Device Management

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Allow administrators to securely and remotely configure enrolled devices using Device Management.

Device Management Documentation

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How to test ManagedAppConfigurationProvider without MDM
How to test ManagedAppConfigurationProvider without MDM ? Task { /* Configuration provider task */ for await configuration in configurationProvider.configurations(MyAppConfiguration.self) { self.configuration = configuration ?? MyAppConfiguration.defaultConfiguration } } Can the existence of a configuration be simulated, e.g. by storing a mocked configuration in UserDefaults? The UserDefaults key "com.apple.configuration.managed" seems not relevant here.
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84
Jun ’25
MDM Server and automatic deployment
Hello all, We have built our own MDM solution as we plan to support quite a few devices running iOS. Manual activation is running fine and devices are checking in. We have setup ABM with Device management service setup and linked to our MDM. We have added reseller via Apple customer number and purchased devices are showing in ABM. We have setup default management service assignment as well. When we are setting up a device it gives an error: Remote Management The configuration for your iPhone could not be downloaded from . cancelled Error in the device log is as follows: Jun 11 14:16:36 iPhone Setup(DMCUtilities)[626] : <DMCHTTPRequestor: 0x84cfd7d40> cannot accept the authentication method NSURLAuthenticationMethodClientCertificate Jun 11 14:16:36 iPhone Setup(CFNetwork)[626] : Task <663D2346-4B73-4DB2-A134-B1A7DC58E70B>.<1> auth completion disp=2 cred=0x0 Jun 11 14:16:36 iPhone Setup(CFNetwork)[626] : Task <663D2346-4B73-4DB2-A134-B1A7DC58E70B>.<1> summary for task failure {transaction_duration_ms=285, response_status=-1, connection=7, reused=1, reused_after_ms=0, request_start_ms=0, request_duration_ms=0, response_start_ms=0, response_duration_ms=0, request_bytes=0, request_throughput_kbps=0, response_bytes=0, response_throughput_kbps=0, cache_hit=false} Jun 11 14:16:36 iPhone Setup(CFNetwork)[626] : Connection 7: TLS Client Certificates encountered error 1:89 Jun 11 14:16:36 iPhone Setup(CFNetwork)[626] : Task <663D2346-4B73-4DB2-A134-B1A7DC58E70B>.<1> finished with error [-999] Error Domain=NSURLErrorDomain Code=-999 UserInfo={NSErrorFailingURLStringKey=, NSErrorFailingURLKey=, _NSURLErrorRelatedURLSessionTaskErrorKey=, _NSURLErrorFailingURLSessionTaskErrorKey=, NSLocalizedDescription=} Jun 11 14:16:36 iPhone Setup(CFNetwork)[626] : Connection 7: encountered error(1:89) Jun 11 14:16:36 iPhone Setup(CFNetwork)[626] : Connection 7: cleaning up Jun 11 14:16:36 iPhone Setup(CFNetwork)[626] : Connection 7: summary for unused connection {protocol="http/1.1", domain_lookup_duration_ms=0, connect_duration_ms=0, secure_connection_duration_ms=0, private_relay=false, idle_duration_ms=0} Jun 11 14:16:36 iPhone Setup(DMCUtilities)[626] : <DMCHTTPRequestor: 0x84cfd7d40> failed to communicate with the MDM server. Error: NSURLError:Desc : cancelled Domain : NSURLErrorDomain Code : -999 Extra info: { NSErrorFailingURLKey = "https://mdm.domainname/enroll"; NSErrorFailingURLStringKey = "https://mdm.domainname/enroll"; "_NSURLErrorFailingURLSessionTaskErrorKey" = "LocalDataTask <663D2346-4B73-4DB2-A134-B1A7DC58E70B>.<1>"; "_NSURLErrorRelatedURLSessionTaskErrorKey" = ( "LocalDataTask <663D2346-4B73-4DB2-A134-B1A7DC58E70B>.<1>" ); }
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246
Jun ’25
Best Practices for Updating iOS Apps in SAM/ASAM (Single App Mode) Under MDM Supervision
We’re looking for best practices to remotely update iOS apps that are deployed in Single App Mode (SAM) or Autonomous Single App Mode (ASAM), managed through MDM. Imagine a typical use case: an iPad installed as a self-service kiosk at an airport restaurant. We need to update the app periodically without: Displaying any prompts to the user Relying on the user to approve or initiate the update (since the device is unattended) Sending technicians onsite, as many devices are in remote locations MDM providers have stated, “This is how Apple handles it,” without offering a workable solution. We’re hoping someone here has experience or suggestions for: Seamless or silent app updates in SAM/ASAM Update workflows that avoid interruptions or user interaction Any proven strategies or automation options under MDM supervision Any insight or documented approaches would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
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163
Jun ’25
Strange network information values ​​in response to DeviceInformation command on iPad
I am checking the response of DeviceInformation Command to collect network information from iPad. On iPad(iPad Pro 11, M4) devices that use WiFi without inserting Usim or Esim, network values ​​such as CurrentMCC and ICCID are received in response to the DeviceInformation command. cf.)Even though it may be garbage value, I blurred the unique information just in case. <key>ServiceSubscriptions</key> <array> <dict> <key>CarrierSettingsVersion</key> <string>61.0</string> <key>CurrentCarrierNetwork</key> <string></string> <key>CurrentMCC</key> <string>450</string> <key>CurrentMNC</key> <string>08</string> <key>EID</key> <string>blah blah</string> <key>ICCID</key> <string>blah balh</string> <key>IMEI</key> <string>blah blah</string> <key>IsDataPreferred</key> <true/> <key>IsRoaming</key> <true/> <key>IsVoicePreferred</key> <false/> <key>Label</key> <string>Provisioning</string> <key>LabelID</key> <string>00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000</string> <key>PhoneNumber</key> <string></string> <key>Slot</key> <string>CTSubscriptionSlotOne</string> <key>SubscriberCarrierNetwork</key> <string>iPad</string> </dict> </array> This is a bit weird. If I collect the same information from an iPhone(iPhone 15 Pro Max) that only uses wifi and does not use Usim or Esim, it does not respond with values ​​like ICCID, CurrentMCC, etc. <key>ServiceSubscriptions</key> <array> <dict> <key>IMEI</key> <string>blah blah</string> <key>Slot</key> <string>CTSubscriptionSlotOne</string> </dict> <dict> <key>EID</key> <string>blah blah</string> <key>IMEI</key> <string>blah blah</string> <key>Slot</key> <string>CTSubscriptionSlotTwo</string> </dict> </array> I'm confused by the network information collected. Is there a reason why the collected network information of iPad and iPhone are different?
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272
Jun ’25
Will a device automatically unenroll if the identity certificate expires?
I am trying to find clarification on something. We are seeing strange cases where customer devices seem to unenroll themselves after a period of MDM inactivity. This seems to tie into roughly when their identity certificate has expired. We can't confirm this because the device has since unenrolled. Is there any case where an Apple device will automatically unenroll if it's identity certificate has expired? This doesn't always seem to happen - I had a device respond immediately after being switched off for a year - but could this be down to some devices being DEP enrolled and others manually enrolled?
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486
Jul ’25
`Hideable` MDM attribute not preventing app hiding
I have come across this Hideable attribute for managed apps, introduced in iOS 18.1, and I've encountered some behavior that seems to contradict the official documentation. According to Apple's documentation for app.managed.yaml, setting the Hideable key to false under the Attributes section should prevent a user from hiding the app. The documentation explicitly states: If false, the system prevents the user from hiding the app. It doesn't affect the user's ability to leave it in the App Library, while removing it from the Home Screen. I have configured this in my app.managed.yaml and successfully applied the profile to my test device via our MDM server. However, I am still able to hide the application from both the Home Screen and the App Library. Here are the steps I'm taking to hide the app: Long-press the app icon on Home Screen Select "Require Touch ID" Select "Hide and Require Touch ID" Authenticate using Touch ID Select "Hide App" After these steps, the app is no longer visible on the Home Screen or in the App Library, which is contrary to the behavior described in the documentation for when Hideable is set to false. My question is: Is this a known issue or a potential bug in iOS 18.1? Or, is there an additional configuration profile or a specific device supervision requirement that I might be missing to enforce this restriction correctly? Any clarification would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
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127
Jul ’25
[MDM]Unable to Install App Store iOS/iPadOS Apps on Apple Silicon Mac - "Failed" State
I tried the new feature of macOS 26.0 com.apple.configuration.app.managed. A configuration and its activation are defined with the data like this. InstallBehavior: Install: Required License: Assignment: Device iOSApp: true AppStoreID: '1113153706' After distributing the configuration with DeclarativeDevicement MDM command, an error is notified via status channel app.managed.list. "managed": { "list": [ { "state": "failed", "declaration-identifier": "1424a813-113f-5de0-9a75-38bf64f22673", "identifier": "com.microsoft.skype.teams", "name": "Microsoft Teams" } ] } What am I missing in the settings? Thank you
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196
Jul ’25
Question: Granular App Update Status Reporting (Similar to Software Updates)
I'm currently testing app updates using the App:Managed declarative device management payload, and I have a question regarding app update status reporting. Presently, by subscribing to the app.managed.list status item, we can retrieve a list of managed applications along with their installation status. Additionally, we enable automatic updates for managed App Store apps using the UpdateBehavior.AutomaticAppUpdates key. However, especially when a critical application update is initiated, we frequently find ourselves needing more detailed information about the update process. For instance, having status items similar to softwareupdate.install-state and softwareupdate.failure-reason would be incredibly helpful for user troubleshooting. My question is: Is there a way to obtain a similar level of detailed, real-time status updates for app updates? Any insights you might have, or existing methods to achieve this, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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838
Jul ’25
Duplicate App identifiers reported
The result Plist for the InstalledApplicationList MDM command is reporting duplicate Application identifiers. Sometimes with different version, other times with the same version. The device is MacOS 15.5, Enrolled via ABM (Supervised). Here are a couple samples from the returned list. Duplicate app: <key>BundleSize</key> <integer>398051</integer> <key>Identifier</key> <string>com.adobe.Acrobat.NativeMessagingHost</string> <key>Installing</key> <false/> <key>Name</key> <string>NativeMessagingHost</string> <key>ShortVersion</key> <string>5.0</string> <key>Version</key> <string>5.0</string> </dict> <dict> <key>BundleSize</key> <integer>398051</integer> <key>Identifier</key> <string>com.adobe.Acrobat.NativeMessagingHost</string> <key>Installing</key> <false/> <key>Name</key> <string>NativeMessagingHost</string> <key>ShortVersion</key> <string>5.0</string> <key>Version</key> <string>5.0</string> </dict> Different Version: <key>BundleSize</key> <integer>4197200</integer> <key>Identifier</key> <string>com.adobe.adobe_licutil</string> <key>Installing</key> <false/> <key>Name</key> <string>adobe_licutil</string> <key>ShortVersion</key> <string>11.0.0.39</string> <key>Version</key> <string>11.0.0.39</string> </dict> <dict> <key>BundleSize</key> <integer>4443177</integer> <key>Identifier</key> <string>com.adobe.AcroLicApp</string> <key>Installing</key> <false/> <key>Name</key> <string>AcroLicApp</string> <key>ShortVersion</key> <string>25.001.20432</string> <key>Version</key> <string>25.001.20432</string> </dict> <dict> <key>BundleSize</key> <integer>7380980</integer> <key>Identifier</key> <string>com.adobe.adobe_licutil</string> <key>Installing</key> <false/> <key>Name</key> <string>adobe_licutil</string> <key>ShortVersion</key> <string>10.0.0.274</string> <key>Version</key> <string>10.0.0.274</string> </dict>
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980
Jul ’25
Signing Certificates for MDM Configuration Profiles
Subject: Questions Regarding Signing Certificates for MDM Configuration Profiles Dear all, I hope this message finds you well. I have some questions regarding the signing certificates used for MDM configuration profiles. Currently, our company uses an SSL certificate to sign MDM configuration profiles. However, with the announcement that the validity period of SSL certificates will gradually be shortened starting in 2026, we are considering alternative options for signing certificates. Through our internal testing and investigation, we have found examples of the following certificate chains being used: ・Developer ID - G1 (Expiring 02/01/2027 22:12:15 UTC) + Developer ID Application certificate chain ・Apple Root CA + Apple Worldwide Developer Relations Intermediate Certificate + MDM CSR certificate chain We would appreciate any insights or experiences you can share regarding the following points: Apple Support previously advised that "certificates issued by public certificate authorities (CAs) trusted by Apple" are recommended. The certificates listed at https://www.apple.com/certificateauthority/ are typically preinstalled on Apple devices. Are these considered "trusted public CAs" by Apple in this context? Is it acceptable in practice to use a certificate obtained from the “Certificates, Identifiers &amp; Profiles” section on developer.apple.com for signing MDM configuration profiles? We would be grateful to hear about any real-world experiences. If the answer to question 2 is yes, which certificate type within “Certificates, Identifiers &amp; Profiles” would be most appropriate for signing configuration profiles? If using certificates from question 2 is not suitable, are there alternative certificate types (other than SSL) that are valid for longer periods (e.g., more than one year) and appropriate for signing MDM configuration profiles? Apple's official documents do not seem to clearly specify what type of certificate should be used to sign MDM configuration profiles. If you know of any helpful documents or resources related to this topic, we would greatly appreciate it if you could share them. Thank you very much for your time and support. We would truly appreciate any advice or guidance you can provide.
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151
Jul ’25
Is NanoMDM a future-ready MDM for Apple Business Manager?
Hello, We are currently deploying Apple devices in our organization using Apple Business Manager (ABM) and are looking for a long-term self-hosted MDM solution. We initially considered MicroMDM, but since official support will end in December 2025, we are evaluating NanoMDM. I would like to confirm: Is NanoMDM a stable and production-ready option for long-term use with Apple Business Manager and Automated Device Enrollment (ADE)? Does NanoMDM support all essential features like: Supervision Remote wipe App deployment Configuration profiles Are there any limitations or known issues with using NanoMDM? Are there any other open-source or lightweight MDM solutions Apple developers recommend that are actively maintained? We are aiming for a reliable, secure, and future-proof self-hosted MDM setup. Any guidance or shared experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Vijay Pratap Singh
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400
Jul ’25
ACME Managed Device Attestation - Saving certificate to Kerychain
Hello! I’m testing certificate issuance using a locally running Smallstep step-ca ACME server with the device-attest-01 challenge. I’ve created a custom MDM profile for this purpose. When I install the profile, the certificate is issued successfully, but it is not saved to the Keychain as stated in the documentation. I can only see the certificate via mdmclient or in the Wi-Fi settings dropdown menu. Is this expected behavior, or are there additional settings that need to be included in the MDM profile?
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796
Aug ’25
VPP Asset allocation getting delayed
We are experiencing a critical issue where VPP app installations are consistently taking an excessive amount of time, leading to significant delays in asset association. We are deployionThis is a systemic problem that affects all VPP apps, not just an isolated case. Apps: 39470db7-e475-4269-9709-c80641657027 => com.zimride.instant d0876900-2579-463e-99f1-b7c85ef5c5e8 com.microsoft.azureauthenticator Troubleshooting: We have performed extensive troubleshooting and can confirm the following: VPP Token: The VPP token has been successfully renewed and is currently active and valid. License Availability: We've verified that there are sufficient VPP licenses available for the apps being deployed. Device Status: We've attempted the following on the affected devices: Restarted the devices. Switched to different Wi-Fi networks. Uninstalled and re-installed the apps. App Status: The issue is not limited to a single app; all VPP apps are failing to install. License Revocation: We attempted to revoke and reassign licenses for some devices, but this did not resolve the issue. The app was not pushed, and the pending status remained. Troubleshooting: Through our internal investigation, we have determined that the core issue is that the Asset Association Status is consistently taking excessive time. This seems to be preventing the app installation queue from processing. We have observed a significant delay in the processing of events within the Notification Channel. The time between the event being created and a response being received is excessively long, indicating a potential backlog or issue. We have included a few recent examples below for your reference: Event ID: 39470db7-e475-4269-9709-c80641657027 com.zimride.instant Created Time: 2025-08-26 01:02:04 Response Time: 2025-08-26 01:34:05 Event ID: d0876900-2579-463e-99f1-b7c85ef5c5e8 com.microsoft.azureauthenticator Created Time: 2025-08-25 21:16:29 Response Time: 2025-08-25 22:21:07 We would appreciate your help in the following areas: Resolution: Could you provide any known solutions or workarounds for an asset association status that is taking excessive amount of time'? Best Practices: Are there any recommended best practices or additional parameters we should be checking with the MDM that might influence the queueing of VPP app assignments? Queueing Parameters: Could you provide insight into the parameters or conditions that can affect the queueing and processing of VPP app installations on Apple's servers? Please let us know if there is any additional information or logs we can provide.
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562
Aug ’25
forceAirDropUnmanaged not blocking proximity-based AirDrop (NameDrop) on iOS
We’ve run into what looks like a gap in how forceAirDropUnmanaged is enforced on iOS devices. Setup: Device: iOS 17.x (unsupervised, enrolled in MDM) MDM Restriction: forceAirDropUnmanaged = true Managed Open-In restriction also applied (block unmanaged destinations). Verified: from a managed app, the AirDrop icon is hidden in the share sheet. This part works as expected. Issue: When two iOS devices are brought close together, the proximity-initiated AirDrop / NameDrop flow still allows transfer of photos, videos, or files between devices. In this path, forceAirDropUnmanaged does not appear to apply, even though the same restriction works correctly in the standard sharing pane. What I’d expect: If forceAirDropUnmanaged is enabled, all AirDrop transfer paths (including proximity/NameDrop) should be treated as unmanaged, and thus blocked when “Managed Open-In to unmanaged destinations” is restricted. What I observe instead: Share sheet → AirDrop hidden ✅ Proximity/NameDrop → transfer still possible ❌ Questions for Apple / Community: Is this a known limitation or expected behavior? Is there a different restriction key (or combination) that also covers proximity-based AirDrop? If not currently supported, should this be filed as Feedback (FB) to request alignment between share sheet AirDrop and NameDrop enforcement? This behaviour introduces a compliance gap for organisations relying on MDM to control data exfiltration on unsupervised or user-enrolled devices. Any clarification or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
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1.3k
Aug ’25
Issue Installing PKG via MDM on macOS 15 – “The app is running and we don’t have the context to quit it, failing install”
We’re running into a problem when deploying certain .pkg installers via MDM on macOS 15 and above. The installation fails with the following error message: “The app is running and we don’t have the context to quit it, failing install.” Context: The .pkg is being pushed through an MDM solution (not installed manually). This happens consistently across multiple macOS 15+ devices. The target app is often already running when the MDM tries to install the update. Unlike a manual installation, the MDM does not appear to have the ability to quit the running app before proceeding. Questions: Is this a known change in macOS 15 where MDM-delivered installs no longer have permission to terminate apps during package installation? Are there recommended best practices for handling app updates via .pkg through MDM in this scenario? Has anyone implemented a workaround—such as pre-install scripts, user notifications, or policies to quit the app before running the installer—that works reliably on macOS 15? Is Apple planning to update MDM behavior or installer APIs to address this, or should admins expect to handle quitting apps entirely outside of the MDM installation process? Any insights from Apple engineers or other developers/admins who have encountered this would be really helpful.
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1.9k
Aug ’25