Over the air (OTA) installation fails for iOS8 app using itms-services URL

Question

For all prior versions of iOS, I've used the itms-services:// URL to install test iOS apps over the air (OTA). Now, all my devices with iOS8 fail when trying to install apps using this approach. Example URL:

itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https://myWebsite/myApp/myApp.plist

Summary of problem:

1. The Safari browser used to launch the install from a web page does not exit to the main screen showing the app installing as before in prior iOS versions
2. The application never successfully installs. It installs, but is left as a greyed out icon, and the app will not launch.
3. This problem does not occur on existing iOS7 devices, with identical URL.

Solution 1

This seems to be a bug in the Beta5 and GM versions of iOS8.

Over at Buildozer we've found a workaround: change the bundle identifier of the app in the manifest file. (More details: https://buildozer.io/ios8)

A workaround that doesn't involve changing the manifest files is to restore the entire device from backup, however we feel the manifest 'hack' is less disruptive to users.

Solution 2

This answer helped me to fix the issue. It seems that for iOS8 you have to include in the assets key of the manifest .plist file the display-image and full-size-image keys. They were available in Xcode 5 when saving an archive for enterprise and add-hoc deployment, but not required.

I have created a gist on github with the template for the install-manifet.plist file. The original post is available on http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1829415&seqNum=16.

Solution 3

As far as we know, this issue still not be solved in iOS 8.1, and we found that this solution will cause some side effect. After iOS 7.0.x devices use this method to install inHouse apps, although the app installed successful but the home screen left a black square, and can't be deleted.

You have to separate the install method between iOS8 and other iOS versions, which means you change the install method in iOS8, and keep the original install method in other version.

Solution 4

I had the same problem. In my case the problem was fixed when:

• the plist was served from HTTPS
• the IPA was served from HTTPS from the same domain as the plist
• full-size-image and display-image are present in the plist

View more solutions

Comments

[Peter Theill]

No, it's unfortunately NOT fixed with iOS 8.0.2 - I'm still able to reproduce the error on that release.

[Carl Hine]

Hi. Had a look at the link above, buildozer.io/ios8. it indicates adding -iOS8 "somewhere". Could you be more specific, is the itms link used to download the ipa file or the plist file itself? I have this issues. I have 160 people that are in a mixed state. Some running iOS8.1 and lower, some that can and cannot download our App. Very strange. No pattern other than phones are largely ok, but iPads are in the main, the problem. Help?

[MB_iOSDeveloper]

This worked for me one time only for iOS 8.1. Enterprise acc distribution. After that it never worked again.

[dulgan]

Still not fixed in 8.1.3... Thanks for the workaround