What happens when an unmanaged app is converted to managed and deployed to a supervised device that already has the app installed as unmanaged?

When an unmanaged app is converted to managed and deployed to a supervised device that already has the app installed as unmanaged, the correct outcome is that the unmanaged app converts to managed without user interaction.

This seamless transition occurs because supervised devices allow for greater control and management capabilities. When an app is designated as managed through a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution, it takes on characteristics that are governed by the policies and settings defined within the MDM framework. Since the environment is supervised, the MDM system can effectively manage the app without requiring the user to intervene, ensuring a smooth experience.

This also supports the goal of organizations to maintain consistency and compliance by centrally managing applications on their devices. Users benefit from not having to manually upgrade or reinstall the application, which can be disruptive to their workflow. Instead, the transition happens automatically in the background, maintaining the integrity and user experience of the device.