# Distributing iOS Custom Apps Privately via Apple VPP **Custom apps** are tailor-made applications explicitly designed to meet specific business functionalities while maintaining the utmost security to protect corporate data. Hexnode UEM administrators can privately distribute these custom-developed apps for iOS, macOS, or tvOS devices through the [Apple Business](https://business.apple.com/) portal. To publish a custom app privately, you must first upload it to [Apple Store Connect.](https://appstoreconnect.apple.com/login) Once the app gets approved by **Apple**, it will be available for distribution within your organization’s Apple Business or Apple School Manager (ASM) console. Follow the comprehensive steps below to privately distribute the custom-developed apps for businesses: 1. **Publish** the custom-made app in [Apple Store Connect](https://appstoreconnect.apple.com/) with pricing and availability settings and wait for Apple to review and approve the application. 2. **Acquire** the app licenses within the [Apple Business](https://business.apple.com/) console. 3. **Deploy** the custom application as VPP app via Hexnode UEM. Prerequisites for Publishing an App in Apple Store Connect ---------------------------------------------------------- Before beginning the VPP app distribution process, ensure that: - Your organization is enrolled in **Apple Business** or **Apple School Manager**. - You have already created an [App Record](https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/create-an-app-record/add-a-new-app) for the custom app in **Apple Store Connect**. - The **Organization ID** of the target business (your organisation) is readily available. Phase 1: Publish the App in Apple Store Connect ----------------------------------------------- To publish an app and make it available securely and exclusively for the specified organizations: 1. Go to the [Apple Store Connect](https://appstoreconnect.apple.com/) homepage. 2. Navigate to **My Apps** and select the custom application. 3. Under the **Pricing and Availability** tab, locate the **App Distribution Methods** section. 4. Select the **Private** option. 5. Choose your distribution Type based on your management portal: - For **Apple Business/ASM (Modern)**: Select **Organization ID** and enter the target business’s ID and Name. - For **Legacy VPP (Legacy)**: Select **Apple Account** and enter the Apple Account associated with your legacy Volume Purchase Program account. **Note**: To find your Organization ID: Sign in to Apple Business or Apple School Manager with an **Administrator** account > Click your **organization name** in the top-right corner > **Settings** > **Organization Information** 6. Click **Save**. 7. **Submit** the app for review. Once approved, it will appear in the **Custom Apps** section of your Apple Business/ASM console. **Note**: If you have already submitted a custom app for review but haven’t got it approved yet, you can follow the same procedure to make it private. However, Apple Store Connect removes this option as soon as **Apple** approves the app. [![Screenshot of Apple Store Connect dashboard showing the 'App Distribution Methods' section.](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Pricing-and-Availability-tab-of-Apple-Store-Connector.png)](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Pricing-and-Availability-tab-of-Apple-Store-Connector.png "Pricing and Availability tab of Apple Store Connector") Phase 2: Acquire App Licenses in Apple Business ----------------------------------------------- Once Apple approves the custom app, you must first purchase the apps (acquire licenses) from the [Apple Business](https://business.apple.com/) console. 1. **Access Apple Business/ASM:** Log in to the [Apple Business](https://business.apple.com/) or [Apple School Manager](https://school.apple.com/) console. 2. **Locate App:** Navigate to **Custom Apps** in the left sidebar and select the approved custom application. 3. **Assign Location:** Under the **Buy Licenses** section, select the appropriate Location for license assignment. 4. **Specify Quantity:** Enter the required Quantity of licenses and click **Get**. Phase 3: Deploy Custom Apps via Hexnode UEM (VPP Integration) ------------------------------------------------------------- Hexnode UEM synchronizes application licenses procured within the Apple Business console via Apple’s **Volume Purchase Program** (VPP) framework. Consequently, the Hexnode UEM console categorizes and deploys these custom applications as VPP apps. The following three core steps complete the deployment process: - [Download the VPP token](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/how-to-deploy-apple-vpp-apps-with-hexnode-mdm/#step-1-download-the-server-token) from Apple Business. - [Configure VPP account settings](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/how-to-deploy-apple-vpp-apps-with-hexnode-mdm/#step-2-configure-vpp-account-settings) in the Hexnode UEM portal under **Admin** > **Apple Business/School Manager** > **Apple VPP.** - [Distribute apps](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/how-to-deploy-apple-vpp-apps-with-hexnode-mdm/#step-4-app-installation) to the target devices via Hexnode UEM’s **Install Application** Action or **Required Apps** Policy. Advanced Troubleshooting Resources ---------------------------------- For granular error codes and specific deployment hurdles, refer to these technical deep dives: - [Issues encountered while deploying VPP apps to iOS devices:](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/resolving-issues-encountered-during-apple-vpp-integration-with-hexnode/) A specialized guide for resolving VPP-specific communication errors, license exhaustion, and token sync failures. - [Common issues with iOS app installation:](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/troubleshooting-common-issues-in-ios-app-installation/) A comprehensive index of iOS-specific error messages and its resolutions.