After Android, iOS is the second most popular mobile operating system, with a global market share of 27.28%. Naturally, an iOS app meeting end-user requirements is mandatory for businesses to succeed in the digital marketplace. This requires creating and releasing iOS apps that are well-optimized for all iOS versions in use.
For this, iOS developers or testers need to test their iOS apps (.ipa files) across a wide range of iPhones and iPads running on distinct iOS versions. It helps ensure that the developed iOS apps are bug-free before they are released on the App Store.
iOS developers and testers must validate their apps (.ipa files) across various iPhones and iPads running different iOS versions to ensure they are bug-free before the App Store release. While Xcode simulators or personal devices are commonly used for testing, this approach is time-consuming and ineffective.
Note: Earlier, iOS developers could install apps on their iPhones / iPads using iTunes. However, Apple has discontinued the App Store on iTunes. The primary intention behind this approach was to treat Apple Music, Apple TV, and Podcasts as distinct products for better sales. Given this, it’s no longer possible to install apps via iTunes.
Although developers can use Xcode to install .ipa files on their iOS device, testing on a specific iOS device or version can be a cumbersome task in Xcode. Comprehensive testing on Xcode also becomes quite effort-intensive and time-consuming.
This article aims at addressing this challenge by demonstrating an easy method to install .ipa test files on the desired real iPhones or iPads for comprehensive testing of iOS apps.
Installing test IPA files on iPhone and iPads using App Live
BrowserStack is a cloud-based testing platform that empowers developers / QAs to test iOS apps on real devices at scale. Its real device cloud comprises the latest and legacy versions of iPhones and iPads (iPhone 6, iPhone X, iPhone12, iPad Pro, etc.) running on distinct iOS versions.
Follow the steps below to install .ipa test files on the desired iPhone or iPad:
- Signup for a free trial or purchase a specific plan for Browserstack App-Live.
- Once the App-live dashboard opens up, click on the Uploaded apps section.
- Click on the Upload button and upload the .ipa file to be tested.
- Select the desired Apple handset to test the app on. (Let’s consider the iPhone 12 in this example). Refer to the image below for more clarity on the process.
- Clicking on the desired handset will initiate a new App-Live session on the desired handset.
- The selected .ipa file is downloaded and installed on the chosen device (iPhone 12) once the session begins. Refer to the image below:
That’s how easily developers or QAs can install and run an ipa file on real iPhones or iPads for testing purposes. All tests on BrowserStack are conducted in real user conditions – actual iPhones or iPads hosted on a private cloud.
Developers and QAs can also leverage the following features for app testing:
1. Device rotation to view the app’s appearance in Portrait and Landscape mode.
2. Geolocation Testing for testing websites from different geographic locations.
3. Network throttler for simulating poor network conditions.
Note: Developers or QAs seeking to test use cases or features covered under iOS entitlements like Push Notifications, Keychain Sharing or Data Protection, etc., need to ensure that their iOS app is signed with an Enterprise Distribution Certificate.
Apps that are signed with a Developer Certificate won’t be able to support Entitlement testing. Learn about the difference between Enterprise and Developer Certificate.
Conclusion
Testing iOS apps across diverse iOS versions and handsets is mandatory to achieve necessary test coverage. Without a cloud-based testing platform like BrowserStack, QAs have to depend on extensive on-premise device labs with the latest and legacy versions of Apple devices. Needless to say, setting up such a lab requires huge investment and is not a feasible solution for small or medium-scale enterprises.
Here’s where adopting platforms like BrowserStack App Live becomes an effective solution for teams or individual testers. Simply sign up for free -> upload the .ipa file -> choose an iPhone or iPad -> start testing. Testers do not need to worry about complex setups or configurations.
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