Issue/Symptom/Question

From time to time, we will need a customer to test a mobile application before we release it to the app store.  In this case, after receiving the device UDIDs from the customer, we can provide them an .IPA file.  Apple's terminology for this type of .ipa file is 'ad hoc'.

In late 2017, itunes and iOS changed to no longer support syncing applications from itunes to the iOS device.

Ad-Hoc IPA's can still be loaded on devices through iTunes

Applies To

this process is confirmed to work with itunes 12.9.3.3 and a device running iOS 11.4.1 (validated April 11, 2019).  The older instructions would apply to a device running iOS 10

Resolution/Fix/Answer

Connect the iOS device (iPad or iPhone) to the computer running iTunes via USB cable.

If there is a trust dialog on your device, choose to trust the computer. 

When the device is connected properly, icon 'A' should appear.

Drag the .ipa to target B as shown.  Optionally, if icon A is clicked, the .ipa can be dragged to C.

The .ipa can be dragged directly from a file explorer window, to the device section in the iTunes sidebar.

When you release the mouse button, there should immediately be a progress bar in at the top of iTunes as the file is copied to your device.

Cause 

From time to time, we will need a customer to test a mobile application before we release it to the app store.  In this case, after receiving the device UDIDs from the customer, we can provide them an .IPA file.  Apple's terminology for this type of .ipa file is 'ad hoc'.