Generate .ipa file without Apple developer account - xcode

I'm trying to compile my ionic 3 app to ipa. I use MacInCloud.com. I don't have any Apple Developer account; I just have an AppleID and an iPhone 7 (if that helps).
Now while using XCode in MacInCloud, I clicked Product > Archive but then it displays Build Error. Turns out I need an iOS Provisioning Profile. As of now, I couldn't find a way to generate an iOS Provisioning Profile without having a paid Apple Developer account. I read here, the answer mentions A free developer account will allow you to build an app that will run for 7 days on a pre-defined set of devices (you would need to register any devices on which you want the code to run). but I couldn't find where to do this.
So can I actually generate an ipa file without a paid ios developer account? If no, is it possible for me to have someone generate a provisioning profile using their ios developer account for me?
Thanks
Update:
The methods described in the link in the comments requires me to connect my device. But I'm using MacInCloud.com, so there's no way for me to get Xcode to connect to my device.. at least I don't know how.

Related

XCode without Apple developer account: unable to install .ipa file

I have created an IPA file for my app, and I would like to test it on different devices.
I don't have apple developer account yet (i will purchase it once tests will be fully successful).
I installed the app with Xcode to my IPhone successfully, but I cannot do the same on other IPhones... I tried to sign the IPA with the IPhone owner account, but i got the same error message :
"Unable to install "app.ipa""
Do you have any idea what could be the error and how i could solve this ?
Purchase apple developer account is the only solution ? Even for testing ?
Purchase apple developer account is the only solution?
Yes. The ability to run an app on devices is exactly what a paid developer membership buys you.

not able to add .ipa file in iphone device

i have generated the .ipa file and trying to add in any iphone device but its not adding.
the error is showing like:- couldnot install(in xcode).
i tried with apple configurator 2:- in this scenario app is installing a bit just assume
75% and after that the app icon is getting grayed out and clicking on that app is giving
popup as :- could not install please try later.
somewhere i saw that you have to allow from your device to trust this app, location is like :- settings > general > profile&management > you will find your profile here for new app installing.i didn't get any profile there.
FYI
i am using free developer account and created the xamarin app from windows and building it through mac, the xcode version is 9.4 beta and i also tried to override with xcode version 11.3.
i am not getting whether i am missing something or messed up with xcode versioning.
i am using free developer account and created the xamarin app from windows and building it through mac...
If using a free apple developer account , you can not install a .ipa file to iOS Device .This is limited by Apple.
About IPA Support in Xamarin.iOS , you will see there are two uses as follow :
Ad Hoc Testing — An iOS application can be deployed to up to 100 users (identified by specific iOS device UUIDs) for Alpha and Beta testing purposes. See our Provisioning an iOS Device for Development documentation for detailed information on adding test iOS devices to your Apple developer account, and the Ad-Hoc guide, for more information on how to distribute in this way.
In House / Enterprise Deployment — An iOS application can be deployed internally, within a company, which requires membership of Apple's Developer Enterprise program. More information on In House Distribution is detailed in the In House Distribution guide.
In either case, an IPA package (a special type of zip file) must be created and digitally signed with the correct Distribution Provisioning Profile.
If using a free provisioning , there is a Limitation as follow :
Access to iTunes Connect is limited and therefore services such as publishing to the App Store and TestFlight are unavailable to developers provisioning their applications freely. An Apple Developer Account (Enterprise or Personal) is required to distribute via Ad Hoc and In-House means.
Therefore , if need to add .ipa file in iphone device , you should use a paid Apple Developer Program account.

Xamarin.iOS - Using IPhoneSimulator's Keychain with a free iOS Development certificate

I have troubles with saving an account credentials inside an IPhoneSimulator's Keychain. I cannot use AccountSaver.Create().Save(credentials, "app") without Entitlements.plist. However when I add it to my project, compilation error shows up:
Could not find any available provisioning profiles for iOS.
I've added iOS Development certifcate to my account on Mac and tried to create a free provisioning profile but failed due to a lack of IPhone device.
Suprisingly, when I tried to build dummy project with added Keychain to Entitlements inside Xcode on my Mac and run it on a simulator no compilation errors occured.
My questions are: Do I have to make Apple Developer Account to test my Xamarin.iOS app inside IPhoneSimulator or is it possible without it and I'm doing something wrong? If so, what should I do to be able to compile my app?
I use Visual Studio 2017 on Windows 8 connected to a Mac Agent (Mac Mini).
P.S.: Most posts states, that simulator doesn't need provisioning profile, but according to this thread:
Starting with Xamarin.iOS 8.10, if the Entitlements.plist file is set at all for the iPhoneSimulator build configuration, then codesigning is required and thus an iOS code signing certificate is required to be installed in your keychain. ~ Xamarin Forum
Some time has passed since I asked this question, but I think it deserves an answer not only in the comments.
As #wottle wrote it is required to be enrolled i Apple Developer Program in order to have access to Keychain.
I sugest also to use Xamarin.Essentials' SecureStore instead of AccountSaver.
We have a bunch of Apple Store applications that had their Apple Distribution profiles expired. The issue was gone once we regenerated the Apple Distribution Certificate and created a new Distribution Profile for the impacted Applications.

How to make build from iOS app when Team account missing?

I have installed new inHouse provisioning profiles, however when I archive my build in Xcode, I am presented with a message saying the iOS development team is missing. I have xcode 6.4.
I know that you are able to build and sign an app if you don't have a developer team membership in Xcode.
Anyone know what is wrong?
Also another strange thing when I go into keychain to check if profiles and keys are there, they are not stored under the "Login" section like other profiles, but in "System". Is this ok?
Thanks
In order to archive your build (either for the App Store or Adhoc) it must be codesigned by Xcode. This requires a signing identity. Signing identities are only obtainable through the developer console at http://developer.apple.com/ and requires being a member of the apple developer program to access.
Sorry to break the news but without a developer membership you won't be able to archive your app for a device, but run it in the simulator only.

Xcode App Distribution to Friends

Yesterday I saw a Website of a Company which has a test version of their iPhone App downloadable for everybody from their website.
Since I am an Apple Developer, I know that you need the UDID of the target device to declare it as a test device, because you have to code sign it to the device.
When I have downloaded the file, it was a normal App file from Xcode. I dragged it to iTunes and from there to my Device, and what do you suppose happened?
Yes; it worked on my Device!! ;-)
I have not jail-broken my device and the app Works on any device I have tried it on without add the devices to any Developer Account...
Does anybody know how to do this???
How can I distribute an app to any device by email or web download without adding test device UDIDs to my account to work on any phone???
Thanks.
The company could either have distributed it as a source code (which can be run by anyone with a developer's account) or by a link to the app store
You can either do one of two things to distribute an app Adhoc:
1 . As a normal App developer you add devices UDIDs separately to the developer portal.
or
2 . Create a company Adhoc developer's account (which costs extra money and DOESN'T allow you to post to the app store (but that also requires UDIDs))
Alternatively you can post it on the app store and distribute it via that method.
Due to code signing only jailbroken devices may run unsigned apps (or apps not signed for them)
I'd love to know how they do that. I do the next best thing: I use testflightapp.com to distribute my apps. It does require UDIDs but easily collects them, and deployment to those users is one touch after building/uploading. There is also a feedback API that I find quite handy.

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