Ad Hoc Distribution iOS Application Installation

Below are instructions for installing an application on your iOS device using Ad Hoc Distribution.  The process is tricky the first few times you attempt it, so follow the instructions very closely.  Once you’ve done it a few times, it gets much easier.  There are three sections to this article:

1. The first time you install your application onto your iOS device
2. Installing an update to your existing iOS application
3. FAQ -- Or, Frequently Encountered Issues

The first time you install your application onto your iOS device:

1. Make sure you have given your iOS device UDID to your developer
2. The developer will send you a mobile provision file and a zip file containing the application
   1. If the application is large, they may choose to post it somewhere for your to download as opposed to emailing it
   2. Save both the application zip file and the mobile provision file to your computer in an easy to find location, such as your desktop
3. Windows: Unzip the application file by right clicking on the zip file and selecting Extract
4. Mac OS X: Unzip the application file by double clicking on it
5. Launch iTunes
6. Drag the mobileprovision file into the left pane of iTunes under the Library section
7. Windows: Drag the folder called app_name.app (where app_name is the name of the application) into the left pane of iTunes under the Library section
8. Mac OS X: Drag the app file icon (looks like a grey “NO” sign -- circle with a slash through it) into the left pane of iTunes under the Library section
9. Plug in your iOS device and select it from the left pane in iTunes
10. Navigate to the Apps tab for your device and verify that the application is in the list and has a checkmark next to it.  The app will have a white icon next to it in iTunes --  the real icon will be present on your device.
11. Press the Sync or Apply button at the bottom of the iTunes window
12. Launch the application on your iOS device
13. If you encounter any problems, check out the FAQ below or contact your developer directly

Installing an update to your existing iOS application:

1. Delete the existing application from your device
   1. To do this, press and hold down on the application icon on your device until it shakes and a small X appears
   2. Tap the X, and confirm that you wish to delete it
2. Did the developer send you a new mobileprovision file?
   1. If yes, save the mobileprovision file to your computer in an easy to find location, such as your desktop
   2. Drag the new mobile provision file into the left pane of iTunes under the Library section
   3. When asked if you wish to overwrite the existing file, press the Yes button
3. Save the application zip file to your computer in an easy to find location, such as your desktop
4. Windows: 
   1. Unzip the application file by right clicking on the zip file and selecting Extract
   2. Drag the folder called app_name.app (where app_name is the name of the application) into the left pane of iTunes under the Library section
5. Mac OS X: 
   1. Unzip the application file by double clicking on it
   2. Drag the app file icon (looks like a grey “NO” sign -- circle with a slash through it) into the left pane of iTunes under the Library section
6. Plug in your iOS device and select it from the left pane in iTunes
7. Navigate to the Apps tab for your device and verify that the application is in the list and has a checkmark next to it.  The app will have a white icon next to it in iTunes --  the real icon will be present on your device.
8. Press the Sync or Apply button at the bottom of the iTunes window
9. Launch the application on your iOS device
10. If you encounter any problems, check out the FAQ below or contact your developer directly

FAQ -- Or, Frequently Encountered Issues

“The application <App Name> was not installed on the <device> because the signer is not valid.”

• Verify that you have dragged the mobile provision file into iTunes.
• Verify that you are attempting to install the application onto a device that has been authorized by your developer.  Each device must be registered to install the application.
• If the mobile provision profile was issued more than 6 months ago, verify with the developer that it has not expired.

“The application <App Name> was not installed on the <device> because it requires a newer version of iOS software.”

• Many iOS features are only compatible with newer iOS versions, and are not backward compatible.  Verify with your developer what minimum iOS is required for your application. 

“You can’t open the application <App Name> because it is not supported on this type of Mac.”

• Did you double click the application icon?  If so, OS X attempted to open the application as a Mac application.  Instead, drag the application icon into iTunes.

It still appears that the old version of the application is on my iOS device

• Delete the application from your iOS device, following the instructions in the  “Installing an update to your existing iOS application” section, item number 1
• Continuing through those instructions, reinstall your application.