Installing Private Apps & Implementing Role Restriction

The purpose of this article is to describe how you can create and update private versions of Zendesk plugins, as well as add role and group restrictions to apps within a Zendesk organization. This can be useful when your organization wants to distinguish usage metrics between different internal groups

How many private apps can I install?

There is currently no hard limit on the number of apps an account can have installed or enabled at the same time in Zendesk. Zendesk allows any number of apps to run simultaneously, within reason. This means that, while an excessive number of apps could have a negative impact on performance, Zendesk does not limit admins to a specific number of apps, regardless of whether the apps are private or not. 

Creating a private app instance

1. Go to Admin center > Apps and integrations.

2. Click the Upload private app button at the top of the page:
   

3. Name the private app instance, select the packaged ZIP file, and click upload.
   
4. Read the warning from Zendesk, then click Upload.
5. Zendesk opens the installation page, where you can apply the Auth token, custom field IDs and custom setting values, and role restrictions. (You can find your Custom field IDs in Admin center > Tickets > Fields). If you used a Language I/O app before, these custom field IDs already exist in your Zendesk organization, as it is part of the initial install process with support.
   For more information, see Configuring Ticket Fields and Field IDs for Zendesk Chat & Tickets.
   
6. Below the custom field IDs, there are check boxes for each custom setting.
   For more information about these custom settings, see Finishing the Configuration of Zendesk Chat & Tickets.
   
7. Below the custom settings, there is an option to enable the app for specific groups or role types. For more information, see the "Applying Role and Group Restrictions" section below.
   Once you finish selecting the title, URL, Auth token, custom field IDs, and custom setting values, click Install. Any of these field values can be changed at any time, by selecting change settings on the apps and integrations page. Once the app has been installed, it is ready to use.

Applying Role and Group Restrictions

In the Admin center, admins can restrict apps by role type or user group.

To apply role or group restrictions:

1. Go to Admin center > Apps and integrations.
2. Click the setting icon of the app you want to apply restrictions to, then click change settings from the drop-down menu.
   
3. Undern the custom fields and settings, there are two options to apply restrictions based on role type or group type respectively:
   
4. To apply role or group restrictions:
   1. Select the checkbox and click the input area to open the drop-down menu.
   2. Select each role that needs access to the particular app.
      The available options are preloaded into the drop-down menu. This example shows role restrictions. Group restrictions work the same way.
      
   3. After you finish selecting the role or group restrictions, click Update in the bottom of the page to apply the changes to the entire organization.

Updating an existing private app

1. Go to Admin center > Apps and integrations.
2. Click the setting icon of the app you want to update, then select Update from the drop-down:
   
3. Select the zip file that contains the new build version of the application, then click Upload.