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Can Jamf Pro deploy iOS apps to Macs?

  • February 1, 2025
  • 10 replies
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Z
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I've tried deploying Mohs Surgery iOS app(https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mohs-surgery-appropriate-use-criteria/id692790649) to managed Macs through Jamf Pro w/o success.

I've made sure to match the short version, bundle ID, and app link.

I can deploy this to iOS devices just not Macs.
I've confirmed on a vanilla M1 unmanaged Mac that it works through App Store.
Through self-service it attempts to install but spins infinitely.
Through automatic install it shows 1 license used but never shows up in /Applications.
Included below are the configs for Mac and iOS:

Best answer by maxhewett

I've had success in the past following @grahamrpugh's guide: https://grahamrpugh.com/2021/08/24/jamf-ios-apps-on-macos.html

Keep in mind, it will only work if the app is able to be installed on the Mac using the Mac App Store under the iOS tab. 

    10 replies

    howie_isaacks
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    • howie_isaacks
    • Esteemed Contributor
    • February 2, 2025

    Have you checked the install log at /var/log/install.log? It may provide information about what is happening. Does this app show up in Settings - Global - Volume Purchasing? If it shows as an iOS app, that might be the reason why your app isn't being installed. This may be a limitation in Jamf Pro. Jamf Pro may not yet be able to install app store apps initially meant for iOS or iPadOS on a Mac. I have installed a few apps on my Mac that are not available officially as a Mac app using the App Store this works really well. Jamf Pro may not be setup to do that.

    Z
    agungsujiwo
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    • agungsujiwo
    • Contributor
    • February 3, 2025

    Hi @howie_isaacks ,

    Here are the steps on how you can download IOS apps to Mac Apple Silicon Chip,
    https://support.apple.com/guide/app-store/iphone-ipad-apps-mac-apple-silicon-fird2c7092da/3.0/mac/15.0

    If you download an iOS .ipa file on a Mac, it will automatically change to a .app 

    Use App Composer to convert .app to .PKG  ,
    you can create Polices in Jamf to push to Mac,
    note: maybe the size will be small, and only support on MacOS Apple Silicon

    howie_isaacks
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    • howie_isaacks
    • Esteemed Contributor
    • February 3, 2025

    Hi @howie_isaacks ,

    Here are the steps on how you can download IOS apps to Mac Apple Silicon Chip,
    https://support.apple.com/guide/app-store/iphone-ipad-apps-mac-apple-silicon-fird2c7092da/3.0/mac/15.0

    If you download an iOS .ipa file on a Mac, it will automatically change to a .app 

    Use App Composer to convert .app to .PKG  ,
    you can create Polices in Jamf to push to Mac,
    note: maybe the size will be small, and only support on MacOS Apple Silicon


    I thought the whole point of this thread was to get the app installed using the normal method of distributing apps from the App Store. Using this process would require a manual update process, and there could be App Store account problems. 

    Z
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    • zachsplr
    • Author
    • New Contributor
    • February 3, 2025

    Have you checked the install log at /var/log/install.log? It may provide information about what is happening. Does this app show up in Settings - Global - Volume Purchasing? If it shows as an iOS app, that might be the reason why your app isn't being installed. This may be a limitation in Jamf Pro. Jamf Pro may not yet be able to install app store apps initially meant for iOS or iPadOS on a Mac. I have installed a few apps on my Mac that are not available officially as a Mac app using the App Store this works really well. Jamf Pro may not be setup to do that.


    I reran the self service app and nothing shows up in install.log even if I quit self service.
    It does show up as an iOS app in Jamf Volume Purchasing.
    I can confirm installing via App Store does not tho.

    Z
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    • zachsplr
    • Author
    • New Contributor
    • February 3, 2025

    I reran the self service app and nothing shows up in install.log even if I quit self service.
    It does show up as an iOS app in Jamf Volume Purchasing.
    I can confirm installing via App Store does not tho.


    Installing via App Store works.

    Z
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    • zachsplr
    • Author
    • New Contributor
    • February 3, 2025

    Hi @howie_isaacks ,

    Here are the steps on how you can download IOS apps to Mac Apple Silicon Chip,
    https://support.apple.com/guide/app-store/iphone-ipad-apps-mac-apple-silicon-fird2c7092da/3.0/mac/15.0

    If you download an iOS .ipa file on a Mac, it will automatically change to a .app 

    Use App Composer to convert .app to .PKG  ,
    you can create Polices in Jamf to push to Mac,
    note: maybe the size will be small, and only support on MacOS Apple Silicon


    Hi Agungsujiwo,

    How does one get the iOS ipa file for an App Store app?
    On the unmanaged M1, I've tried to use Jamf Composer to package the Mohs app specifying to run all enclosed contents as root but when I try to run on a managed M1 then I get an error about signing in with Apple ID. We have the Jamf environment setup to not allow App Store logins as everything is pushed through Jamf.

    agungsujiwo
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    • agungsujiwo
    • Contributor
    • February 4, 2025

    Hi Agungsujiwo,

    How does one get the iOS ipa file for an App Store app?
    On the unmanaged M1, I've tried to use Jamf Composer to package the Mohs app specifying to run all enclosed contents as root but when I try to run on a managed M1 then I get an error about signing in with Apple ID. We have the Jamf environment setup to not allow App Store logins as everything is pushed through Jamf.


    Hi @zachsplr ,

    Thank you for the update and for your efforts.

    I encountered the same Apple ID login pop-up. It appears that this is not an error but rather a policy in iOS apps when running on a Mac.

    It seems that App Store logins are not allowed in your environment. Perhaps you could create a ticket with Jamf Support to check if there is a setting that allows VPP iOS apps to run on a Mac without prompting for an Apple ID login.

    Z
    Z
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    • zachsplr
    • Author
    • New Contributor
    • February 4, 2025

    Hi @zachsplr ,

    Thank you for the update and for your efforts.

    I encountered the same Apple ID login pop-up. It appears that this is not an error but rather a policy in iOS apps when running on a Mac.

    It seems that App Store logins are not allowed in your environment. Perhaps you could create a ticket with Jamf Support to check if there is a setting that allows VPP iOS apps to run on a Mac without prompting for an Apple ID login.


    Thanks for the checking and the suggestions. I have an open case with Jamf Support and waiting to hear back from them on this specific app in their testing environment. I'll update this post once I hear back.

    maxhewett
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    • maxhewett
    • New Contributor
    • Answer
    • February 10, 2025

    I've had success in the past following @grahamrpugh's guide: https://grahamrpugh.com/2021/08/24/jamf-ios-apps-on-macos.html

    Keep in mind, it will only work if the app is able to be installed on the Mac using the Mac App Store under the iOS tab. 

    howie_isaacks
    agungsujiwo
    grldP
    Z
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    • zachsplr
    • Author
    • New Contributor
    • February 10, 2025

    @maxhewett Thanks for the suggestion. I see that others in the community have also had success with the guide with the caveat as you mentioned to using the App Store. I let our client know they'll have to use iOS device for the app since App Store is blocked.
    Jamf support did not have any other methods.

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