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Latest iTunes 12.7 removed the Apps option, how to install IPA on the device?

[Updated On -12 Oct 2017] — Read Section — Use the special version of iTunes 12.6

Apple releases the macOS High Sierra, iTunes 12.7 and iOS 11 on September 19.

In the latest iTunes 12.7 Apple had removed an Apps section from the Library section or left section of the window. Which is a bit shocking for me.

Apps Section is removed

Apps Is Not Available

As a developer or as a Tester, the real trouble is how to install the IPA/app on our iOS devices?

Option 1: Distribute all the builds using TestFlight.

Option 2: Use Enterprise Distribution

Option 3: Don’t update the iTunes

But, these are not simple, easy and suitable solution for everyone.

So let’s try to figure out if we have any other solution for this.

Other different ways

We have below couple of options which we will be covering this in this blog,

Option 1: Apple Configurator 2.

Option 2: Ad Hoc Build.

Option 3: Using Xcode without source code.

Option 4: Use the special version of iTunes 12.6

********** Apple Configurator 2 **********

Step 1: Go To macOS App Store -> Download Apple Configurator 2

Apple Configurator 2

Apple Configurator 2 makes it easy to deploy iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple TV devices.

Read More…

Step 2: Connect your iOS device to Mac machine and the connected iOS device will appear like this or in the list view.

Connected Device

NOTE: Please select the device by tapping on it to enable the ‘Add’ option from the menu bar.

Step 3: Click on the ‘Add’ Button and it will show the dropdown with 3 options.

Add Apps, Document or Profiles

Step 4: Click on the ‘Apps’ option and you will see the below screen.

Step 5: Click the “Choose from my Mac” button and it will show the Finder.

Will launch the file choose finder

Step 6: Browse to the location where you have kept the .app/.ipa file and select the same and then tap on the “Add” button.

Select ipa/app to install

Step 7: Apple Configurator will start adding the apps to your device.

Installing apps on iPhone

Step 8: Apple Configurator will install/add the app to your device.

App Installed

********** Ad Hoc Build **********

If you have the Ad Hoc Provisioning Profiles you can create the Ad Hoc build which will allow you to drag and install the IPA files on the iOS devices.

Read more — How to create Ad Hoc Build?

Let’s try to understand step by step guide for Ad Hoc Build installation.

Step 1: Create Ad Hoc Build/IPA

Step 2: Just drag and drop the Ad Hoc IPA on the Devices section on your device name only. If you try to drop on the other menu it will not install the IPA.

Drag drop the Ad Hoc IPA file

Done. Play with your application.

********** Using Xcode **********

I know if you have source code you can deploy an application on the device using the Xcode.

In this blog, we are just talking about installing IPA/app file directly without having its source code.

Lets follow these steps,

Step 1: Open Xcode -> GO TO -> Window -> Devices and Simulators

Xcode menu

Step 2: It will open the Devices and Simulators window. Select the Devices section and select the device from left pane.

Select connected device

Step 3: Drag and drop the app/IPA on to the ‘INSTALLED APPS’ section.

Drag the IPA/app

Step 4: Wait for Xcode to finish the installation.

Xcode installing the app/IPA to device.

Finish 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃.

Thanks to Dinesh for pointing this out.

******* Use the special version of iTunes 12.6 *******

If you’ve already installed a newer version of iTunes (12.7), you can download this version of iTunes on your Mac, PC 32-bit or PC 64-bit* and run the installer. After installation is complete, you can continue to deploy apps with iTunes.

You won’t be prompted to download new versions of iTunes after you install this version. Learn how to update to the latest version of iTunes when you’re ready to upgrade manually.

If after installaiton of 12.6 if you face the issue like, “The file “iTunes Library.itl” cannot be read because it was created with a newer version of iTunes.”

Then,

Step 1: Go to - \Users\username\Music\iTunes\

Step 2: Delete the ‘Previous iTunes Libraries folder’

Step 3: Relaunch the iTunes again.

Read more on this approach.

I am still exploring, if we have any other options to install the IPA/app on devices and will update this blog if I found any.

Let me know if you have any other approach to install the apps on the iOS devices from Mac machine. Till then happy installing.

NOTE: There is no such thing as the Apple Configurator for Windows. Apple made it MacOS only.

Next blog I will be trying to cover the File Sharing using iTunes, as we don’t have the Apps Section in iTunes app.

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