Muokkaa

Add apps to Microsoft Intune

  • Artikkeli

Before you can configure, assign, protect, or monitor apps, you must add them to Microsoft Intune.

The users of apps and devices at your company (your company's workforce) might have several app requirements. Before adding apps to Intune and making them available to your workforce, you may find it helpful to assess and understand a few app fundamentals. There are various types of apps that are available for Intune. You must determine app requirements that are needed by the users at your company, such as the platforms and capabilities that your workforce needs. You must determine whether to use Intune to manage the devices (including apps) or have Intune manage the apps without managing the devices. Also, you must determine the apps and capabilities that your workforce needs, and who needs them. The information in this article helps you get started.

App types in Microsoft Intune

Intune supports a wide range of app types. The available options differ for each app type. Intune lets you add and assign the following app types:

App types Installation Updates
Apps from the store (store apps) Intune installs the app on the device. App updates are automatic.
Apps written in-house or as a custom app (line-of-business) Intune installs the app on the device (you supply the installation file). You must update the app.
Apps that are built in (built-in apps) Intune installs the app on the device. App updates are automatic.
Apps on the web (web link) Intune creates a shortcut to the web app on the device home screen. App updates are automatic.
Apps from other Microsoft services Intune creates a shortcut to the app in the Company Portal. For more information, see App source setting options. App updates are automatic.

Specific app type details

The following table lists the specific app types and how you can add them in the Intune Select app type pane:

App-specific type General type App-specific procedures
Android store apps Store app Select Android store app as the App type, click Select, then enter the Google Play store URL for the app.
iOS/iPadOS store apps Store app Select iOS store app as the app type, search for the app, and select the app in Intune.
Microsoft store apps Store app Select Microsoft store app as the app type, and enter the Microsoft store URL for the app.
Managed Google Play apps Store app Select Managed Google Play as the app type, search for the app, and select the app in Intune.
Android Enterprise apps Store app Select Managed Google Play as the app type, search for the app, and select the app in Intune. 1
Microsoft 365 apps for Windows 10 and later Store app (Microsoft 365) Select Windows 10 and later under Microsoft 365 Apps as the app type, and then select the Microsoft 365 app that you want to install.
Microsoft 365 apps for macOS Store app (Microsoft 365) Select macOS under Microsoft 365 Apps as the app type, and then select the Microsoft 365 app suite.
Microsoft Edge, version 77 and later for Windows 10 and later Store app Select Windows 10 and later under Microsoft Edge, version 77 and later as the app type.
Microsoft Edge, version 77 and later for macOS Store app Select macOS under Microsoft Edge, version 77 and later as the app type.
Android line-of-business (LOB) apps LOB app Select Line-of-business app app as the app type, select the App package file, and then enter an Android installation file with the extension .apk.
iOS/iPadOS LOB apps LOB app Select Line-of-business app as the app type, select the App package file, and then enter an iOS/iPadOS installation file with the extension .ipa.
Windows LOB apps LOB app Select Line-of-business app app as the app type, select the App package file, and then enter a Windows installation file with the extension .msi, .appx, .appxbundle, .msix, and .msixbundle.
Built-in iOS/iPadOS app Built-in app Select Built-In app as the app type, and then select the built-in app in the list of provided apps.
Built-in Android app Built-in app Select Built-In app as the app type, and then select the built-in app in the list of provided apps.
Web apps Web app Select Web link as the app type, and then enter a valid URL pointing to the web app.
iOS/iPadOS web clip Web app Select iOS/iPadOS web clip as the app type, and then enter a valid URL pointing to the web app. Note that this app type applies only for the iOS/iPadOS platform.
macOS web clip Web app Select macOS web clip as the app type, and then enter a valid URL pointing to the web app. Note that this app type applies only for the macOS platform.
Windows web link Web app Select Windows web link as the app type, and then enter a valid URL pointing to the web app. Note that this app type applies only for the Windows platform.
Cross platform web apps Web app Select Web link as the app type, and then enter a valid URL pointing to the web app.
Android Enterprise system apps Store app Select Android Enterprise system app as the app type, and then enter the app name, publisher, and package file.
Windows app (Win32) LOB app Select Windows app (Win32) as the app type, select the App package file, and then select an installation file with the extension .intunewin.
Enterprise App Catalog app (Win32) LOB app Select Enterprise App Catalog app (Win32) as the app type, select the app from the Enterprise App Catalog, and then set the app information, installation commands, requirements, and detection rules.
macOS LOB apps LOB app Select Line-of-business app as the app type, select the App package file, and then select an installation file with the extension .pkg.
macOS apps (DMG) LOB app (non-store app) Select macOS app (DMG) as the app type, select the App package file, and then select an installation file with the extension .dmg.
macOS apps (PKG) LOB app Select macOS app (PKG) as the app type, select the App package file, and then select an installation file with the extension .pkg. This app type is used to add an unmanaged macOS PKG app to Intune.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (macOS) Store app (Microsoft Defender ATP) Select macOS under Microsoft Defender for Endpoint as the app type and then continue by setting up the app in Intune.

1 For more information about Android Enterprise and Android work profiles, see Understanding licensed apps.

You can add an app in Microsoft Intune by selecting Apps > All apps > Add. The Select app type pane is displayed and allows you to select the App type.

Tip

An LOB app is one that you add from an app installation file. For example, to install an iOS/iPadOS LOB app, you add the application by selecting Line-of-business app as the App type in the Select app type pane. You then select the app package file (extension .ipa). These types of apps are typically written in-house or as a custom app.

Assess app requirements

As an IT Admin, you determine not only which apps your group must use, but you also determine the capabilities needed for each group and subgroup. For each app, you determine the platforms needed, the groups of users that need the app, the configuration policies to apply for those groups, and the protection policies to apply. For example, for enrollment types including Android personally owned work profile, you may want to deploy a web browsing app to make sure users will have a way to open links.

Additionally, you must determine whether to focus on Mobile Device Management (MDM) or only on Mobile Application Management (MAM).

Using Intune to manage the device with MDM is useful when:

  • Users need a Wi-Fi or a VPN corporate connectivity profile to be productive.
  • Users need a set of apps to be pushed to their device.
  • Your organization needs to comply with regulatory or other policies that call out specific MDM controls, such as security or encryption.

Using Intune to manage apps with MAM without managing the device is useful when:

  • You want to allow users to use their own device (BYOD).
  • You want to provide a one-time pop-up message to let users know that MAM protections are in place, rather than continual device-level notification.
  • You want to comply with policies that require less management capability on personal devices. For instance, you want to manage the corporate data for the apps, rather than manage the corporate data for the entire device.

For more information, go to Planning guide: Personal devices vs. Organization-owned devices.

Determine who will use the app

As you're determining which apps your workforce needs, consider the various groups of users and the various apps they use. Knowing these groups is also helpful after you've added an app. After you add an app, you assign a group of users that can use the app.

First, you must determine which group should have access to the app, based on the sensitivity of the data the app contains. You might need to include or exclude certain types of roles within your organization. For example, only certain LOB apps might be required for your sales group, whereas people focused on engineering, finance, HR, or legal might not need to use the LOB apps. In addition, your sales group might need additional data protection and access to internal corporate services on their mobile devices. You must determine how this group will connect to resources using the app. Will the data that the app accesses live in the cloud or on-premises? Also, how will the users connect to resources by using the app?

Intune also supports enabling access to client apps that require secure access to on-premises data, such as line-of-business app servers. You ordinarily provide this type of access by using Intune-managed certificates for access control, combined with a standard VPN gateway or proxy in the perimeter, such as Microsoft Entra application proxy. The Intune App Wrapping Tool and App SDK can help contain the accessed data within your line-of-business app, so that it can't pass corporate data to consumer apps or services.

Use the Intune deployment planning, design and implementation guide to help determine how you identify the organizational groups. For information about assigning apps to groups, see Assign apps to groups with Microsoft Intune.

Determine the type of app for your solution

You can choose from the following app types:

  • Apps from the store: Apps that have been uploaded to either the Microsoft store, the iOS/iPadOS store, or the Android store are store apps. The provider of a store app maintains and provides updates to the app. You select the app in the store list and add it by using Intune as an available app for your users.
  • Apps written in-house or as a custom app (line-of-business): Apps that are created in-house or as a custom app are line-of-business (LOB) apps. The functionality of this type of app has been created for one of the Intune supported platforms, such as Windows, iOS/iPadOS, macOS, or Android. Your organization creates and provides you with updates as a separate file. You provide updates of the app to users by adding and deploying the updates using Intune.
  • Apps on the web: Web apps are client-server applications. The server provides the web app, which includes the UI, content, and functionality. Additionally, modern web hosting platforms commonly offer security, load balancing, and other benefits. This type of app is separately maintained on the web. You use Intune to point to this app type. You also assign which groups of users can access the app.
  • Apps from other Microsoft services: Apps that have been sourced from either Microsoft Entra ID or Office Online. Microsoft Entra Enterprise applications are registered and assigned via the Microsoft Intune admin center. Office Online applications are assigned using the licensing controls available in the M365 Admin Center. You can hide or show Microsoft Entra Enterprise and Office Online applications to end-users in the Company Portal. From the Microsoft Intune admin center, select Tenant administration > Customization to find this configuration setting. Select to Hide or Show either Microsoft Entra Enterprise applications or Office Online applications in the Company Portal for each end-user. Each end-user will see their entire application catalog from the chosen Microsoft service. By default, each additional app source will be set to Hide. For more information, see App source setting options.

As you're determining which apps your organization needs, consider how the apps integrate with cloud services, what data the apps access, whether the apps are available to BYOD users, and whether the apps require internet access.

For more information about the types of apps that your organization needs, Create a design.

Understanding app management and protection policies

Intune lets you modify the functionality of apps that you deploy to help align them with your company's compliance and security policies. This control allows you to determine how your company data is protected. Intune-managed apps are enabled with a rich set of mobile application protection policies, such as:

  • Restricting copy-and-paste and save-as functions.
  • Configuring web links to open inside the Microsoft Edge app.
  • Enabling multi-identity use and app-level Conditional Access.

Intune-managed apps can also enable app protection without requiring enrollment, which gives you the choice of applying data loss-prevention policies without managing the user's device. Additionally, you can incorporate mobile-app management in your mobile and line-of-business apps by using the Intune App SDK and App Wrapping Tool. For more information about these tools, see Intune App SDK overview.

Understanding licensed apps

In addition to understanding web apps, store apps, and LOB apps, you should also be aware of the destination of volume-purchase-program apps and licensed apps, such as:

  • Apple Volume Purchasing Program for Business (iOS): The iOS/iPadOS App Store lets you purchase multiple licenses for an app that you want to run in your company. Purchasing multiple copies helps you to efficiently manage apps in your company. For more information, see Manage iOS/iPadOS volume-purchased apps.

  • Android Enterprise fully managed work profile: How you assign apps to Android Enterprise fully managed work profile devices differs from how you assign them to standard Android devices. All apps you install for Android Enterprise fully managed work profiles come from the Managed Google Play store. You use Intune to browse for the apps you want and approve them. The app then appears in the Licensed apps node of the portal, and you can manage assignment of the app as you would any other app.

  • Microsoft Store for Business (Windows 10): Microsoft Store for Business gives you a place to find and purchase apps for your organization, individually or in volume. By connecting the store to Microsoft Intune, you can manage volume-purchased apps in the portal. For more information, see Manage apps from Microsoft Store for Business.

    Note

    The file extensions for Windows apps include .msi, .appx, .appxbundle, .msix and .msixbundle.

Before you add apps

Before you begin to add and assign apps, consider the following points:

  • When you add and assign an app from a store, your users must have an account with that store to be able to install the app.
  • Some apps or items that you assign might depend on built-in iOS/iPadOS apps. For example, if you assign a book in the iOS/iPadOS store, the iBooks app must be present on the device. If you have removed the iBooks built-in app, you cannot use Intune to reinstate it.

Important

If you change the name of the app through Intune after you have deployed and installed the app, the app will no longer be able to be targeted using commands.

Cloud storage space

All apps that you create by using the software installer installation type (for example, a line-of-business app) are packaged and uploaded to Intune cloud storage. A trial subscription of Intune includes 2 gigabytes (GB) of cloud-based storage that is used to store managed apps and updates. A full subscription does not limit the total amount of storage space.

Requirements for cloud storage space are as follows:

  • All app installation files must be in the same folder.
  • The maximum file size for Windows Line-of-business (LOB) apps, Windows Universal AppX, Windows Universal AppX bundle, Windows Universal MSIX, and Windows Universal MSIX bundle, have a maximum size limit of 8 GB per app.
  • Win32 apps have a maximum size limit of 30GB per app.
  • iOS/iPadOS LOB apps have a maximum size limit of 2 GB per app.

Create and edit categories for apps

App categories can be used to help you sort apps to make them easier for users to find in the company portal. You can assign one or more categories to an app, for example, Developer apps or Communication apps.

When you add an app to Intune, you're given the option to select the category you want. Use the platform-specific articles to add an app and assign categories. To create and edit your own categories, use the following procedure:

  1. Sign in to the Microsoft Intune admin center.
  2. Select Apps > App categories.
    The App categories pane displays a list of current categories.
  3. Do either of the following:
    • To add a category, in the Create category pane, select Add, and then enter a name for the category.
      Names can be entered in one language only, and they aren't translated by Intune.
    • To edit a category, select the ellipsis (...) next to the category, and then select Pin to dashboard or Delete.
  4. Select Create.

Apps that are added automatically by Intune

Previously, Intune contained a number of built-in apps that you could quickly assign. Based on Intune customer feedback, we removed this list, and the built-in apps are no longer displayed. However, if you have already assigned any built-in apps, the apps remain visible in the list of apps. You can continue to assign the apps as required.

Note

For the installation of a required non-Line-of-Business app, Intune will attempt to install the app by sending an install command whenever the device checks-in, given that the app is not detected and the app's install state is not Install Pending.

Installing, updating, or removing required apps

Intune will automatically reinstall, update, or remove a required app within 24 hours, rather than waiting for the 7 day re-evaluation cycle.

Intune will automatically reinstall, update, or remove a required app based on the following conditions:

  • If an end user uninstalls an app that you have required to be installed on the end user's device, Intune will automatically reinstall the app when this schedule elapses.
  • If a required app install fails or somehow the app isn't present on the device, Intune evaluates compliance and reinstalls the app when this schedule elapses.
  • An admin targets an app as available to a user group and an end user installs the app from the company portal on the device. Later, the admin updates the app from v1 to v2. Intune will update the app when this schedule elapses, provided that any previous version of the app is still present on the device.
  • If the admin deploys uninstall intent and the app is present on the device and failed to uninstall, Intune evaluates compliance and uninstalls the app when this schedule elapses.

Note

Using the Windows Company Portal, end users can restart an app installation if the progress seems to have stalled or is frozen. This functionality is allowed if the app installation progress has not changed in two hours.

From the Installed apps page of the Windows Company Portal or the Company Portal website, end users can view the installation status and details for device-assigned required apps. This functionality is provided in addition to the installation status and details of user-assigned required apps.

Uninstall an app

When you need to uninstall an app from user's devices, use the following steps.

  1. Sign in to the Microsoft Intune admin center.
  2. Select Apps > All apps > the app > Assignments > Add group.
  3. In the Add group pane, select Uninstall.
  4. Select Included Groups to select the groups of users that are affected by this app assignment.
  5. Select the groups that you want to apply the uninstall assignment.
  6. Click Select on the Select groups pane.
  7. Click OK on the Assign pane to set the assignment.
  8. If you want to exclude any groups of users from being affected by this app assignment, select Exclude Groups.
  9. If you have chosen to exclude any groups, in Select groups, select Select.
  10. Select OK in the Add group pane.
  11. Select Save in the app Assignments pane.

Important

To uninstall the app successfully, make sure to remove the members or group assignment for install before assigning them to be uninstalled. If a group is assigned to both install an app and uninstall an app, the app will remain and not be removed.

Note

End-users can uninstall Win32 apps and Microsoft store apps using the Windows Company Portal if the apps were assigned as available and were installed on-demand by the end-users. For Win32 apps, you have the option to enable or disable this feature (off by default). For Microsoft store apps, it is always on and available for your end-users. If an app can be uninstalled by the end-user, the end-user will be able to select Uninstall for the app in the Windows Company Portal.

Delete an app from Intune

Once you have removed assignments for an app and revoked any app licenses for an app associated with a token, you can delete the app from Intune. Delete the app in Microsoft Intune admin center by selecting Apps > All apps > right-click on the app to delete > Delete.

App installation errors

For details about Intune app installation errors, see App installation errors.

Next steps

To learn how to add apps for each platform to Intune, see: