Explanation/Reference:
Auto-deployment is intended for use with a single server target in a development environment.
Note:
* If auto-deployment is enabled, when an application is copied into the \autodeploy directory of the Administration Server, the Administration Server detects the presence of the new application and deploys it automatically (if the Administration Server is running). If WebLogic Server is not running when you copy the application to the \autodeploy directory, the application is deployed the next time the WebLogic Server Administration Server is started. Auto-deployment deploys only to the Administration Server.
* Limitations of Auto-Deployment
Auto-deployed applications are very convenient in a development environment, but there are some limitations:
There is no configuration in config.xml for an auto-deployed application. Therefore, in the Administration Console, there are no notes or target pages associated with an auto-deployed application because there is no backing configuration for that information.
You cannot associate an auto-deployed application with a deployment plan since auto-deployed applications do not support any configuration operations which would be reflected in a deployment plan.
You cannot set up security policies or roles for auto-deployed applications.
You cannot undeploy or redeploy auto-deployed applications using WebLogic Server tools.
Reference; Developing Applications for Oracle WebLogic Server 12c, Auto-Deploying Applications in Development Domains