Addigy Assist is a macOS Swift application that runs after device enrollment and shows end users what is being installed on their Mac in real time. It gives admins control over which assets are visible during setup, making the enrollment experience more transparent without requiring custom tooling.
Assist can be configured to launch after macOS Setup Assistant completes for Automated Device Enrollment (ADE), or at the start of device enrollment for manual enrollments.
Getting started? See How To Setup Addigy Assist for step-by-step configuration instructions.
How Asset Assignment Works
Addigy Assist is driven entirely by policy assignment.
For best results, use a dedicated enrollment policy (ADE, manual enrollment, or both). Any asset already assigned to that policy — regardless of asset type — will automatically appear under the Assist tab within the policy.
This makes it easy to confirm:
- What is assigned to the enrollment policy
- What will run during onboarding
- What will be visible to the end user
By default, all assets are hidden in Addigy Assist. Visibility is controlled at the individual asset level.
Showing or Hiding Assets
To control whether an asset appears in Assist:
- Navigate to the Assist tab in your enrollment policy.
- Select the asset (app, device setting, or software item).
- Use the Show/Hide Action button and checkboxes to change the Asset status.
This allows admins to reduce noise during onboarding and only surface what matters most to the end user.
Note: Assets appearing with a "Hidden in parent" status need to have the asset configured to be shown in the parent policy's Addigy Assist configuration. Afterwards the child policy will also have the asset shown.
Supported Asset Types
Addigy Assist supports the following asset types:
| Asset Type | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Software | Available | Best results with a condition script |
| Prebuilt Apps | Available | Supports install and update-only workflows |
| Apple Apps (App Store / VPP) | Available | Limited progress visibility due to App Store constraints |
| Device Settings | Available | Typically install first during enrollment |
| Public Software Library | Will be Deprecated | Will be removed in a future release |
Each asset type behaves differently in Assist. See the sections below for details.
Smart Software
Best practice: Use a condition script for Smart Software. This allows Assist to accurately determine:
- Whether the app is already installed
- Which version is present
- Whether installation or update is required
Without a condition script, Assist has limited context and may not reflect accurate installation status.
Prebuilt Apps
Prebuilt Apps support both install and update-only workflows.
Update-Only Apps:
- If the app exists on the device and is outdated → it will update
- If the app does not exist on the device → it is skipped
- Admins can choose whether skipped update-only apps are shown in Assist
Install Apps:
- Follow standard Addigy installation and update behavior
- Status is reported normally in Assist
Deployment Status may report apps as successfully installed even though the apps are still installing on the device.
Apple Apps (App Store / VPP)
Apple Apps have limited visibility due to App Store constraints.
Key behaviors:
- The latest App Store version is always installed
- Assist checks installation status multiple times based on Apple's response
- Progress visibility is limited and dependent on Apple's APIs
Common statuses:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Skipped | No VPP licenses available |
| Failed | App installation took longer than expected and timed out |
⚠️ Known issue: Apple Apps may report as "Failed" even though they continue installing in the background. If this occurs, please contact Addigy Support.
Device Settings
Device Settings typically install first during enrollment unless priorities are explicitly changed.
If a profile fails, common causes include:
- Network interruptions
- Conflicting profiles
Public Software Library (Deprecated)
⚠️ Deprecation notice: As of v1.1.1, the Public Software Library is deprecated and will be removed in a future release. Watch for future communications regarding deprecation timelines.
Recommendations:
-
If you are using it today, migrate to Prebuilt Apps.
- If an app exists in the Prebuilt Apps catalog, use that option.
- If it does not:
- Submit a request to Addigy with a download URL (see Requesting a Prebuilt App)
- Or create a custom Smart Software package
Installation Timing and Scheduling
When installation visibility is enabled in Addigy Assist, apps will:
- Install at the time of enrollment
- Bypass any configured deployment schedule
This ensures real-time progress can be displayed to the end user during onboarding.
Troubleshooting
Assets may fail or appear delayed due to:
- Network disruptions
- App Store delays
- VPP license exhaustion
- Profile conflicts
To investigate issues:
- Relaunch Addigy Assist on the device to refresh asset status
- Review device facts once installation completes for updated status
- Open a support ticket if failures persist after relaunching
Summary
Addigy Assist is designed to improve enrollment transparency for end users, give admins precise control over what is visible during onboarding, and align asset assignment directly with enrollment policies.
For the best and most predictable experience:
- Use a dedicated enrollment policy for devices going through Assist
- Migrate from Public Software Library to Prebuilt Apps
- Use condition scripts with Smart Software