Is there a way to install iPhone App via browser?

Question

Is there a way to install iPhone App via a browser (in this case iOS Safari)?

http://appstorebeta.com is a good way to do this. It has its quirks, but overall I find it very useful. — Vineet Choudhary, Nov 12 '17 at 17:40

score 23 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 12 '15 at 15:09

23

Yes, safari will detect the *.ipa and will try to install it, but the ipa needs to be correctly sign and only allowed devices would be able to install it.

http://www.diawi.com is a service that will help you with this process.

All of this is for Ad-hoc distribution and not for production apps.

edited Feb 12 '15 at 15:09

Priya Ranjan Singh

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answered Dec 27 '11 at 23:39

Ecarrion

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Will this work on non-jailbroken phones? Also, is there any security concerns with giving them your provisioning profile? – hspain Dec 27 '11 at 23:41
Yes, this will work and no there are no issues, We at our company use this for distributing releases to our clients, there various services like diawi, testflight.com is another example. – Ecarrion Dec 27 '11 at 23:42
@Ecarrion Can you also give us the list of the websites that provide that service. For some reason, google doesn't return diawi at all. – Broken Link Dec 27 '11 at 23:54
Sorry, I've only used http://www.diawi.com and https://testflightapp.com but I know there are other options – Ecarrion Dec 27 '11 at 23:59
Why not for production apps. I mean if it works with ad-hoc it should be working with distribution right? – Ali Amin Feb 11 '14 at 12:08
Apparently some enterprise apps are not restricted to a specific list of devices, see: http://stackoverflow.com/q/11741111/195835 – Simon East Jul 28 '15 at 13:04

Vineet Choudhary · Answer 2 · 2019-04-24T09:49:15.213

14

You can use AppBox, A mac application that uses your Dropbox account to distribute you ad-hoc and enterprise apps, if you want to install form any other browser.

https://github.com/vineetchoudhary/AppBox-iOSAppsWirelessInstallation/releases

1 How to use AppBox

Link your Dropbox account with AppBox.
Select and upload the iOS application "OR" select project/workspace to archive and upload the iOS application.
Send the link to your testers, clients, friends or even use it yourself.
Open the link in the browser on the device and click on install.

2. Feature

Uploaded App Expiration - Never expires. Until you delete from your Dropbox
✨ Unlimited app installations
Auto Restart Upload After Network Change or Failure
Keep same installation link for the same app
️ Install previous version with same installation link
✉️ Auto E-Mail App Distribution Link
Maximum Upload Size - Equal to your Dropbox account storage
Auto App Signing
Auto Upload on Dropbox or AppStore after Archive
Auto Shutdown Mac after Distribution
Easy setup assistant to get started in a few minutes
Slack, Microsoft Teams and Hangout Chat Webhook Integration
Dashboard
Fastlane support read more
Jenkins Support read more
️ Dark Theme

3. AppBox vs Diawi

4. Screenshot

Upload IPA

Share URL

Dashboard

Give it a try from anyone of these link:
- https://getappbox.com/download
- https://github.com/vineetchoudhary/AppBox-iOSAppsWirelessInstallation/releases

edited Apr 24 '19 at 09:49

answered Dec 29 '16 at 06:21

Vineet Choudhary

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when I open the link on the iOS device it says get AppBox and after downloading App Box nothing happens. Please suggest – Amit Thakur Apr 05 '19 at 10:09
Hi @AmitThakur, could you please provide more details on this. Or please create an issue here with complete details - https://github.com/vineetchoudhary/AppBox-iOSAppsWirelessInstallation/issues – Vineet Choudhary Apr 06 '19 at 04:59
Thanks for your response, At my end the link is https://tiny.app.link/ and when I open this link on the device it redirects me to https://getappbox.com and here it says download AppBox, and when I click on the download AppBox nothing happens. – Amit Thakur Apr 10 '19 at 07:44
app icon grayed out after installing from Appbox. any suggestion ? – Ahsan Apr 24 '19 at 06:01
@Ahsan, please make sure you have set application icon correctly in your project. Because AppBox doesn't modify the any content of an application. – Vineet Choudhary Apr 24 '19 at 09:30
@AmitThakur That information isn't sufficient can you provide me the complete link via email at - vineetchoudhary[at]live.in – Vineet Choudhary Apr 24 '19 at 09:31
@AmitThakur Application is installed succesfully. but the icon is grayed out and the app is not opening. – Ahsan Apr 24 '19 at 09:47
@Ahsan I think this the problem with your code. Because AppBox doesn't modify any content of your application. Please check the same IPA with another service and let me know the result. Or send me the installation link via email - vineetchoudhary[at]live.in – Vineet Choudhary Apr 24 '19 at 09:51
@VineetChoudhary I have send you a link. – Ahsan Apr 24 '19 at 10:00
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@Ahsan replied via mail. P.S. - That was an app signing issue. – Vineet Choudhary Apr 24 '19 at 10:05
@VineetChoudhary do we need to add UUID's of users? or any one can directly install with link? – channu Sep 12 '19 at 06:44
Hi @channu, AppBox is just OTA service. You've to sign your build with a valid provisioning profile in order to install the application. For development and ad-hoc build, you've to add device UUIDs. If you want anyone to install directly with link then you need to enrol in Apple Enterprise Program. – Vineet Choudhary Sep 13 '19 at 07:39
is it still work in 2021 ? – Ahmad Nov 11 '21 at 11:37
@Ahmad Yes. It is working. – Vineet Choudhary Nov 15 '21 at 10:05

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 28 '11 at 00:07

4

https://testflightapp.com/ is a good way to do this. It has its quirks, but overall I find it very useful.

answered Dec 28 '11 at 00:07

scord

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score 4 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 28 '11 at 01:04

4

It is pretty straight forward to publish ad hoc builds on your own website. I used this tutorial to get started. http://jeffreysambells.com/posts/2010/06/22/ios-wireless-app-distribution/

answered Dec 28 '11 at 01:04

agilityvision

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score 3 · Answer 5 · answered Oct 19 '15 at 09:21

3

A new website BetaFamily has launched that allows you to generate installer link like diawi. You can also invite users and they will receive the installer link directly in their inbox. Below is the website link:

https://betafamily.com/supersend

answered Oct 19 '15 at 09:21

Teena nath Paul

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It gets stuck at uploading... Then if you try to send it, it will say "You need to upload a file". Crap in my opinion – Bryan P Feb 22 '16 at 17:51
Have you tried that again. I thing that time there may be some issue with their server. Diawi also gets the problem when there is heavy load on the server. – Teena nath Paul Apr 13 '16 at 06:58

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Dec 20 '16 at 23:48

0

As now diawi links are only valid for a single day, I find this alternative for diawi

https://www.testgrid.io/app-deploy

It functions same as diawi. But it keeps the build on its server for 15 days. Means sharable link is valid for 15 days.

answered Dec 20 '16 at 23:48

Yogesh Solanki

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