How to create ipa in xcode 6 without Apple Developer account?

Asked 14/11, 2014 at 11:13 Answered 11/12, 2016 at 15:19

Solved ios xcode6 ipa ad-hoc-distribution apple-id

Need to generate .ipa file for Ad-Hoc distribution. Client has provided only certificates, private keys and provisioning profiles which were enough to create .ipa till Xcode 5. But in Xcode 6.1 when I export as Save For Ad Hoc Deployment it gives message

To save for Ad Hoc Deployment, you need to add an Apple ID account that is enrolled in the iOS Developer Program for the development team 'xxxxxxxxxx'

enter image description here

Is there any way of creating .ipa without developer account credentials?

Botanical answered 14/11, 2014 at 11:13 Comment(0)

Finally found a way for creating .ipa build with xcodebuild command.

Right click on Archive on Organizer.
Click Show in Finder.
You can see .xcarchive file in Finder.
Open Terminal and cd to .xcarchive path.
Using following command to generate .ipa file.

This will save .ipa on Desktop.

xcodebuild -exportArchive -exportFormat ipa -archivePath <FILE_NAME>.xcarchive -exportPath ~/Desktop/<FILE_NAME>.ipa

Still looking for better solution, don't know why Apple removed this feature from Xcode 6 :(

Botanical answered 14/11, 2014 at 11:57 Comment(10)

I would like to copy .xcarchive after Step 3 and paste it on desktop and in step 4 Open Terminal and cd to desktop instead to a long file path :P – Pangolin 11/12, 2014 at 6:5

Will this also sign the build with proper provisioning and certificate? – Langsyne 9/3, 2015 at 12:30

I was trying to do the same thing using Xcode 6.1 but my IPA wont install on device. I figured out the solution that you need to specify your provisioning profile name using "-exportProvisioningProfile <PROVISIONING PROFILE NAME>" option in the above command. – Boulogne 24/4, 2015 at 13:5

@PankajRathor what is the value of <PROVISIONING PROFILE NAME>. Is it my name that shows up under "Team" in the "General" --> Identity tab in Xcode app settings? – Wyckoff 2/1, 2016 at 18:25

Will this work for iOS App Store Deployment? I have same issue but i need to create .ipa to upload it on app store. – Libration 3/4, 2017 at 5:30

@ABJ I'm getting 'exportPath' doesn't exist – Adelinaadelind 7/12, 2017 at 19:12

what if there is no archive option is enable? – Ornithischian 18/12, 2018 at 10:39

This answer is probably obsolete now. – Gymnastic 5/12, 2020 at 2:52

invalid option '-exportFormat' – Overexpose 1/3, 2021 at 14:39

I am getting: "error: exportArchive: No profiles for 'com.MyApp' were found" with Recovery-Suggestion: "

Xcode couldn't find any iOS App Store provisioning profiles matching 'com.MyApp'. Automatic signing is disabled and unable to generate a profile. To enable automatic signing, pass -allowProvisioningUpdates to xcodebuild.

" and adding -allowProvisioningUpdates option just changes message to Team "MyTeam" does not have permission to create "iOS App Store" provisioning profiles. – Ledet 20/3, 2021 at 7:48

There are 3 WAYS to create .ipa WITHOUT Command & Apple Developer Account.

1. Fast & Best

(Works on all Xcode, All Mac OS, Bundled package can be used for OTA links like Diawi)

Just build (Command+B) your app from XCode by setting proper code signing identities
From XCode's file search at left bottom, search for .app (This will be under product directory)
Right Click on this .app file and select Show in Finder
Now, create directory and name it as Payload, copy .app into Payload directory.
Archive/Compress(.zip) this Payload directory, rename file extension from .zip to .ipa

2. Extract .ipa from organizer

(Works on all Xcode, All Mac OS)

Create Archive
Go to Organizer
Get location of Archive by Right Click and selecting Show in Finder

Now right click on this .xcarchive file and select Show Package Contents
Go to path Products > Applications > YourAppFile
Open iTunes's on Mac and drag-drop this YourAppFile from above path in Apps tab. (NOTE: Delete the previous app with the same identifier if any)
Now right click on your app under Apps tab of iTunes and select Show in Finder, this is your .ipa file !!!

3. For devs having Xcode 5.x

(NOTE: Xcode 5.x doesn’t work on El Capitan, By this way you can archive using any Xcode but you will need Xcode 5.x to create .ipa)

Create Archive using any Xcode version.
Close Xcode.
Go to Organizer window of Xcode 5.x and from Archive tab select your archive.
On top right section select Export, click radio button with title Save for Ad Hoc Deployment
Click Next and Select desired code signing identities to save .ipa

Geographical answered 6/4, 2016 at 11:35 Comment(5)

hello. this ipa file cant not install in iphone – Oasis 6/1, 2017 at 10:7

been using these methods for years :-) check if you are using correct profiles – Geographical 6/1, 2017 at 17:35

2nd method works for xcode 8.3.2. 1st one doesn't work. – Volost 18/10, 2017 at 11:29

Is a FREE Apple ID a proper code signing identity? – Ledet 20/3, 2021 at 7:51

@AdityaDeshmane after creating ipa i need to enroll my developer account and add device uuid? – Surprint 4/4, 2023 at 9:32

You can also create an IPA file using Xcode 6 & latest follow below steps:

Create Build File of your Project Command+B
Go to Products folder & it will show app file right click "Show In Finder".
Create an empty folder & call it 'Payload' then copy your app file in that folder.
Archive Payload Folder & rename the zip file to YourApp.ipa

Gaston answered 3/1, 2015 at 12:45 Comment(6)

The best, fast and easy solution!! Just to clarify this answer in more details : Create Payload empty folder -> Create one empty folder and name it as 'Payload'. – Marco 7/10, 2015 at 15:15

@DaxeshPatel how do I get to this "Products" folder? – Wyckoff 2/1, 2016 at 18:39

Found out that Products folder is in the root of the folder that you get to using left click and "show package contents". BTW, This solution works..thanks. – Wyckoff 2/1, 2016 at 19:8

@SmartHome yes, you are right. Though It will be right click. – Marco 4/1, 2016 at 12:9

This working for me in Xcode 7.2 to run an app on an iOS 9.3 device. Note: "Archive" in this context simply means (right click) "compress." – Morrill 28/3, 2016 at 21:55

Has anyone got this working recently? The comments are from 2016 – Lindsaylindsey 25/2, 2022 at 21:0

There is even better way without doing all the command line stuff.

Select "Save For Ad Hoc Deployment" & Click Next. Then open the "select a development team" drop down. It will have the option "Use Local singing assets" at the bottom. Select this option & Click Choose.

Here you go. The build will be created by Xcode without Apple ID Account.

Helladic answered 12/11, 2015 at 15:29 Comment(5)

Correct. Unfortunately that option is not available in Xcode 6. It is only available in Xcode 7. – Botanical 14/11, 2015 at 8:28

Where is this "Save for Ad Hoc Development" option in xCode 7? – Neron 8/2, 2016 at 20:0

@JungleJim, please have a look in the question's graphics attached. – Helladic 9/2, 2016 at 8:29

@AsifBilal Thanks but I can't figure out how to get to that screen in the first place without a developer account. When I go to [Product][Archive] with an iOs device hooked up, it just says "Build Failed". Same thing with a Generic iOs device. When I do the build for an emulator, the build succeeds but when I click on [Product] then [Archive] is faded and can't be selected. Or am I going to the wrong place to get to that "Organizer - Archives" screen in the first place? – Neron 11/2, 2016 at 1:1

@JungleJim, When you go to [Product][Archive] with an iOS device, try to find out the reason why it throws the "Build Failed" error. Once you find out the reason, resolve it. And do the preceding steps to build ipa file. – Helladic 11/2, 2016 at 8:23

Another solution is to use Xcode 5.1.

Jaques answered 9/1, 2015 at 14:21 Comment(0)

From some time (for example Swift & Xcode7) when you are to make a build formula is more complicated - xcodebuild requires exportOptionsPlist parameter:

xcodebuild -exportArchive -exportOptionsPlist app.plist  -archivePath app.xcarchive -exportPath app.ipa

and app.plist contains:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
    <dict>
    <key>method</key>
    <string>app-store</string>
    <key>uploadSymbols</key>
    <true/>
    </dict>
</plist>

Eggers answered 11/12, 2016 at 15:19 Comment(3)

Getting: "error: exportArchive: No profiles for 'com.MyApp' were found" with Recovery-Suggestion: "

Xcode couldn't find any iOS App Store provisioning profiles matching 'com.MyApp'. Automatic signing is disabled and unable to generate a profile. To enable automatic signing, pass -allowProvisioningUpdates to xcodebuild.

" – Ledet 20/3, 2021 at 7:38

Adding -allowProvisioningUpdates option just changes the output to: Team "MyTeam" does not have permission to create "iOS App Store" provisioning profiles. – Ledet 20/3, 2021 at 7:45

still no answer regarding this solution? – Sephira 23/9, 2021 at 18:50

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