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Install my .app release file on iOS device file via terminal from Mac

I've seen a number of similar questions asked, but I'm still not sure they answer my own question. I also read this.

My specific requirements (or lack thereof) are:

  • I don't want my app to appear on the app store
  • I just want to install it manually on a number of iOS devices.
  • I don't mind using the terminal or a third party app.
  • I don't mind if the user has to manually select "trust this developer/app" from within the iOS device before being able to run the app.

I'm a little confused because what I've read says that I need a developer account, or Enterprise account, to install.

But how is this so? XCode, for example, installs the build perfectly, and I don't have a developer account. Is there not an XCode terminal comman I can execute to simply install the .app file on the device?

Or would this require jail-breaking? If so, how come? XCode does it just fine...

I understand Apple would probably want to restrict this behaviour due to security, but I wanted to ask. Perhaps the only way really is an Apple developer/Enterprise account.

Possible solutions could be:

  • Fruitstrap => "Install and debug iPhone apps without using Xcode. Designed to work on unjailbroken devices."
  • Sideloading => But I think this requires revealing your code.
Solution

  • EDIT: for the purpose of building the app on the device as a debug build straight from XCode, you don't need a payed Developer account, you just need to register as a Apple Developer & login to XCode with that account and you should be to build debug builds on your device.

    You have a few alternatives here:

    1/ export the .ipa file after you build a release version of your app in XCode and distribute it to the devices, you want to install it on. You will however need to sign your app with your certificate of iOS developer. More about it here:

    https://wiki.genexus.com/commwiki/servlet/wiki?34616,HowTo%3A+Create+an+.ipa+file+from+XCode

    2/ Basically the same thing as above, but you can use some 3rd party service for build distribution (which is easier than distributing .ipa files around. Something like Crashlytics Beta or something. Even TestFlight would work, tho I am not sure if app in store is not required.

    Either way, you will have to deal with code signing and need to have a Apple Developer account, unless you distribute it via building it straight to the phone as a debug build.