# How to manage, schedule, or automate app updates for iOS, Android, Windows, and Chrome OS devices? Last updated: July 24, 2026 This guide explains how to manage, schedule, and automate app updates across iOS, Android, Windows, and Chrome OS devices using Mobile Device Manager Plus. Admins can view apps in the App Repository, test updates before distributing them to specific devices or groups, push updates to all devices at once, and create App Update Policies to approve and schedule updates immediately or during a preferred time window. ## Description With many organizations deploying different mobile devices for better productivity, applications on devices are extremely important aspects of a business environment. Through MDM, a wide range of apps can be installed on employees' devices to improve accessibility and work productivity. However, it is important to ensure that these apps are updated from time to time as: - Running older versions of the app might lead to app crashes or random restarts of the device. - The app update might be the patch for an existing security issue. - It might be the patch for an issue affecting your business productivity. The [app management capabilities](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/app_management/mdm_app_management.html?updateapps) of Mobile Device Manager Plus, a [mobile device management](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/what-is-mdm.html?updateapps) solution, make it possible to automate the large-scale distribution of app updates across [Android](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/app_management/android_app_management.html?updateapps), [Windows](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/app_management/windows_app_management.html?updateapps), and [Chrome OS](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/app_management/mdm_chromebook_app_managment.html?updateapps). Additionally, you can test the app update before deploying it to your devices. Using Mobile Device Manager Plus, IT admins can holistically manage apps and their updates. App updates can also be scheduled to be deployed at a certain date, time, and interval. With the [App Update Policy feature](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/app_management/mdm-app-update-policies.html#App-Update-Policies%26quot%3B%26quot%3B), you can make sure that employees' devices remain up to date with recent app updates. The controlled distribution of app updates ensures that: - Issues or bugs in the updates do not affect the functionalities of the present version of the app. - Issues in the updates do not disrupt your business productivity. To manage the app updates for your devices, follow the steps given in this document. ## Steps to view the apps added to MDM - Navigate to **Device Mgmt** on the MDM console and click **App Repository**. All the apps added to MDM are listed here. - On clicking the **App name**, you can find granular details about the app such as the app version, the devices on which the app is present, as well as details about app updates and app licenses. - You can also view the deployment status of the app to devices by clicking **App Distribution Status**. **Note:** The MDM server automatically syncs with each Store every 24 hours. If an app update is available, it will be notified on the MDM server in the **App Repository** view. You can also manually sync the Store with the MDM server by clicking **Sync ABM Apps/ Sync Play Store Apps/ Sync Business Store Apps** from the App Repository to fetch the details of any recently purchased or approved apps as well as the app updates. ## Distributing app updates to specific devices While it is important to ensure apps on the devices are updated, it is equally important to distribute perfectly tested app updates. This is because the app update could have an issue causing an adverse impact on your business productivity or a compatibility issue with the OS running on the device might crop up post-deployment. It is thus recommended to test the app update on a single device or on specific devices and only if the functionality of the app update is satisfactory, proceed with the deployment to [groups](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/mobile_device_management/mdm_creating_groups.html?updateapps). You also may want certain apps' updates to reach a set of devices before the rest of the production environment. Follow the steps given below to distribute app updates to selected devices: - Click the **App name** under the **App Repository** tab. - Click **Distributed Devices** shown right next to **Yet to distribute** updates. The list of devices to which the app was previously distributed will appear. - Click the **Update** button shown next to the devices on which the app is to be updated. Configure the **Update Type** as required. - Click **Update App** to complete the distribution of the app update. ## Distributing app updates to specific groups You can distribute app updates to test groups or to specific groups of devices on which you want the latest version of the app to be present. Follow the steps given below to distribute app updates to selected groups: - Under **Device Mgmt**, click **Groups & Devices**, and go to the **Groups** tab. - Select the groups to which the app update has to be distributed. - From the **Action** drop-down, choose **Distribute Apps**. It will list all the apps that are available for distribution. If an update is available for an app, it will be marked. - Click the updated version of the app. - Configure the Installation Type and click **Select**. ## Updating apps for all groups and devices Once the app updates have been tested, you can distribute them to all your groups. Follow the steps given below to distribute app updates to all devices that have the previous version of the app: - Click the App name under the **App Repository** tab. - Once an update is available for the app, an **Update All** button appears below **Yet to distribute** updates. Click the button to distribute the update to all devices. - If you want the updated app to be manually installed on the device by the user, configure the **Update Type** as **Manual installation from App Catalog**. If you want the updated app to be installed silently, select **Install updates automatically**. - Click **Update App** to complete the distribution of the app update. In the case of enterprise apps, the updated version of the app has to be uploaded on MDM. You can test the app update before you distribute it to your devices, which eliminates issues that arise due to bugs in the update. ## Creating App Update Policies for scheduling app updates Follow the given steps to create app update policies: - On the MDM server, navigate to **Device Mgmt > App Update Policy > Create Policy**. - After naming the policy, choose the required apps that need to follow the conditions given in this policy. - MDM supports this policy for **Store apps**, **All apps** added in MDM, or just **Specific apps**. - Choose how [app approval](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/app_management/mdm-app-update-policies.html#Approving-app-updates) should take place. You can choose for apps to be approved as soon as MDM detects them, or you can approve them before you manually distribute them to groups. ### How update distribution takes place using the App Update Policy - Apps can be updated either **Immediately** or using a **Scheduled Window**. - The **Immediately** option ensures that updates reach devices as soon as MDM detects the app updates. - If you want to distribute app updates at a certain date and time, click **Scheduled Window**. Choose the **Preferred Day(s)/ Preferred Time** and save the policy. This policy then has to be associated with Groups for devices to receive updates according to your configuration. Refer to [this document](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/app_management/mdm-enterprise-app-update-scheduling.html#Schedule-enterprise-app-updates) to learn more about configuring app update policies for in-house apps (enterprise apps). ## Frequently asked questions ### Why should I test an app update before rolling it out to everyone? An update could introduce bugs or an OS compatibility issue that disrupts business productivity, so it is recommended to distribute it to a single device or a specific group first and only roll out to all devices once the update proves satisfactory. ### How does MDM know when an app update is available? The MDM server automatically syncs with each app store every 24 hours and flags available updates in the App Repository. You can also trigger a manual sync using Sync ABM Apps, Sync Play Store Apps, or Sync Business Store Apps to check immediately. ### Can app updates be scheduled instead of pushed immediately? Yes, App Update Policies let you update apps immediately as soon as MDM detects an update, or during a Scheduled Window on the preferred days and times you configure. ### Does this work the same way across iOS, Android, Windows, and Chrome OS? Yes, the App Repository, distribution to devices and groups, and App Update Policy features are all available for managing app updates across iOS, Android, Windows, and Chrome OS devices.