple App Store app?
Clone and Extend are designed for custom package apps with many configurable fields. Apple App Store apps have a fixed set of attributes pulled directly from the App Store, so these functions are not applicable.
Why don't I see Icon Image or Version fields when creating an app?
These fields are not supported in the create/update flow for Apple App Store apps. The icon is automatically fetched from the App Store, and version information is managed by Apple.
How often does the system retry if the user doesn't install the app?
The system resends the installation request every 6 hours until the app is installed on the device.
This feature works similarly to the existing Android app catalog workflow. The key difference is that iOS/iPadOS installations always require user confirmation — there is no force-install option.