Remove iOS apps from devices

Removing unnecessary apps from the devices helps to improve device performance and security. With Hexnode, you can silently uninstall apps from the managed iOS devices remotely. Users no longer have to hand over their devices to administrators to perform such operations. You can even automate the removal of apps using Hexnode UEM.

Remove apps from a single device

You can remove one or more apps from a device using Hexnode UEM.

1. Navigate to Manage > Devices.
2. Click on the device.
3. Click on Applications sub-tab. Here, you will see the complete list of applications deployed on the specific device.
4. Click on the gear icon corresponding to the app that you wish to remove.
5. Click on Uninstall App and click Yes.

This will immediately send a command to the device for uninstalling the app.

Remove apps from devices via ‘Uninstall Application’ action

You can force the uninstallation of an app from one or more devices by following the steps mentioned below.

1. Navigate to Manage > Devices.
2. Identify and select the devices you wish to remove the app from.
3. Click on Actions > Uninstall Application.
4. Click on iOS and select the apps to be removed from the app inventory. Click on Done.

This will remove the apps from the selected devices.

Remove app when device is disenrolled

App added as an in-house app can be uninstalled upon disenrolling the devices from the UEM. This must be done when you first add the app to the app inventory in Hexnode UEM.

Enable the option Remove on Disenroll for the apps that you wish to remove from an iOS device when the device is disenrolled. You can do this either while adding a new enterprise app (Apps > + Add Apps > Enterprise App) or while editing the enterprise app configuration (Apps > search and select the app > gear icon > Edit).

Remove apps pushed via Required Apps policy

Apps pushed to the devices via the Required Apps policy can be uninstalled from the device.

1. On the Hexnode UEM console, navigate to Policies.
2. Click on New Policy to create a new one or edit an existing policy. If you are creating a new policy, provide a suitable name and description for the policy.
3. Go to iOS > App Management > Required Apps.
4. Click Configure.
5. Check the box Remove apps from the device on policy removal.
6. Click on +Add to add the apps or app groups that you want to push to the device.
7. Go to Policy Targets and associate the policy with the required target entities. It can be devices, users, device groups, user groups, and/or domains.
8. Click on Save.

Apps added via the Required Apps policy will be uninstalled from the device when the policy is deleted or disassociated from the device, or when the app is removed from the policy.

Remove System Apps

Hexnode UEM permits users to remove system apps from supervised iOS 11.0 or later devices. Here’s how you can do it.

1. Navigate to Policies. Click on New Policy to create a new one or click on policy name to edit an existing one. Provide a suitable name and description if you are creating a new policy.
2. Under iOS > Advanced Restrictions > Allow App Settings, select the option ‘Remove system apps‘ to allow removal of system apps from iOS devices.
3. Navigate to Policy Targets. Click on +Add Devices to add the devices you wish to associate the policy with.
4. Click on Save.

Remove apps from user’s end

You can also permit users to uninstall apps from their devices.

Following are the steps to allow users to remove apps from their devices.

1. Navigate to Policies. Click on New Policy to create a new one or click on policy name to edit an existing one. Provide a suitable name and description if you are creating a new policy.
2. Click on iOS > Advanced Restrictions.
3. Under Allow App Settings, select the option ‘Remove apps‘ to allow users to remove apps from their devices.
4. Navigate to Policy Targets. Click on +Add Devices to add the devices you wish to assign the policy to.
5. Click on Save.