If the organization is not using ABM/ASM, a generic Apple ID is required to "redeem" the app license, even if downloaded manually. In strictly "air-gapped" environments (no internet), activation can be problematic as the app may attempt to "phone home" to verify the Apple ID associated with the download.
If your restriction is purely GUI-based (the App Store icon is hidden, but the backend services work), you can use the open-source mas-cli tool.
mas-cli is a command-line interface for the Mac App Store. It allows you to search, download, and install apps without ever opening the App Store window. apple configurator 2 download without app store
Apple allows businesses to purchase apps in volume. While custom B2B apps are often distributed as .pkg or .ipa files, public apps from the App Store are distributed via Manifest.plist files or directly through MDM.
However, for the specific purpose of "downloading" the app locally (to install via command line or MDM), the process involves utilizing a command-line tool to interact with the user’s purchased library. If the organization is not using ABM/ASM, a
Note: The method described below requires a valid Apple ID associated with the ABM/ASM account to redeem the license, even if the App Store GUI is not used for the download.
To understand the difficulty of acquiring AC2 outside the App Store, one must understand its integration with macOS. Unlike standalone applications, AC2 is deeply integrated into the operating system. Because of these deep hooks, AC2 is treated
Apple Configurator 2 is distributed via the Mac App Store. If you need to install it without using the App Store, here are the practical, supported and unsupported options, with step-by-step instructions and caveats.
AC2 relies on private frameworks and system-level entitlements that are generally unavailable to third-party applications. These include:
Because of these deep hooks, AC2 is treated by Apple not merely as an app, but as a system extension. Consequently, Apple distributes it as a sandboxed app through the App Store to ensure code integrity and version control, making a standalone .dmg or .pkg installer unavailable to the public.