In our help article How do I import and distribute apps from Apple Business Manager?, we showed you how to add and configure an Apple App Store account in the administration portal. When using macOS devices that require user-based app assignment, there are a few special considerations to keep in mind, which we summarize for you in this article.
Note! We generally recommend device-based app assignment. However, users may need the same (paid) app on different devices. In this case, it may be useful to use user-based apps.
1. Create managed Apple IDs
To use user-based apps on macOS devices, you must use a managed Apple ID.
- Therefore, create a managed Apple ID in Apple Business Manager for all affected users.
- To do this, open Apple Business Manager and click Add (right arrow in the image) under Users (left arrow in the image).
Note! Managed Apple IDs must belong to a verified domain.
Follow the steps described in the Apple Business Manager user guide. Users will then receive an email from Apple with their managed Apple ID and a temporary password.
Users must now log in at https://account.apple.com/ and change their temporary password.
- In the Cortado administration portal, select Administration→ Users→ Settings.
- Then select the user (left arrow in the image) and click on Edit (right arrow in the image).
- Enter the managed Apple ID (arrow in the image).
This managed Apple ID must be stored as an Apple Account when registering the macOS device. Apps can only be assigned on a user basis if the Apple ID on the macOS device matches the managed Apple ID stored in the management portal (example in the image, Settings app on a Mac).
2. Set up a user-based App Store account
Now you can create the App Store account. To do so, follow the steps described here.
- Select the Assignment type: User assigned.
3. Assign user-based app store account
- Then select the account (left arrow in the image) and click Assign Users (right arrow in the image)
- Then select the desired users and assign the account.
4. Select and assign apps in Apple Business Manager
- Now open Apple Business Manager and add all the apps you want to assign to your users to the new App Store account. We'll show you how to do this here.
- Then select the app in App Management (left arrow in the image) and assign the apps to the desired macOS users (right arrow in the image).
