Install IPA with iTunes 11

Question

I have an IPA signed for ad-hoc distribution. I can install it fine with Xcode Organizer by dragging it to the device. It also worked with iTunes <=10 by dragging onto the device name. I'd like to install it via iTunes 11 though. Dragging it onto the device name, or the app section does not work. Any idea how to do it now?

Solution 1

In iTunes 11 you can go to the view menu, and "Show Sidebar", this will give you the sidebar, that you can drag 'n drop to.

You'll drag 'n drop to the open area that will be near the bottom of the sidebar (I'm typically doing this with both an IPA and a provisioning profile). After you do that, there will be an apps menu that appears in the sidebar with your app in it. Click on that, and you'll see your application in the main view. You can then drag your application from there to your device. Below, please find a video (it's private, so you'll need the URL) that outlines the steps visually: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0ACq4CRpEJ8&feature=youtu.be

Solution 2

For iTunes 11:

1. open your iTunes "Side Bar" by going to View -> Show Side Bar
2. drag the mobileprovision and ipa files to your iTunes "Apps" under LIBRARY
3. open you device Apps from DEVICES and click install for the application and wait for iTunes to sync

Solution 3

I always use the iPhone configuration utility for this. Allows much more control and is faster - you don't have to sync the whole device.

Solution 4

For OS X Yosemite and above, and Xcode 6+

Open Xcode > Window > Devices

Choose your device. You can see the installed application list and add a new one by hitting +

Solution 5

for iTunes 12 and above (Yosemite) double click on IPA then browse your iOS device, on applist you will see the app, click the install on item.

View more solutions

Comments

[mostafa tourad]

+1 for the most reliable and convenient way. Also had rather flaky results using iTunes (it often fails with pretty useless error messages) whereas the iPhone Configuration Utility works flawless.

[fabb]

You did not have to sync the whole device with iTunes either - as far as I remember.

[fabb]

iPhone configuration utility works fine, I'll wait a little with accepting your answer as I'd like to know if there is some hidden way in iTunes 11 too.

[fabb]

Sidebar is there, but no drag'n'drop of IPAs to the device. Did you try it?

[fabb]

Ah I see, thank you. I was used to directly dragging the IPA from Finder to the device name in iTunes. Now it's a little bit more complicated, but it works.

[coder1010]

i do the same process for my app and works fine in one device, but just says will install in the other 2 devices, though they are added in provisioning profile and run well. Any idea why?

[conrad10781]

coder1010, my apologies I'm not sure what you're asking. Can you please try and clarify?

[ciastek]

No need to show sidebar. Open Library->Apps, drop .ipa on apps list, open iPhone->Apps, push Install button of your application and sync.

[Durai Amuthan.H]

drag'n drop for iPa works but it doesn't work for configuration mobile provision file.

[bobics]

Unfortunately the iPhone Configuration Utility crashes for me now, on Mavericks + iOS 7.1.

[Dan Rosenstark]

I'm running 10.9.5 and The App Store refuses to install this utility.

[Nick T]

Yep, crashing for me too. Yosemite.

[skinsfan00atg]

this was really easy for me with yosemite and Xcode 6, thanks!