iPad app install stuck on “Installing” with “This Apple Account can’t be used to make purchases”Solved

Hi @benjay ! This message usually appears when a Managed Apple Account (formerly Managed Apple ID) is used for app purchases or direct App Store downloads. Managed Apple Accounts are intended for organizational use and cannot be used to purchase apps in the same way as personal Apple Accounts.

For managed iPads, the recommended method is to deploy apps through Apple Volume Purchase Program apps, also known as Apps and Books in Apple Business or Apple School Manager.

To resolve this:

1. Sign in to Apple Business or Apple School Manager with an account that has the Administrator or Content Manager role.
2. Go to Apps and Services > Apps and Books.
3. Search for the required app.
4. Select Buy Licenses and assign the licenses to the required location or organization unit.
5. Enter the required license quantity and complete the purchase, even if the app is free.
6. In Hexnode, go to Admin > Apple Business/School Manager > Apple VPP.
7. Click Sync for the relevant VPP account so Hexnode can fetch the latest app licenses.
8. Go to Manage > Devices, select the iPad, and use Actions >Applications > Install Application.
9. Select the VPP app and deploy it to the device.

Deploying the app through VPP assigns the app license directly through the organization and avoids the Managed Apple Account purchase restriction.

Best Regards,
Isabel Lora
Hexnode UEM

That makes sense. I was trying to push the app from Hexnode, but I had not purchased or assigned the app license in Apple Business Manager first. After adding the app under Apps and Books, do I need to wait for it to appear automatically in Hexnode?

You may need to manually sync the VPP account in Hexnode after adding or updating app licenses in Apple Business. Once the sync is complete, the app should be available for selection during the Install Application action. If the app was already stuck at Installing, try deploying it again after the VPP sync is complete.

Best Regards,
Isabel Lora
Hexnode UEM

Syncing Apple VPP in Hexnode and then installing the app again fixed it. The app installed successfully on the iPad after using the VPP license instead of relying on the Managed Apple ID.