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I have an application which uses MDM and gets installed via a typical set of steps: get the portal app, run it and enroll the device, then install apps via MDM. As part of this, the MDM config data is put into NSUserDefaults which tells the app it is MDM managed.

My question is how this works with services like TestFlight and HockeyApp. I think those do normal non-MDM downloads, so how does the MDM config data get into NSUserDefaults?

From what I understand there is a MDM profile for each relevant app, but I am not sure how/when that gets to the device. Am I supposed to install my portal app, enroll, and then download via TestFlight or HockeyApp, and things should work as normal?

Locksleyu
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For the installation through an ad-hoc or enterprise distribution services like HockeyApp or TestFlight, there is no MDM profile.

When the app gets installed, iOS itself only checks the Provisioning Profile and the certificate that are attached to the app bundle to see if the code-signing is valid and in the case of ad-hoc distribution, if the current device's UDID is included in the Provisioning Profile.

To make sure the MDM config gets included and can be read and write by the MDM server, you have to use the MDM solution itself to distribute the app.

Lukas Spieß
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  • So are you saying for me to use MDM config I will not able to use HockeyApp or TestFlight? Or is there a hybrid way where I can use either of those technologies along with MDM server for distribution? – Locksleyu Mar 21 '17 at 15:50
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    MDM config requires the app to be installed through the MDM solution, yes. – Lukas Spieß Mar 21 '17 at 21:34
  • I couldn't quite get it too. To get MDM configured devices to install my app, is the app has to be in the App Store and it's the only way? – Richard Fu Nov 27 '19 at 00:33