# Content Distribution

Last updated: August 13, 2026

This page explains how to use ManageEngine MDM's content distribution feature to securely deliver documents and media files to iOS and Android devices in bulk. Learn how to add content to the MDM repository, configure security policies to control access, clipboard sharing, screenshots, and download behavior, and distribute files to individual devices or groups. The page also covers modifying existing documents, viewing distributed content in the Self Service app, supported file formats, and permanently deleting content from managed devices.

For employees to efficiently use mobile devices and accomplish their tasks, it is crucial to provide access to essential resources such as documents and media files. However, organizations must ensure that this content is distributed securely. MDM simplifies content distribution by enabling bulk distribution of documents and media files in just a few steps. This feature is supported for iOS, Android devices. For **MDM Cloud, the total size of files added for distribution must not exceed 1 GB**.

**Note: The Windows MDM native app has been discontinued following the deprecation of Windows Business Store.**

This feature is available in [Professional, Free, and Trial](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/edition-comparison-matrix.html) editions of MDM.

## Benefits

- These documents can be saved and viewed securely on the ManageEngine MDM Self Service app (previously ManageEngine MDM app).
- No copy of the document will be saved on the cloud.
- Select the apps from which the documents can be viewed.
- Prevent the documents from being copied and shared to untrusted apps.

[![Content management with Mobile Device Manager Plus video thumbnail](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/CM_video_thumbnail.jpg)](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/demo/content-management-with-mdm-video.html)

**We have made your job simpler!**

Learn how to distribute documents to devices with MDM, in **just 3 minutes** through [this demo video](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/demo/content-management-with-mdm-video.html).

## Adding content to the repository

The documents which need to be distributed to devices, should first be added to a repository on the MDM console. Follow the steps given below to add content:

1. Under **Device Mgmt**, click on **Content Management**.
2. This view lists out all the documents that are available in the repository, if there are no documents added, click on **Add Documents**.
3. You can drag and drop documents or browse to add the documents in the repository.
4. Add **Tags** to help filter the documents during distribution.
5. Once all the documents have successfully been added, click **Done** to add these documents into the repository. The added content will be saved in the MDM server and can be distributed to the managed devices from the Content Repository.
6. **Additionally, you can create security policies for accessing content, and associate them with content before distributing it to devices.**

## Settings that can be configured in a policy:

| SETTING NAME | DESCRIPTION | ANDROID | iOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open content with | The content distributed via the content catalog can be configured to either open in the Self Service app (previously ME MDM app) or on available Third-party Apps. | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) |
| Self Service app settings (previously ME MDM app settings) **(These settings can be configured only if the Self Service app is selected for the option 'Allow opening content with')** |  |  |  |
| Clipboard sharing | Enable/Disable this option to restricts copying text or content from content catalog files to the clipboard. | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) |
| Screenshots/Screen Recording restriction is supported on both Android and iOS devices. For iOS, it requires app version 25.04.01 or above. | Enable/Disable this option to prevent users from taking Screenshots and Screen recording clips of distributed content. | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) |
| Prompt for device passcode to access the content | Use the existing configured device password to access these contents. If no device password is set, they can be accessed directly. | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) |
| Allow users to remove content from device's storage: | Enable/Disable this option to allow users to delete content from the device's storage. Users can install the content again from the Content Catalog if required. | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) |
| Download Settings | Specify how the distributed content should be downloaded on the device. Select **Download Manually** for users to be able to manually download the content, and select **Download automatically** for the content to be automatically downloaded. | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) |
| Download only over Wi-Fi | Specify whether Content should be downloaded only over a Wi-Fi network, if the 'Download Automatically' option is selected. | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) | ![Supported](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/success.png) |

This saved Policy can be associated with content before distribution to **Group(s) and Device(s).**

**Note:**

1. If multiple policies are applied to content, the settings in the latest policy will get associated with the content on the device.
2. If no policy is chosen, the content will get distributed without any settings applied to it, and any existing policy settings will be revoked from the device.
3. For devices provisioned as Profile Owner, navigate to **Profiles >Restrictions >Device Functionality** and ensure that the **Screen Restriction** it is set to **Allow**.
4. This is necessary for users to take screenshots of shared content, as this feature is disabled by default during the creation of a Work Profile.
5. To create custom configuration policies, [refer here](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/mdm-create-custom-profiles-apple-configurator.html?mesearch).

### Distributing a contact (.vcf)

1. Create a **.VCF** file with the required contact details.
2. Add the VCF file to **Content Management** and distribute it to the target devices.
3. On the device, open **Self Service app → Content Catalog**, tap the VCF file, and choose **Add to Contacts** in the Contacts app.

## Modifying a policy

1. Select the policy, and click on **Modify.**
2. Make the required changes to the Policy settings and click on **Save.**

If this policy is already associated with content, it will be modified on all the devices that the content is distributed to.

## Distributing content to devices/groups

The documents can be distributed to individual devices or to groups. Once the documents have been distributed to groups, any new devices added to these groups will automatically receive the documents. Follow the steps given below to distribute the documents to groups/devices:

1. Under **Device Mgmt**, click on **Content Management**.
2. From the list of available content, select the content to be distributed, and if you want to distribute the content with any policies configured, click on **Select Policy**, select a policy from the list of created policies. To create a new policy, click on **Create Policy** and follow the steps [here](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/content_management/mdm_document_distribution.html#Configuring_policies_for_accessing_distributed_content) to create the policy.
3. A list of all the available groups and devices will be listed out. Select the devices/groups to which the content needs to be distributed. Click **Select**.

Once the policy is selected, click on **Distribute**, to distribute the content to the devices along with the configured settings in the selected policy. The user can view the content in the Self Service app under **Content**.

Note: Content available on the Content Repository can be distributed without any policy associated with it as well. Associating policies with the content before distributing it to groups and devices is optional.

## Modifying existing documents

Admin can modify the documents in the repository by uploading the new documents. Follow the steps below to modify documents:

1. Select the document to be modified, under **Actions** click on **Modify**.
2. Upload the new version of the document.

Once the new version of the document is successfully uploaded, the documents alreadty distributed to the devices will automatically be updated.

NOTE: The MDM server only maintains the latest version of documents. If both the versions are required, it is recommended to add the new version as a different document.

## Viewing Distributed Content on Mobile Devices

Files can be viewed in two distinct views: **List View** and **Folder View**. In **List View**, files can be sorted by **Ascending, Descending, or Tags**, while Folder View organizes files exclusively by **Tags** for easy navigation.

**Accessing Content**: To view content on Android, iOS, or iPadOS devices, open the Self Service app and navigate to the Content Catalog.

**Sorting and Organizing Content**: Content can be sorted by name in either ascending or descending order. For easier navigation, users can add content to favorites or organize files into folders using tag names.

**Downloading and Offline Access**: Documents can be downloaded in bulk and accessed later from the Offline tab. For quick access to frequently used documents, use the Recently Searched/Opened tab.

**Note:** For contact files (**.vcf**), users must open the VCF from *Content Catalog* and then select **Add to Contacts** to import it into the device’s Contacts app.

## iOS Supported Formats for Viewing in the Self Service App:

The following file formats can be securely viewed directly within the Self Service app:

- Documents: doc, .ppt, .xls, .xlsx, .docx, .rtf, .txt, .pdf, .key, .page, .numbers, .shortcuts
- Images: .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .gif
- Audio: .mp3, .wav
- Video: .mp4, .mov

Unsupported documents (other than the formats mentioned above) can be opened in external apps, regardless of document policy restrictions.

The following is a sample image for iOS.

![Sample distributed content displayed in the Self Service app on iOS](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/mdm-content.png)

## Android Supported Formats for Viewing in the Self Service App:

The following file formats can be securely viewed directly within the Self Service app:

- Documents: .txt, .pdf
- Images: .jpeg, .jpg, .png
- Audio: .mp3
- Video: .mp4, .mov

For other file formats, employees can use third-party viewers or apps to access the distributed content.

### Additional Supported Formats for Distribution:

MDM supports the distribution of the following document and media formats:

- Documents: zip, .vcf, .vcard, .json, .xlsb, .xlsm, .odp, .ods, .odt, .pptx, .csv, and more.
- Media: .mkv, .mka, .m4a, .mp3, .ogg, .aac, .ico, .mpg, .mov, .qt, .m4v, .avi, and more.

The following is a sample image for android.

![Sample distributed content displayed in the Self Service app on Android](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/images/android-mdm-content.jpg)

Follow the steps given below to distribute the Self Service app silently to devices:

- [iOS devices](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/how-to/automate-mdm-app-installation-ios-devices.html)
- [Windows devices](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/app_management/windows_app_management.html#distribute_memdm)

## Deleting documents

Admin can permanently delete documents by selecting the document and choosing **Delete** under **Actions**. Once the documents are deleted, the documents are removed from the devices as well.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### 1. Is there a file size limit for content distributed through MDM Cloud?

Yes. Content distribution is supported for iOS and Android devices, but for MDM Cloud, the total size of files added for distribution must not exceed 1 GB.

### 2. What happens if I apply more than one content access policy to the same document?

Only the settings from the most recently applied policy take effect on the device. If no policy is selected, the content is distributed without any access restrictions, and any previously applied policy settings are revoked from the device.

### 3. Can end users remove distributed content from their device?

Only if the "Allow users to remove content from device's storage" setting is enabled in the content access policy. Users can reinstall the content from the Content Catalog afterward if it's still needed.

### 4. Is the Windows native MDM app still used to view distributed content?

No. The Windows native MDM app has been discontinued following the deprecation of the Windows Business Store, so distributed content on Windows devices is no longer viewed through it.