Can TestFlight apps be deployed to iOS devices using Hexnode policies?Solved

Hi @rob_mitch ,

TestFlight builds cannot be deployed directly through Hexnode policies as a standard app payload. Apple requires users to accept the invitation and install the build through the TestFlight app on the device.

To deploy the app through Hexnode, use one of these supported methods instead:

1. Publish the app as a Custom App through Apple Business.

• In App Store Connect, set the app availability to Private/Custom App.
• Add the target Apple Business organization ID and organization name.
• After Apple approves and the app is available to the organization, sync VPP apps in Hexnode.
• The app will appear under Apps > VPP Apps and can then be added to policies for deployment.

This is usually the recommended option for managed app distribution.

2. Upload the signed .ipa as an Enterprise App

• Ask the development team to export a compiled and signed .ipa from Xcode or the build pipeline.
• The app must be signed with a valid Enterprise Developer Certificate or an Ad Hoc provisioning profile, depending on the deployment use case.
• In Hexnode, go to Apps > Add Apps > Enterprise App > iOS and upload the .ipa file.
• Add the app to the policy under iOS > Required Apps.

If the app only exists as a TestFlight build in App Store Connect and no .ipa is available, the Custom App via Apple Business Manager route is the better path.

Regards,
Isabel Lora
Hexnode UEM

So if the app is only in App Store Connect/TestFlight right now, I can’t just paste the TestFlight invite link somewhere in the policy and install it from there?

Correct. A TestFlight invite link still requires the user to open TestFlight, accept the invitation, and install the build manually. That flow is controlled by Apple and is not treated as a managed app deployment payload.

For policy-based deployment from Hexnode, the app must be available either as:

• a Custom App assigned to your Apple Business organization and synced into Hexnode as a VPP app, or
• a signed .ipa uploaded into Hexnode as an Enterprise App.

Once the app is available in either of those forms, it can be associated with a policy and deployed to target devices.

Regards,
Isabel Lora
Hexnode UEM