# How to update enterprise apps on iOS devices?

Enterprise (in-house) applications are proprietary tools developed for internal organizational use and are not hosted on the public App Store. **Hexnode UEM** provides two primary workflows to update these applications across managed iOS devices.

Updating iOS Enterprise Apps: Methods Overview
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Hexnode UEM offers two distinct ways to manage iOS enterprise app updates. You can overwrite the existing inventory entry or maintain multiple versions as separate entries.

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### Method 1: Replacing the Existing IPA File

Administrators use this standard method to update an application globally by replacing the old .ipa file with a new version within the same app entry in the Hexnode UEM App Inventory.

#### Update the App in Hexnode UEM App Inventory

1. **Navigate** to the **Apps** tab and search for your enterprise app (Make use of filters in Hexnode UEM for better results).
2. **Click** on the app name to open the **App details** page.
3. **Click** the **Settings** (gear icon) at the top and select **Edit**.

[![Screenshot of Hexnode UEM Apps tab displaying the 'App details' box for an enterprise app with the Settings gear icon located at the top right.](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Updating-an-iOS-Enterprise-App-in-Hexnode-UEM-scaled.png)](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Updating-an-iOS-Enterprise-App-in-Hexnode-UEM-scaled.png "Updating an iOS Enterprise App in Hexnode UEM")

4. Click **Change** next to ***Choose the IPA File*** field.
5. **Upload** the new version of the enterprise app and click **Save**.

#### Deploy the Updated iOS Enterprise App

- **Case A (Automated)**: If the enterprise app was originally deployed via a **Required Apps** policy, the update pushes the app automatically to all associated devices.
- **Case B (Manual)**: To force an update immediately, go to **Manage** > **[Select Device(s)]** > **Actions** > **Applications** > **Install application**, select the app, and click **Install**.

[![Screenshot of Hexnode UEM 'Manage' tab showing the 'Actions' dropdown, highlighting the 'Install Application' command.](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Installing-an-updated-iOS-Enterprise-App-via-Hexnode-UEM.png)](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Installing-an-updated-iOS-Enterprise-App-via-Hexnode-UEM.png "Installing an updated iOS Enterprise App via Hexnode UEM")

### Method 2: Adding the Higher Version as a New App

Use this method to keep **multiple app versions** available in the Hexnode UEM App Inventory or to deploy the update as a fresh app entry.

#### Add the New Version

1. **Navigate** to the **Apps** tab, click **+Add Apps** > **Enterprise App**.
2. Choose the **iOS** platform and fill in the App Name, Category, and Description.
3. Click **Choose file**, upload the new **IPA**, and click Add.

Our comprehensive guide, [Adding an iOS Enterprise App](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/distribute-ios-enterprise-app/), explains this setup process in detail.

#### Deploy the Higher Version of iOS Enterprise App

- **Via Policy**: Create or edit a policy under **Policies** > **New Policy** > **Create a fully custom policy** > **iOS** > **Required Apps**, add the new version, and **associate** it with your target devices.

For a detailed guide on configuring the Required Apps via Policies, see [Enforcing an App via Required Apps Policy.](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/how-to-enforce-app-installation-on-ios-devices-using-hexnode-uem/)

- **Via Manual Action**: Go to **Manage** > **[Select Device(s)]** > **Actions** > **Applications** > **Install application**, select the **newly uploaded app** (higher version), and click **Install**.

**Note:** iOS identifies apps by their **Bundle ID**. Even if added as a “new” app in Hexnode UEM, the device will recognize the matching ID and overwrite the old version with the new one rather than creating a duplicate icon.

Key Implementation Notes
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1. **Version Increment**: The new IPA file must have a **higher version number** than the currently installed version.
2. **Silent Updates**: Only **Supervised Devices** support silent updates without user interaction.
3. **Cellular Data Settings**: Users must be advised to configure their devices to avoid manual prompts over cellular networks. Navigate to **Settings** > **App Store** > **App Downloads** and choose **‘Always Allow’**. This setting ensures background updates complete reliably without Wi-Fi connection requirements.