With iOS 14 devices we can see that Many MDM Commands Fails with error " Couldn’t communicate with a helper application." . This Error is more frequent in InstallApplication , InstallProfile command , but other MDM commads also face the same issue. I have attach sample response from some devices. We have seen this error in previous version of iOS but with iOS 14 these are very frequent. InstallApplication Errors <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>CommandUUID</key> <string>InstallApplication;Collection=51075000000853127</string> <key>ErrorChain</key> <array> <dict> <key>ErrorCode</key> <integer>1005</integer> <key>ErrorDomain</key> <string>DeviceManagement.error</string> <key>LocalizedDescription</key> <string>Could not install app.</string> </dict> <dict> <key>ErrorCode</key> <integer>4097</integer> <key>ErrorDomain</key> <string>NSCocoaErrorDomain</string> <key>LocalizedDescription</key> <string>Couldn’t communicate with a helper application.</string> </dict> </array> <key>Status</key> <string>Error</string> <key>UDID</key> <string>UDID-UDID</string> </dict> </plist> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>CommandUUID</key> <string>InstallApplication;Collection=33783000002227119</string> <key>ErrorChain</key> <array> <dict> <key>ErrorCode</key> <integer>4099</integer> <key>ErrorDomain</key> <string>NSCocoaErrorDomain</string> <key>LocalizedDescription</key> <string>Couldn’t communicate with a helper application.</string> </dict> </array> <key>Status</key> <string>Error</string> <key>UDID</key> <string>UDIDUDIDUDID</string> </dict> </plist> <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>CommandUUID</key> <string>InstallApplication;Collection=51075000000853127</string> <key>ErrorChain</key> <array> <dict> <key>ErrorCode</key> <integer>1005</integer> <key>ErrorDomain</key> <string>DeviceManagement.error</string> <key>LocalizedDescription</key> <string>Could not install app.</string> </dict> <dict> <key>ErrorCode</key> <integer>4097</integer> <key>ErrorDomain</key> <string>NSCocoaErrorDomain</string> <key>LocalizedDescription</key> <string>Couldn’t communicate with a helper application.</string> </dict> </array> <key>Status</key> <string>Error</string> <key>UDID</key> <string>UDID-UDID</string> </dict> </plist> InstallProfile Errors <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>CommandUUID</key> <string>SingletonRestriction</string> <key>ErrorChain</key> <array> <dict> <key>ErrorCode</key> <integer>4099</integer> <key>ErrorDomain</key> <string>NSCocoaErrorDomain</string> <key>LocalizedDescription</key> <string>Couldn’t communicate with a helper application.</string> </dict> </array> <key>Status</key> <string>Error</string> <key>UDID</key> <string>UDIDUDID</string> </dict> </plist> AvailableOSUpdate Error <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>CommandUUID</key> <string>AvailableOSUpdates</string> <key>ErrorChain</key> <array> <dict> <key>ErrorCode</key> <integer>12050</integer> <key>ErrorDomain</key> <string>MCMDMErrorDomain</string> <key>LocalizedDescription</key> <string>The attempt to check for an available update failed.</string> <key>USEnglishDescription</key> <string>The attempt to check for an available update failed.</string> </dict> <dict> <key>ErrorCode</key> <integer>2214</integer> <key>ErrorDomain</key> <string>DeviceManagement.error</string> <key>LocalizedDescription</key> <string>Scan failed.</string> </dict> <dict> <key>ErrorCode</key> <integer>4097</integer> <key>ErrorDomain</key> <string>NSCocoaErrorDomain</string> <key>LocalizedDescription</key> <string>Couldn’t communicate with a helper application.</string> </dict> </array> <key>Status</key> <string>Error</string> <key>UDID</key> <string>UDIDUDIDUDID</string> </dict> </plist> ClearPasscode <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>CommandUUID</key> <string>ClearPasscode</string> <key>ErrorChain</key> <array> <dict> <key>ErrorCode</key> <integer>701</integer> <key>ErrorDomain</key> <string>DeviceManagement.error</string> <key>LocalizedDescription</key> <string>The device’s passcode cannot be cleared.</string> </dict> <dict> <key>ErrorCode</key> <integer>4097</integer> <key>ErrorDomain</key> <string>NSCocoaErrorDomain</string> <key>LocalizedDescription</key> <string>Couldn’t communicate with a helper application.</string> </dict> </array> <key>Status</key> <string>Error</string> <key>UDID</key> <string>UDIDUDIDUDID</string> </dict> </plist>

I have submit my request a month ago and I didn't get any reply yet. I've seen that other developers are getting their approval or rejection after a couple of weeks. Is anyone in this situation? how long does it usually take?

I wasn't sure how best to word the question but I can explain. We are developing an application for a customer. This app is to be used by their staff and shouldn't be available to the public. We plan on using Apple Business Manager to distribute the app to them, from which they can use their MDM tool to push the app out to the required devices. The bit I am unsure of is they also have a group of distributers (separate companies that sell their products) that require access to the app. As I said before, it cant be open to the general public and therefore rules out the App Store. The distributors are also separate businesses and so I doubt our customer can use their MDM to manage the distributer's devices. What I'd like to know is can our customer re-distribute our app from their ABM to their distributors? I understand we could most likely distribute the app out to the distributors as well but if at all possible I'd like to avoid us managing who they want to give the app to. Any thoughts would be appreciated or if you think I'm going about this all wrong to begin with, please say. This is new territory for me.

Hi, We are creating a Installer package which will be distributed to user through MDM with the InstallApp command. Our distribution package use the Distribution.xml file and InstallerJS to check each flat package version and select the package for install only if there is no receipt or if the already installed package version is older. The package is working fine when using the GUI Installer or through the command line installer. When trying to install the package through MDM, all package which use InstallerJS javascript to decide if it will be install or not will not be selected and thus will not be installed. Is this the expected behaviour? Looking at the install log, I can see that the package selection seems to be done by appstored when installing through MDM. Is appstored not able to understand the InstallerJS script? The documentation specifies that InstallerJS is for the Installer application. https://developer.apple.com/documentation/installer_js If that's the case is there a way to select specific flat package for install when distributing through MDM? Thanks in advance!

Apple introduces MDM to subscribe to certain events in Apple business manager Apps and Books through specifying the URL in "notificationUrl" filed during client context command. What the best way to design it for a closed network MDM Server How does it work for MDM with a self-signed certificate or enterprise certificate? Will it cause any SSL issues?

Just wondering where we can download the new version of configurator for iphone? The WWDC keynote says it’ll be available for download in appleseed for IT. Just can’t seem to find it. want to start testing using it to add some macbooks to apple business manager

Can an Enterprise Apple ID be associated with more than 16 AirTags? We're looking to use AirTags to manage a fleet of Mountain Bikes (and other equipment if successful), but having 16 to an account is cumbersome when the fleet exceeds one hundred.

What is the impact on app review ratings, travel rankings, keyword rankings if we were to merge multiple developer accounts into one developer account? Would it restate the app's rating and rankings?

I am working on an app that will be distributed to a business that includes patented technologies (legally; I am working with the owner of the patents). We have been advised to have the patent numbers visible within the app, along with a description of the patents. Where is information like this best displayed in an app? We are trying to find a balance between making it clear some of the functionality within the app is backed by patents while not interfering with the main UI for our eventual day-to-day users

We are unable to find a key in the MDM's Device information query response that tells us whether a mac uses T1 or T2 security chip. Is there a way to deduce this with the device information response we are already receiving? Thank you.

We are a government organization. There is a need to distribute a custom app. So we are trying to register for Apple Business Manager. But enrollment is showing error that 'D-U-S-N' number is required. And on apple developer website it has written D-U-S-N number is optional for Government organization. How can we proceed without D-U-S-N Number?

Hi, I'm trying to test this restriction on my iPhone. The help doc says allowUnpairedExternalBootToRecovery - allows devices to be booted into recovery by an unpaired device I understand that by default, I shouldn't be able to boot my iPhone into recovery from an unpaired device. So to test this, I did the following: Reset the Location and Privacy in my iPhone - so that all previously trusted devices get removed. Now when I connect my iPhone to Mac, it asks whether it should trust this mac and I chose "Don't Trust". I put my iPhone into recovery mode and connected it to Mac and from the mac, when I click restore/update, the device gets restored. iPhone version: 14.7.1 Please kindly bear with me. But I can't find any detailed doc explanation anywhere on the internet. A little explanation about what this restriction does and how to observe its behaviour would be of immense help. Thanks.

Hi, We recently noticed that the following Macbook models have the same Model Identifier: MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015) MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017) Model Identifier: MacBookAir7,2. Source It causes a little confusion to know what model a device is. Is there any other key available in MDM's DeviceInformation to distinguish different Macbook models? Thanks in advance.

I've been looking around but could not find any answer on how to transfer an app from one company to another without losing Small Business Program. Both companies are owned by the same person and both meet the criteria to be eligible for the Small Business Program. Anyone had an experience doing this or have any info about it ?

We're building an app for a client that is providing emergency services to employees of businesses that have insurance policies with our client (it's a value added service they're providing to their clients). The issue is, they only want the employees of their clients to be able to register on the app. At the moment, once the user downloads the app and enters their details our client gets a notification which allows them to approve or deny the user access to the app. (This is working fine on the Google Play Store). I'd like to know whether this model is support by the Apple App Store and if so which program should we enroll in? Our current thoughts are to have our client create a business manager account use the VPP to send vouchers to specific users, but we're not sure if there is a better way forward.

Hi, We have just signed up for the Apple developer program as a company, and we would like to develop an application for our clients. The current application is not on the App store, so there is no "transfer" to do, per say. The customer has his developer account as well, so we want them to add our company as a whole on their account so we can "do the work of publishing" for them. We will manage who has the rights to test, develop and publish apps for the client. In the past, each developer created their own developer account using their own email address. The clients then added the individual account in their developer program. There are 2 problems that we're trying to address: We have multiple developers working on the same project and we would like to release new versions with our company's credentials rather than the individual's account. Over time, some employees have left our company and we no longer have access to our clients' developer accounts to make updates without their intervention. How can our clients add our organization so we can manage the clients' applications. Thanks for all your help.

The declarative device management video demonstrates how today's profile management can be achieved through configuration type declaration. I'm interested and curious to know about the plans for mechanisms to manage applications through declarations. I'm wondering if there could be a new type of declaration for managed applications or would it be accommodated with the existing type of declarations (say, assets or configuration)?

This is a translation of Japanese into English by Google. We develop and operate Enterprise App in-house. One day, when I updated one device to iOS 14, the enterprise app couldn't be installed. -The official version of the device that cannot install apps is iOS 14.6. -The distribution method is OTA (On The Air). -A website for installation is available. -The app can be installed on iPads with iOS 13 or lower. -The .ipa file is placed on the IIS server. -The security of the IIS server is TLS 1.2. If you have any other information you need, please leave a comment.

I want to publish white label apps for my clients. some of them are not ready to create their own apple developer program account. can I push apps for them with an enterprise account and make the apps available through my website?