iOS app install fails with “This profile cannot make purchases” for WhatsAppSolved

This usually happens when the app is being installed in a way that requires an Apple Account purchase flow, but the device is using a Managed Apple Account or the VPP license is not available in Hexnode. Even for free apps, Apple app deployment through MDM should use Apple VPP/App Store Apps and Books licensing if the device or user cannot make App Store purchases directly. Check the following:

1. In Hexnode UEM, go to Admin > Apple Business and School Manager > Apple VPP.
2. If the VPP account is not added, configure it using the server token from Apple Business or Apple School Manager.
3. After adding the account, click Sync.
4. Go to the Apps tab and search for WhatsApp.
5. Confirm that the VPP license is reflected for the app.
6. Deploy the VPP version of the app to the device again. Once the VPP license is synced and visible in Hexnode, the app should install without the “profile cannot make purchases” prompt.

I had bought the license in Apple Business, but I didn’t have an Apple VPP account added under Hexnode. Is that required even if the app is free?

Yes. Purchasing or assigning the app in Apple Business alone is not enough for Hexnode to deploy it as a managed VPP app. Hexnode needs the Apple Apps and Books (VPP) account configured so it can sync the license information from Apple. Until that sync happens, Hexnode may not show the app as having a VPP license, and the device can fall back to a purchase-based App Store flow. That is what triggers the “profile cannot make purchases” message on managed Apple setups. After adding the VPP account and syncing it, the license count should appear in the Apps tab for the app.

One more thing: what does “Reclaim licenses” mean in this area?

“Reclaim licenses” takes back app licenses that are currently assigned to users or devices so they can be reused elsewhere. For example, if an app license is assigned to a device that no longer needs the app, reclaiming the license makes it available again for another device or user. It is useful when managing limited VPP license counts across multiple Apple devices.

Just updating that I tried adding the Apple VPP account in Hexnode and syncing it fixed the issue. The WhatsApp VPP license started showing in the Apps tab, and the app installed successfully afterward.