Custom iPad and iPhone App Deployment

Custom iPad and iPhone app deployment is a powerful feature available on the Jamf Now Plus plan that empowers you to distribute apps that are not available in the App Store.

Custom apps are sometimes referred to as "third-party" or "in-house" apps. Deploying custom apps is a popular feature in organizations that develop their own applications internally or work with a third-party app developer to publish an app for their team.

Deploying a custom app to your organization's devices with Jamf Now is a simple process if you already have a custom app (.ipa file). Adding the custom app is nearly identical to adding an app from the App Store. Deploying it is as easy as assigning that app to a Blueprint.

Deploying Custom iPad and iPhone Apps

Requirements

  • Ensure you have the custom or in-house app located on your desktop as an .ipa file.

  • Ensure you have one of the following:

    • An Enterprise provisioning profile. This will allow for the app to be used post-deployment with Jamf Now. To learn more about Enterprise provisioning profiles, see the Apple Developer Enterprise Program.

    • Each target device's serial number added to the Apple Developer account if no Enterprise provisioning profile is available.

  • Deploying custom or in-house iPad and iPhone apps outside of the App Store with Jamf Now requires the Jamf Now Plus plan.

    If you are unsure of which account type you are currently using or need to upgrade to the Plus plan, navigate to the Account page in Jamf Now and look at the Plan section.

  1. With Jamf Now open and the .ipa file ready on your desktop, click on Apps in the left-hand sidebar, and then click Add an App.
  2. Click Upload Your App, and drag your app into the window (or click browse to manually find the app).
  3. With your app uploaded, click on Blueprints in the left-hand menu bar.
  4. Select a Blueprint or create a new one using the buttons at the top of the screen.
  5. Within a Blueprint, click on the Apps sub-menu to view the apps currently deployed to devices in that Blueprint.
  6. Click Add an App on the right-hand side of the screen, and then select the custom app from the menu that pops up to deploy it to all devices assigned to that Blueprint.