By default, SimpleMDM can update or delete any managed Apple App Store apps on a device. A managed app means that SimpleMDM has control of the app and is allowed to modify it. Any app that SimpleMDM installs itself is automatically managed.
Request management of an app:
Apps that are installed manually on the device itself or were installed before the device was enrolled in SimpleMDM are considered unmanaged. In SimpleMDM, you can request to manage one of these unmanaged apps by completing the following steps:
- Go to the Device Details screen for the device.
- Click the Apps tab.
- Check the box next to the app name.
- Click Actions.
- Select Request Management.
If the device is supervised, the device will automatically grant you management permissions for the app. If the device is unsupervised, the device will prompt the user for permission first.
Once an app on a device is "managed", it can be deleted with the same process using Delete from the Actions menu.
Note: iOS and tvOS only allow management requests for App Store-based apps. Enterprise apps cannot be managed if they were previously installed without SimpleMDM. Instead, install the same enterprise app on top of the existing app to gain management privileges.
Uninstall the app:
Once an app is managed, it can be removed from a device by clicking the Delete button in the Apps tab under device details. Similarly, the Update button will update the app.
An individual managed iOS app can also be deleted from multiple devices at once using the following steps:
- Go to Apps > Catalog.
- Click the app name.
- Click the Installs tab.
- Check the boxes next to device names.
- Click Actions and select Uninstall.
Note: Apple did not introduce the concept of a "managed" application on macOS until macOS 11+. As a result, apps cannot be deleted on macOS devices prior to macOS 11. Additionally, apps installed on Macs prior to macOS 11 will not be considered managed by default - management would need to be requested.
