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Apple Business Manager is now Apple Business. Apple School Manager is unchanged. For more information, see Introducing Apple Business and Apple Business Manager is now Apple Business.
Apple Push Notification service must be configured in your Iru Endpoint tenant before Apps and Books can be configured.

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About Apps and Books Integration

Apps and Books, formerly the Volume Purchase Program (VPP), lets organizations deploy App Store apps to managed Apple devices. The integration tracks licenses and lets you revoke and reassign them without requiring users to sign in to an Apple Account on each device.

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How It Works

Apps and Books integration works by connecting your Apple Business or Apple School Manager account with Iru Endpoint through Apps and Books content tokens. When you purchase app licenses in the portal for the organizational unit connected to Iru Endpoint, they become available as Library Items in your Iru Endpoint library, where they can be assigned to Assignment Maps for automated deployment.

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Prerequisites

  • Apple Push Notification service: Apple Push Notification service must be configured in your Iru Endpoint tenant
  • Apple Business or Apple School Manager access: Ensure you have administrative access to your organization’s portal
  • Organizational unit setup: Create a dedicated organizational unit in Apple Business or Apple School Manager specifically for your Iru Endpoint tenant
  • Apps and Books token: Download a dedicated Apps and Books content token for your Iru Endpoint integration
For more information on syncing apps from Apps and Books to your Iru Endpoint library, please see our Adding Apps from Apps and Books to Iru Endpoint support article.

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Configuring Apps and Books

Apps and Books allows you to distribute App Store apps to your organization’s devices.
You cannot use the same Apps and Books content token with more than one device management service. It is highly recommended that you create a new organizational unit in Apple Business or Apple School Manager specifically for your Iru Endpoint tenant and use a dedicated Apps and Books token.
Create a new organizational unit in Apple Business or Apple School Manager.
1

Open Integrations

In the sidebar, select the Account Menu Button, then select Integrations.
Screenshot of the account menu with Integrations option highlighted
2

Select Apple

Under Platform integrations, select Apple.
3

Set Up Apps and Books

Under Apps and Books, select Set up Apps and Books.
4

Sign in to Apple Business or Apple School Manager

In the new window, you will be asked to sign in to Apple Business or Apple School Manager to complete the final steps for integration.
5

Open the content token

In Apple Business or Apple School Manager, open the page for the content token. The pages are in different places.In Apple Business, select your organization name at the top right of the page, then select Settings. Select Organizational Units. Search for the organizational unit, then select it. In the Content Token section, select Download.
Apple Business with the organization menu open and Settings selected
Settings with Organizational Units selected and a search for an organizational unit
Organizational unit page with Download in the Content Token section
On the Apple Business organizational unit page, Assign Apps in the Apps section opens Apps & Services > Apps & Books > Library. See Add Apps from Apps and Books to Iru Endpoint.In Apple School Manager, select your name at the bottom of the sidebar, select Preferences, then select Payments & Billing. Under Content Tokens, select the token for your device management service.
6

Upload Token to Iru Endpoint

Navigate back to the Iru Endpoint Web App and upload your token.
7

Complete Setup

Select Complete Apps and Books setup.
Once the Apps and Books integration is completed, you will be able to update apps automatically when Iru Endpoint detects a new version.

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Renewing Your Apps and Books Token

Apps and Books tokens expire annually. If the token expires, Iru Endpoint cannot sync App Store apps and licenses from Apple Business or Apple School Manager. Iru Endpoint displays a banner starting 30 days before the token expires.
You can renew the token at any time. If the password for the Apple Business or Apple School Manager account that downloaded the token changes, the token is invalidated and must be renewed.
1

Open Integrations

In the sidebar, select the Account Menu Button, then select Integrations.
Screenshot of the account menu with Integrations option highlighted
2

Select Apple

Under Platform integrations, select Apple.
3

Renew Token

Under Apps and Books, select Renew Token.
4

Complete Renewal

Follow the on-screen instructions to renew your Apps and Books token.

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Disconnecting Apps and Books

Only disconnect Apps and Books if you need to remove this integration or replace the content token with a token from a different organizational unit. Do not disconnect to renew an existing token. Use Renewing Your Apps and Books Token instead. Disconnecting Apps and Books stops Iru Endpoint from managing apps and books purchased through your Apple Business or Apple School Manager account. You cannot assign or update Apps and Books Library Items until you set up Apps and Books again. In the confirmation pop-up, you can optionally revoke licenses and remove managed apps from iPhone and iPad devices. To unassign licenses or remove an App Store app from the Library without disconnecting the integration, see Removing Apps and Books Licenses and Remove App Store Apps from the Library.
1

Open Integrations

In the sidebar, select the Account Menu Button, then select Integrations.
Screenshot of the account menu with Integrations option highlighted
2

Select Apple

Under Platform integrations, select Apple.
3

Disconnect Apps and Books

Under Apps and Books, select Disconnect.
4

Confirm Disconnect

In the Disconnect Apps and Books pop-up, optionally select one or both of these checkboxes, then select Disconnect.
  • Revoke all licenses: Iru Endpoint revokes existing app licenses associated with your devices so they are available for future use.
  • Remove all apps: Iru Endpoint attempts to uninstall all managed apps on iPhone and iPad devices.
Leave both checkboxes cleared if you only want to disconnect the integration.
If you accidentally disconnect Apps and Books, set it up again from the Apple integrations page and upload a content token from the same organizational unit.

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Manually Syncing Apps and Books with Apple Business or Apple School Manager

Iru Endpoint periodically checks for new apps or license changes. If you need to trigger a sync between Iru Endpoint and Apple Business or Apple School Manager immediately, you can use the Sync App Store Apps button (double arrows) next to the Add Library Item button.
Library view showing Sync App Store Apps button next to Add Library Item for manual Apps and Books sync

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Duplicating Apps and Books Library Items

The ability to duplicate Apps and Books Library Items allows you to create multiple configurations of the same app and assign these to different Blueprints. All Apps & Books app instances of the same Apps and Books Library Item share the same license pool across all Blueprints and assignments. Duplication works the same way as for other Library Items; for the full flow (including duplicating from an open Library Item), see Library Item Duplication in Library Overview.
The Okta Verify and Microsoft Authenticator Apps and Books Library Items cannot be duplicated due to their respective integrations with Okta Device Trust and Microsoft Device Compliance.
1

Navigate to App Store Apps

Navigate to Library, then App Store apps.
2

Open the Library Item menu

Find the Apps and Books Library Item you want to duplicate, then select the ellipsis next to its name.
3

Select Duplicate

Select Duplicate.
Library list with ellipsis menu open and Duplicate selected for a Library Item
4

Confirm Duplication

Select Yes, duplicate to confirm duplication.
5

Edit Duplicated Item

Edit the duplicated Apps and Books Library Item as needed.
6

Manage Instances

Once a duplicate has been created, the Library Item can be deleted, but at least one instance of the specific Apps and Books Library Item must remain.

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Removing Apps and Books Licenses

1

Select App to Remove

Navigate to Library then App Store apps and select the app you need to remove the license for.
2

Edit Library Item

Next, select the blue Edit button on the bottom right.
3

Change Blueprint Assignments

Change the Blueprint assignments in the Assignment section.
4

Save Changes

Select Save.
Within 5-10 mins of a successful MDM check-in, the application will remove itself from the device’s Applications folder and free up a license to be assigned to a different Blueprint or device.

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Considerations

  • Annual Expiration: Apps and Books tokens expire annually. Iru Endpoint displays a banner starting 30 days before the token expires
  • Password Changes: If the password for the Apple Business or Apple School Manager account that downloaded the token is changed, the token is invalidated and must be renewed
  • Token Renewal Process: Use Renewing Your Apps and Books Token rather than repeating the original setup from scratch
  • Disconnection impact: Disconnecting Apps and Books stops license sync and App Store app assignment until you set up the integration again. Use Disconnect only to remove the integration or replace the content token. Optionally select Revoke all licenses and Remove all apps in the confirmation pop-up; Remove all apps applies to iPhone and iPad only
  • Service Continuity: Plan token renewal before expiration to avoid service disruptions
  • Documentation: Keep records of token expiration dates and renewal processes
For more information about managing content tokens in Apple Business or Apple School Manager, please see the Apple Business on Apple Support.
  • Dedicated organizational unit: Create a dedicated organizational unit in Apple Business or Apple School Manager specifically for your Iru Endpoint tenant
  • Token Security: Store Apps and Books tokens securely and never use the same token with more than one device management service
  • License Management: Plan your app licensing strategy to avoid over-purchasing or running out of licenses
  • License Pooling: Understand that all instances of the same app share the same license pool
  • Blueprint Assignment: Plan your Blueprint assignments carefully to optimize license usage
  • Sync Frequency: Understand that Iru Endpoint periodically syncs with Apple Business or Apple School Manager, but manual sync is available when needed
  • App Updates: Configure automatic app updates to ensure users have the latest versions
  • Duplication Limitations: Be aware that some apps (Okta Verify, Microsoft Authenticator) cannot be duplicated due to integration requirements
  • User Experience: Test app deployment and user experience before rolling out to production
  • Compliance Requirements: Ensure deployed apps meet your organization’s security and compliance requirements
  • Backup Strategy: Have a plan for managing apps if the Apps and Books integration becomes unavailable
  • Documentation: Keep records of app assignments and license usage
  • Support: Contact Iru Endpoint Support for assistance with complex Apps and Books scenarios
  • Testing: Test Apps and Books configuration in a controlled environment before production deployment
  • Monitoring: Regularly monitor app deployment success rates and license usage

Library Overview

Curate, create, and manage Library Items, including App Store apps synced from Apps and Books

Add Apps from Apps and Books

Sync purchased licenses into the Library and assign App Store app Library Items

Global Alerts

Configure how Iru Endpoint surfaces alerts when App Store app deployments or other Library Items report issues