App Distribution Configurations

Use the App distribution > App configuration page to view existing app configurations or create a new one. An app configuration defines whether an app should Install once or if it should Always require to be installed.

The end user App Portal is an optional component you can deploy to endpoints. Some options on this page control how the app appears in the App Portal if it is deployed. The default behavior is for apps to not display in the portal. Portal-specific options will be ignored if the App Portal is not available on a targeted endpoint. For more information on the App Portal, see End User App Portal (Limited Availability).

  • Install once: If the app has been installed correctly, it will not be reinstalled. There is a default "System - install once" configuration that is not editable but that you can use.
  • Always required to be installed: Each time the app distribution engine runs, it will install this app. Use this for important apps that you want to always be available. If an app is always required to be installed and a user uninstalls it, the app will be reinstalled automatically. You should create an Always require to be installed configuration that package creators can use.

    As a general rule when using this option, configure detection rules in the package action builder that check if the app is already installed. If there are no detection rules, each time the app distribution engine runs (every four hours by default), it will rerun the entire app, including executing the installer again.
  • Only make available in app portal: When selected, the app is not installed on devices. It only appears in the end user App Portal as available for installation. When a user selects to install that app from the portal, the app will immediately be installed (or re-installed if it is already installed).

    Selecting this option also replaces the Do not display in portal option with Display until installed and selects it. After installation, the app will be removed from the App Portal. Select Always display in portal if you want it to stay there.
  • Do not display in portal and Always display in portal: Controls if the app appears in the portal when it is deployed. The default behavior is for apps to not display in the portal.

To select which app configuration a package will use

  1. In App distribution > Catalog, select the app you want to modify.
  2. Select the Distribution tab.
  3. Select the distribution you want to modify. Changes here will affect all apps using this distribution.
  4. Select the App configurations tab.
  5. Under Install options, select the app configuration you want this distribution to use.