Hi Community,

This time a short, but in my humble opinion something nice, about retrieving the bundle id of an iOS app. Let’s say you want to use an iOS app protection policy for a custom app in Intune. In this case, you will need the identifier of the app you want to protect.

The Bundle ID, or bundle identifier, is a crucial aspect of the iOS app ecosystem. It not only distinguishes your app from others in the App Store but also plays an essential role in app development and distribution. A well-defined bundle ID ensures that your app can be easily recognized and managed within various services, such as Intune, which helps secure corporate apps on mobile devices.

In this blog I will show you how to get this identifier.

Understanding the bundle id is crucial for managing your app’s identity and ensuring proper configuration in various services.

What is an Identifier?

An Identifier is a unique identifier for each app published on the App Store, set when creating the app.

Every iOS app requires a unique identifier to function, and it must be unique for the developer to publish it on the App Store.

For instance, when you are developing an app, the bundle ID serves as a unique identifier that links your app to its associated resources and services. If multiple apps share the same identifier, it can lead to conflicts, which can severely affect functionality and user experience. Thus, during app development, it is paramount to choose a unique and descriptive bundle ID that reflects your app’s purpose and minimizes the risk of duplication.

Unlike the Google Play Store, where an app’s package name (the Android equivalent of an identifier) is visible in the app’s link, you can’t directly find an iOS app’s identifier in the Apple App Store.

To locate an iOS app’s Bundle ID, you’ll need to follow a few steps, as outlined below.

Get the Identifier

To illustrate, let’s consider two different apps, say a weather app and a calendar app. The weather app might use a bundle ID like ‘com.example.weatherapp’, while the calendar app could use ‘com.example.calendarapp’. This differentiation is not just for organization; it also helps both apps to function correctly on the same device without interference.

In this example we will use Google Chrome, so we want to find the identifier of Google Chrome. The first thing we need to do is search for the app in a browser.

This will give you the app url on the app store.

When you have the app’s URL, it is crucial to ensure that you’re looking at the correct identifier. Having the wrong ID could lead to incorrect app configurations in services such as Intune, which could cause security policies to be applied incorrectly or not at all. Therefore, double-checking the ID is a recommended best practice.

Now copy the number after the ID in the url.

Copying the ID correctly is essential. Mistakes in this step can lead to significant challenges later in the process, especially if you are managing multiple applications within an enterprise environment, where app protection policies need to be precise and tailored to specific applications.

Now open a new browser tab or window and copy this url: https://itunes.apple.com/lookup?id=YourAppID&country=YourCountry

In the URL you constructed, ensure that you replace ‘YourAppID’ with the copied ID exactly as it appears. This step is crucial as it determines whether the lookup will succeed in returning accurate information about your app. If you mistakenly alter the ID, the response will not provide the proper metadata you need, leading to confusion and possible misconfigurations in app management tools.

for Google Chrome your url will look like this:

https://itunes.apple.com/lookup?id=535886823&country=be

When entering this url you will be prompted to download a txt file.

Save this file on your device and open it in a text editor and search for bundleid.

Opening the text file in a text editor is straightforward; however, searching for ‘bundleid’ can be tricky if the file is lengthy. It’s advisable to use a text editor that allows you to search quickly, such as Notepad++, Sublime Text, or Visual Studio Code. These tools enhance your productivity by enabling you to jump directly to the sections you need, saving time and reducing frustration during the identification process.

The identifier for this app is: com.google.chrome.ios.

In addition to the bundle ID, this text file can provide further insights into your app’s compatibility. For example, you can find the minimum operating system version required for your app, which is vital for ensuring that users can install the app on compatible devices. Knowing the supported devices can also provide insights into your potential user base, helping you to tailor marketing and support strategies effectively.

You can also find the identifier from an IPA file if you have this. Just change the file name extension to .zip

Identifying the bundle ID from an IPA file is another method that developers can utilize. This approach is especially useful when you have the app’s binary but lack direct access to App Store information. By renaming the file and extracting its contents, you can gain valuable information about the app that may not be readily available through other means.

Example: Rename GoogleChrome.ipa as GoogleChrome.zip

Expand the .zip file to a folder, and then search for the iTunesMetadata.plist file in the folder

Open the iTunesMetadata.plist file using a text editor, and then search for softwareVersionBundleId

This will give you the application’s identifier.

After locating the ‘softwareVersionBundleId’, you will have the bundle ID necessary for configuring app protection policies in Intune. This identifier is what allows Intune to apply the correct security measures to your app, ensuring that sensitive corporate data remains protected while employees access the application on their devices.

Use the Identifier in the Intune app protection policy

Implementing the bundle id into your Intune app protection policy is straightforward, but you must ensure that the policy itself is tailored to your organization’s security requirements. Each organization may have different compliance needs, and as such, the app protection policies should reflect those variations to maintain security and functional integrity.

In the Intune portal go to Apps – App protection policies. Here edit an existing policy or create a new one. In the policy click Select custom apps. Add the identifier, click add and click select.

When adding the identifier in Intune, it is also important to document any changes made to your app protection policies. This documentation will help you track modifications and ensure consistency in policy application across your organization’s apps. Regular reviews of app protection policies can also help identify areas that may need adjustment as your app evolves or as new threats emerge in the cybersecurity landscape.

Now follow the next steps in creating your app protection policy according to your needs.

In summary, the bundle id is essential for the management and protection of your iOS applications. It ties your app to the services that help secure it and keep data safe. Each step in this process works towards ensuring that your application functions correctly while adhering to your organization’s security policies.

This concludes this blog about mastering your bundle id in the iOS ecosystem. If you have found this guide helpful or if you wish to share your own experiences, don’t hesitate to reach out! Your feedback is invaluable in continuously improving our shared knowledge base.

Moreover, as technology continues to evolve, staying updated on best practices regarding bundle identifiers and app protection policies can significantly enhance your app’s integrity and security posture. Engaging with communities, attending workshops, and participating in forums can provide further insights and techniques to optimize your app management strategies.

Finally, remember that the bundle id is not just a technical detail; it represents your app’s identity in a crowded marketplace. A well-defined and correctly used bundle identifier can contribute significantly to your app’s success, ensuring it stands out while maintaining the necessary security and privacy standards required in today’s digital landscape.