---
title: Unmanaged to managed app conversion on iOS devices
slug: epmm/appsatwork-guide/unmanaged-to-managed-app-conversion-on-ios-devices
createdAt: 2026-10-06T07:43:55.584Z
---

You can convert an unmanaged app to an iOS managed app, with little to no device user input. There is no need to uninstall the unmanaged app. This feature applies to apps installed on devices running iOS 9.0 or newer versions.

There are two ways to convert unmanaged apps to iOS managed apps:

- Message: You can convert unmanaged apps to managed by prompting all devices running iOS 9.0 or newer versions. Device users simply respond by tapping <font color="#323232">Manage</font>, which automatically converts the app to managed. On supervised devices, the app is silently converted.
- Apps\@Work: Alternatively, you can configure an app as convertible to managed, by posting an update to the app in the <font color="#323232">Updates</font> section of Apps\@Work. This means that if the app is installed and unmanaged, the app will be listed in the <font color="#323232">Updates</font> section of Apps\@Work. Device users can find the app under <font color="#323232">Updates</font> and tap <font color="#323232">Update</font> to convert the app to managed. The version of the app will stay the same.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Notes**:

- Apps cannot be converted back to unmanaged. If you uninstall an iOS Managed app and re-install it from the Apple App Store, it still displays as Managed. If an app needs to be converted back to unmanaged, you need to remove the label associated with it.
- Apps that are hidden from view in Apps\@Work on the device can still be converted to managed apps.
- When converting Apple-Licensed apps from unmanaged to managed, Apple Licenses are not consumed.
- If you delete a managed app from the device and install an unmanaged app, Ivanti EPMM will convert the unmanaged app to managed automatically without notifying or prompting the device user.
- This feature is not supported when Ivanti EPMM is configured for MAM-only iOS devices.
:::

This section includes the following topics:

- [Enabling app inventory synchronization in the privacy policy for iOS](docId\:eQiyZMPw3qaVdFAUrh_qP)
- [Converting an unmanaged app to a managed app by prompting iOS device users](docId\:eQiyZMPw3qaVdFAUrh_qP)
- [Enabling device users to convert iOS apps from unmanaged to managed in Apps@Work](docId\:eQiyZMPw3qaVdFAUrh_qP)
- [Viewing the managed status of an iOS app](docId\:eQiyZMPw3qaVdFAUrh_qP)
- [Viewing the status of iOS managed apps for a given device](docId\:eQiyZMPw3qaVdFAUrh_qP)
- [User prompts to convert an app from unmanaged to managed on an iOS device](docId\:eQiyZMPw3qaVdFAUrh_qP)
- [Converting an app to managed on an unsupervised iOS device](docId\:eQiyZMPw3qaVdFAUrh_qP)

## Enabling app inventory synchronization in the privacy policy for iOS

**Prerequisites**

Make sure to enable app inventory synchronization in your privacy policy.

**Procedure&#xA0;**

1. Go to <font color="#323232">Policies &amp; Configs &gt; Policies</font>.
2. Click the privacy policy that is currently enabled.
3. In the Policy Details pane, click <font color="#323232">Edit</font>. The Modify Privacy Policy dialog box opens.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/V3jJx_afLEcmDauLTrzss/ytumNyvu6t2clwCXdJ2MH_privacypolicysyncappsinventory.png" position="flex-start" size="100" width="879" height="820" initialPath="../Resources/Images/PrivacyPolicySyncAppsInventory.png" githubPath="Apps@Work Guide/Resources/Images/PrivacyPolicySyncAppsInventory.png" darkWidth="879" darkHeight="820" showCaption="false" indent="1"}

4. Select <font color="#323232">Apps &gt; All Apps</font>, if it has not been selected already.

:::hint{type="info" indent="1"}
The administrator should update the Default Privacy Policy with highest priority and set the "iOS Installed App Inventory" field to "All Apps". This ensures unmanaged app are reported to the Ivanti EPMM and the Ivanti EPMM can send MDM commands to convert unmanaged app to managed app. This applies if the app has the option "Enforce conversion from unmanaged to managed app (iOS 9 or later)" enabled and the unmanaged version of the same app is reported to the Ivanti EPMM.
:::

5. Click <font color="#323232">Save</font>.
6. Apply the policy to the relevant labels.

## Converting an unmanaged app to a managed app by prompting iOS device users

You can convert an unmanaged app to an iOS managed app by prompting users to accept a request to convert the app on their devices.

**Procedure&#xA0;**

1. Go to<font color="#323232"> Apps &gt; App Catalog</font>.
2. From the Platform list, select <font color="#323232">iOS</font>.
3. Click <font color="#323232">Search</font> to display a list of iOS apps.
4. Select the check box next to the name of the iOS app you want to convert to managed.
5. Make sure you have applied the app to the relevant labels.
6. From the list of apps, select the app you edited.
7. Go to <font color="#323232">Actions &gt; Apply to Labels</font>.
8. Select the labels you want to apply.
9. Click <font color="#323232">Apply</font>.
10. Go to <font color="#323232">Actions &gt; Send Installation Request</font>.
11. In the <font color="#323232">Send App Installation Request</font> dialog box, select <font color="#323232">Send request to convert the app to Managed</font>.
12. Click <font color="#323232">Apply</font>.
13. The next steps depend on the type of iOS device receiving the message, as described in the following table:

|                                                                                     | *Unsupervised* devices running iOS 9.0 or newer versions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | *Supervised* devices running iOS 9.0 or newer versions                            |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Prompt?<br /><br /><br /><br />                                                     | A prompt displays on the device, indicating that the app will be converted from unmanaged to managed.                                                                                                                                                                                                         | No prompt appears.                                                                |
| Next steps?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> | The device user must tap <font color="#323232">Manage</font>. The app is then converted to managed.<br /><br />If the device user has not yet installed the app, the app will be installed as managed.<br />If the device user taps <font color="#323232">Cancel</font>, the app is not converted to managed. | No user action required. The app is silently converted from unmanaged to managed. |

## Enabling device users to convert iOS apps from unmanaged to managed in Apps\@Work

You can allow device users to convert an unmanaged app to an iOS managed app in Apps\@Work.

**Procedure&#xA0;**

1. Go to<font color="#323232"> Apps &gt; App Catalog</font>.
2. From the Platform list, select <font color="#323232">iOS</font>.
3. Click <font color="#323232">Search</font>.
   A list of iOS apps displays.
4. Click the name of the iOS app you want to convert to managed.
   The app details are displayed.
5. Click <font color="#323232">Edit</font>.

:::hint{type="info" indent="1"}
For iOS apps, when the app data is in View or Edit mode, Ivanti EPMM loads the latest managed app schema from the AppConfig repository and displays the latest fields (including any new fields) in the “Managed App Configurations” section in the UI. Ivanti, Inc recommends that before saving the changes, you first carefully inspect the updated managed app configuration. Once you select Proceed and click Confirm, the updated managed app configuration settings are saved and the changes are pushed out to all associated devices.
:::

6. Select Send convert unmanaged to managed app request on device registration or sign-in (iOS 9 or later).
7. Click <font color="#323232">Save</font>.
8. Click <font color="#323232">Back to List</font> to return to the list of apps.
9. Make sure you have applied the app to the relevant labels.
   1. From the list of apps, select the app you edited.
   2. Go to <font color="#323232">Actions &gt; Apply to Labels</font>.
   3. Select the labels you want to apply.
   4. Click <font color="#323232">Apply</font>.
      The app will be listed in the Updates section of Apps\@Work.
10. Device users must tap <font color="#323232">Update</font> next to the app to convert it to managed.

## Viewing the managed status of an iOS app

You can view whether a given app is managed or unmanaged on a device by clicking the number in the Devices Installed column for that app.

:::hint{type="info"}
Currently, macOS apps cannot be managed apps. Therefore, macOS apps display as unmanaged.
:::

**Procedure&#xA0;**

1. Go to<font color="#323232"> Apps &gt; App Catalog</font>.
2. From the Platform list, select <font color="#323232">iOS</font>.
3. Click <font color="#323232">Search</font>. A list of apps displays.
4. Find the name of the app whose managed status you want to view.
5. In the <font color="#323232">Devices Installed</font> column, click the number next to the app whose managed status you want to view.
6. The Device Details window displays. Locate the <font color="#323232">Managed</font> column.
7. The <font color="#323232">Managed</font> column indicates whether the app is managed on the devices listed.
8. Click <font color="#323232">Close</font>.

## Viewing the status of iOS managed apps for a given device

You can view the managed status of apps installed on a given device by drilling down to the device details on the <font color="#323232">Devices</font> page in Ivanti EPMM.

**Procedure&#xA0;**

1. Go to<font color="#323232"> Devices &amp; Users &gt; Devices</font>.
2. Click the device to view device details.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/V3jJx_afLEcmDauLTrzss/qNr77EgaylgKevvmaH98R_devicedetailslogsmanagedapps.png" position="flex-start" size="100" width="1044" height="507" initialPath="../Resources/Images/deviceDetailsLogsManagedApps.png" githubPath="Apps@Work Guide/Resources/Images/deviceDetailsLogsManagedApps.png" darkWidth="1044" darkHeight="507" showCaption="false" indent="1"}

3. Click the <font color="#323232">Managed Apps and iBooks Inventory</font>. A list of apps and iBooks installed on the device displays.
4. Locate the app whose managed status you want to view.
5. In the <font color="#323232">Status</font> column, check the status of the app.
6. Possible status values are listed in the following table:

| Status                                                | Notes                                                                                                                    | Status                                                   | Notes                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| <font color="#000000">Managed</font>                  | Indicates iOS managed app status (managed by MDM), or successful conversion from unmanaged to managed.                   | <font color="#000000">ManagementRejected</font>          | Indicates the device user tapped Cancel when prompted to convert the app to managed.<br />Valid status for devices running iOS 9.0 or newer versions.                                                                              |
| <font color="#000000">ManagedButUninstalled</font>    | The app was managed, but the device user deleted it. If the device user installs the app again, the app will be managed. | <font color="#000000">PromptingForManagement</font>      | Indicates the device user is being prompted to convert the app and has not yet tapped <font color="#323232">Manage</font> or <font color="#323232">Cancel</font>.<br />Valid status for devices running iOS 9.0 or newer versions. |
| <font color="#000000">UpdateRejected</font>           | A transient state indicating the device user canceled the managed app update.                                            | <font color="#000000">Installing</font>                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| <font color="#000000">UserInstalledApp</font>         |                                                                                                                          | <font color="#000000">UserRejected</font>                | Indicates the device user canceled a managed app installation.                                                                                                                                                                     |
| <font color="#000000">Prompting</font>                | Prompting for installation.                                                                                              | <font color="#000000">PromptingForUpdate</font>          | Prompting for app update.                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| <font color="#000000">PromptingForLogin</font>        | Prompting for App Store password.                                                                                        |                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| <font color="#000000">Failed</font>                   |                                                                                                                          | <font color="#000000">AppAlreadyQueued</font>            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| <font color="#000000">AppAlreadyInstalled</font>      |                                                                                                                          | <font color="#000000">AppStoreDisabled</font>            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| <font color="#000000">NotSupported</font>             |                                                                                                                          | <font color="#000000">NeedsRedemption</font>             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| <font color="#000000">CouldNotVerifyAppID</font>      |                                                                                                                          | <font color="#000000">Redeeming</font>                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| <font color="#000000">Queued</font>                   |                                                                                                                          | <font color="#000000">Unknown</font>                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| <font color="#000000">NotAnApp</font>                 |                                                                                                                          | <font color="#000000">ValidatingPurchase</font>          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| <font color="#000000">PromptingForUpdate
Login</font> |                                                                                                                          | <font color="#000000">Updating</font>                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| <font color="#000000">ValidatingUpdate</font>         |                                                                                                                          | <font color="#000000">PurchaseMethodNot
Supported</font> |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

## User prompts to convert an app from unmanaged to managed on an iOS device

If a user has any unmanaged apps installed on the device, the user will be prompted to convert the unmanaged app to a managed app by selecting Manage. The unmanaged app will be converted to a managed app.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/V3jJx_afLEcmDauLTrzss/0HXwKL-PaX83-iJiujj4N_converttomanagedprompt.PNG" position="flex-start" size="49" width="343" height="241" initialPath="../Resources/Images/convertToManagedPrompt.PNG" githubPath="Apps@Work Guide/Resources/Images/convertToManagedPrompt.PNG" darkWidth="343" darkHeight="241" showCaption="false"}

Supervised devices will silently convert the unmanaged app to an iOS managed app. This applies to devices running iOS 9.0 or newer versions.

:::hint{type="info"}
This applies if the app has the option "Enforce conversion from unmanaged to managed app (iOS 9 or later)" enabled and the unmanaged version of the same app is reported to the Ivanti EPMM.
:::

On supervised devices, unmanaged apps are also silently converted to managed. The device user will have no indication that the app successfully converted to managed. You can verify that the app was converted to managed by checking the status of the app, as described in [Viewing the status of iOS managed apps for a given device](docId\:eQiyZMPw3qaVdFAUrh_qP).

## Converting an app to managed on an unsupervised iOS device

On unsupervised devices, the Updates section in Apps\@Work indicates a new update for the app that is to be converted from unmanaged to managed.

To convert an app to an iOS managed app, instruct unsupervised device users to take the actions described in the following procedure.

**Procedure&#xA0;**

1. On the user device, tap the Apps\@Work web clip.
2. Tap the category for the app, such as <font color="#323232">Updates</font> or <font color="#323232">Featured</font>.
   The app displays with an indication that it requires an update.
3. Tap <font color="#323232">Update</font> next to the name of the app in Apps\@Work.
   The app details page displays.
4. Tap <font color="#323232">Update</font> on the app details page.
   A prompt displays, indicating that the app will be converted to managed.
5. Tap <font color="#323232">Manage</font> to convert the unmanaged app to managed.