Application management

App Management in BigFix Mobile and MCM provides a centralized way to distribute, update, and control applications across multiple device platforms. Administrators can deploy both public store apps and internal corporate apps, enforce policies, and secure company data while simplifying the app lifecycle for end users.

Supported platforms

App management is supported on:

  • Android – including Managed Google Play and private app versioning.
  • iOS and iPadOS – including App Store apps, enterprise apps, and VPP apps.
  • macOS – including enterprise apps and VPP integration
  • Windows – including Microsoft Store apps

Administrators can remotely manage and distribute apps on MDM enrolled devices across all platforms from the unified WebUI interface. It enables administrators to push apps to devices, enforce policies, and control app configurations.

Key benefits

BigFix Mobile and MCM provide app management feature that streamlines the app deployment process, eliminating the need for manual installation on individual devices. It provides granular control, simplifies app management processes, and enhances security and compliance measures.

You can add and assign apps to devices, protect company data in apps, force install work apps which do not require user permission, and do much more to achieve smooth app distribution and effective management.

  • Unified Control: Manage apps across Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows from a single interface.
  • Automated Deployment: Eliminate manual installations with remote push.
  • Version Control: Roll out multiple app versions using staged deployment.
  • Policy Enforcement: Apply app-level policies and permissions.
  • Data Protection: Secure corporate data within apps using enforced configurations.
  • Operational Efficiency: Streamline app lifecycle management with remote updates and controls.

Core capabilities

  • App Catalog: Provide users with a curated list of approved apps.
  • View and filter installed apps
  • Prestage BigFix Agent for Windows and macOS
  • App Configuration: Pre-configure app settings based on user roles or enterprise needs.
  • App Policy: Create App policies effortlessly without the need to create custom policies.
  • App Distribution: Push apps to devices remotely.
  • App Deployment: Automate installation of public and private apps.
  • Update apps
  • Remove apps
  • Enterprise App Management: Control internal app deployment and lifecycle.

App catalog

The App Catalog in BigFix WebUI is a centralized interface that allows administrators to easily browse, select, and deploy approved applications to enrolled devices. It supports apps across multiple platforms—Android, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Windows—and simplifies the process of discovering, managing, and updating both public and internal corporate apps.

With App Catalog, Admin can do the following:

  • Centralized Access: View and manage all approved public and private corporate apps from one place.
  • Cross-Platform Support: Deploy apps to devices running different operating systems.
  • Simplified Deployment: Push apps directly to devices without manual installation.
  • Version Management: Periodically update apps and manage multiple versions.
  • Flexible Delivery: Define app-specific deployment options directly from the catalog to create anApp Deployment Policy (rather than defining in a custom policy), allowing the same app to be delivered differently across various policies.
  • Granular Control: Override policy settings at the app level for tailored deployments.

View and filter installed apps

You can view and filter the applications running on managed devices. With this feature, users can:

  • View installed applications per device directly in the Device Details page.
  • See an Installed Applications column in the Devices grid for quick reference.
  • Filter devices based on installed applications to identify endpoints with specific apps.
  • Take action on filtered devices to enforce compliance, security, or application management policies.

For details, refer to the Viewing and filtering installed applications section on the Manage applications page in WebUI User Guide.

BigFix Agent for Windows and macOS

You can prestage BigFix agent on the MDM server to distribute them to enrolled macOS and Windows devices.

To learn how to prestage BigFix agent, see Prestage macOS BigFix installer and Prestage Windows BigFix Installer.

App configuration

App configuration or Managed configurations are predefined settings that allow IT administrators to remotely configure and manage supported applications. These settings can be used to:

  • Customize app behavior based on user roles or preferences
  • Enforce enterprise policies
  • Adjust branding or appearance
  • Enable or disable specific features
  • Integrate apps with enterprise systems

Managed configurations are especially useful for organization-approved apps deployed to work profiles. If an app supports managed configurations, administrators can set them directly from the BigFix WebUI.

For the steps and instructions to set managed configurations, see App configuration.

App policy

BigFix Mobile enables you to define app policy to effortlessly distribute apps to the enrolled devices. You can also configure app permissions to control app usage, data security, user data privacy and much more.

For step-by-step instructions to create app policy and to know its features, see Appstore App Policy.

App distribution work flow

From BigFix WebUI, you can configure application permissions through Appstore App Policy. You can set app permissions applicable globally for all the apps in the policy or you can set individual app permissions as well. To do that:
  1. Add the apps to the App Catalog.
  2. Configure App configuration as applicable.
  3. Create an Appstore App Policy with preferred application permissions and settings.
  4. Add the created app policy to a policy group.
  5. Deploy the policy group to MDM server, onto selected devices, or to a predefined group of devices.

App Updates

BigFix MCM facilitates Admins to manage software updates for applications, ensuring that devices are running the latest and most secure versions.

App Removal

Administrators can remotely uninstall apps from devices as required. This helps in ensuring compliance, removing unauthorized apps, or addressing security concerns.

Managing Android Apps

Prerequisites

To manage apps in Android devices, the organization must enroll to Managed Google Play Accounts enterprise. For more details, refer to Managed Google Play Accounts enterprise.

Google Play Store Integration
BigFix WebUI integrates the Google Play Store iFrame for seamless app management. Approved apps appear in a simplified layout for users.
Basic store layout
After enrolling an Android device, by default, the managed Google Play Store displays apps approved for a user in a single page layout - basic store layout.
Private App Version Management
BigFix Mobile allows organizations to keep track of Private Android apps, update, and manage multiple versions. It allows IT admins to do the following:
  • Upload APKs to different release tracks (production, alpha, and custom)
  • Deploy specific versions to targeted users/groups
  • Ensure only tested, approved versions reach the wider user base
  • Use App policies to control version roll-out and determine which track a device pulls the app from
Private app versioning enables safe, staged deployment of Android apps within BigFix Mobile. By using app tracks + policy mapping, you gain full control over who gets which version, when—and eliminate the risk of untested builds reaching users.

Managing Apple Apps (iOS, iPadOS, and macOS)

Apple App Store
The official distribution platform for iOS apps is the Apple App Store. WebUI integrates Apple App Store that enables efficient app management process.
Volume Purchase Program (VPP)

BigFix Mobile integrates with Apple's Volume Purchase Program that allows organizations to purchase apps in bulk and distribute them to enrolled devices. It simplifies app procurement, license management, and distribution. For more information on VPP and its workflow, see Apple VPP Apps.

Managing Windows Apps

Windows Store apps
Adding a Windows app