Install Ad hoc iPhone OS Apps
Ad-hoc distribution of iPhone OS Applications permits developers to share their iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad applications with a limited number of people before applications are released in the iTunes store, making it possible to give out advance copies for feedback from others. Installing an application distributed ad-hoc can be a bit of a tricky process.
This process assumes that you have already provided the developer with your device ID (UDID), and that he has used that to create a provisioning profile for your device. You will need this provisioning profile to install the application. If you have not provided your device ID, follow the instructions on Obtain the Identifier Number (UDID) for an iPhone, iPod or iPad to learn how.
Steps
For macOS
- If you have an existing version of the application, you must first delete it; either directly from your Apple device or from the "Applications" section of your iPhone in iTunes (Don't worry, you can re-download the app from the App Store again).
- Save the application and provisioning profile to the to the computer you usually use to sync your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.
- Launch iTunes.
- Drag the provisioning profile to iTunes.
- Drag the application to iTunes.
- Ensure that the application is checked under the "Applications" section of your iPhone in iTunes.
- Sync your device.
For Windows
- If you have an existing version of the application, you must first delete it; either directly from your Apple device or from the "Applications" section of your iPhone in iTunes (Don't worry, you can re-download the app from the App Store again).
- Save the application and provisioning profile to the to the computer you usually use to sync your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. Windows will probably recognize the application as a .zip archive.
- Unzip the archive for the application, and inspect the contents. You may find two folders, one entitled "appname.app" and the other entitled "__MACOSX". The .app directory is the one you want; the other is known as a resource fork and will confuse iTunes on Windows.
- Add the mobile provision file to iTunes. You can either drag the mobile provision file to the "Apps" section in iTunes, or import it using the file menu.
- Drag the .app folder to the "Apps" section in iTunes.
- Ensure that the application is checked under the "Applications" section of your iPhone in iTunes.
- Sync your device.
Tips
- Note that ad-hoc applications generally do not have icons, and will use a default icon in iTunes. However, they will display a regular icon on the desktop of your mobile device.
- If you are a developer, you may wish to create an .ipa archive that permits iTunes to unzip the files, which can be especially helpful to Windows users.
