Based on Apple's current design, if an application from the App Store (or ABM/VPP) is in the foreground on a device when it receives the request to update an application, the user will be prompted to allow the app update. For apps that are not running in Single App Mode, the application will typically relaunch after the prompt has been accepted. If running in Single App Mode, the application will typically not update regardless of the prompt being accepted.
Most admins will use a workflow similar to the following to remotely deploy application updates for devices running in Single App Mode:
- Start with a device running the target application in Single App Mode.
- Disable Single App Mode for the target application.
- Enable Single App Mode for any alternative application. This gets the target application out of the foreground.
- Push the update to the target application.
- Once the update is complete, disable Single App Mode for the alternative application.
- Re-enable Single App Mode for the target application.
This process should allow the app to be updated without any interaction on the physical device.
