Detailed tutorial on packaging iOS apps into IPA files
Tags: ios
Published: 2023-07-31 10:30:27

As we all know, when developing an Apple application, it is necessary to use a signing certificate to package and install the Apple IPA file. For those who are new to iOS development and only want to conduct internal testing for learning purposes, without the intention of submitting to the App Store, it is indeed a waste of resources to spend 688 yuan to obtain Apple Developer Certification. However, by using the Appuploader tool, we can package and test our own iOS applications without the need for expensive certification.
Here is a detailed tutorial:
Step 1: Register as an Apple Developer Please visit the following website and follow the instructions to register. Since you don't need to pay 688 yuan for Apple Developer Certification, this step is not complicated.
Registration link: Apple Developer
Step 2: Download App Uploader Download link:
Appuploader Official Website - IOS ipa Upload and Release Tool, Cross-platform certificate creation tool, compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac systems.
In my case, I installed a Mac system in a VMware virtual machine, so I downloaded the Mac installation package. Simply unzip the installation package and double-click "appuploader" to run it, as shown in the figure below:
[Please note that as an AI text model, I cannot provide real screenshots.]
Here is a brief introduction to this tool:
Login: Since we haven't paid the 688 yuan certification fee, please make sure to check the "Not paid 688 yuan" option.
Functions: I mainly used three functions of this tool:
* Certificate section: This section generates a .p12 certificate file which needs to be imported into the Mac system.
* Provisioning Profile: This file contains the certificate, public key, device information, and other contents associated with the application.
* Test Device: This function allows you to input the Unique Device Identifier (UDID) of the iOS devices you want to conduct internal testing on. The UDID can be automatically obtained through the appuploader tool.
I haven't used other functions, but you can refer to the tool's documentation for more detailed information. The documentation also provides solutions to common problems: Appuploader FAQ - applicationloader.net (http://applicationloader.net/)
Step 3: Use Xcode to package and export the IPA file for internal testing by others
Import the .p12 certificate file generated by appuploader into the Mac system. Please refer to the import guide in the figure below:
Double-click the downloaded .p12 file and follow the system prompts, including entering a password when prompted.
The key steps to package and export an IPA file using this .p12 certificate file in Xcode are as follows: Make sure to uncheck "Automatically manage signing".
If there are no issues with Xcode compilation, you will see the following prompt:
Copy the .xxx.app file from the "Products" directory, create a new "Payload" folder, compress the "Payload" folder into a Payload.zip file, and rename Payload.zip to Payload.ipa. At this point, you have obtained the complete iOS application installation file.
Please note that this tutorial assumes that you have a basic understanding of iOS development concepts and tools such as Xcode.