VPP account - will the user see a badge on the app store if an update is available?

Question

If we distribute an app through an VPP account (Volume Purchase), will the user also get a badge on the AppStore Dashboard icon, if an update is available (like with the 'normal' user accounts?)

Answer 1

There is a comparison table of the VPP features for the three possible distribution paths "MDM User Assignment", "MDM Device Assignment" and "Redemption codes".

The way I understand the table is that automatic updates through the App Store are available if you distribute via redemption codes OR assign the app via MDM directly to the user / Apple ID.

Only if you assign it via MDM directly to a device (no Apple ID required), it will not have a connection to the store and therefore not provide any automatic updates. However, if you have the MDM in place, you push updates through that anyway.

Answer 2

Yes! After about a day — I’m not sure whether it was closer to 24 or 36 hours — every user either got auto-updated or got the badge. It just took a lot longer than you’d think. Thanks for asking — I got the email letting me know to respond or I wouldn’t have remembered to.