How to send iOS app to a client

Question

We developed an iOS app for a client in XCode. Now we want to upload the app to their account. In Android this is dead simple, you just build an apk file and send it to them. Then they can upload it to Google Play or any other service. iOS seems horrifically complicated.

The client is not technical, so sending them the source code and having them deploy the app from XCode is not an option.

We have been able to create them an app in our own iTunesConnect account and have them test the app using TestFlight.

They have created an iTunesConnect account, and were able to add our account to their "team" and we can now see the app they created, but we cannot upload a build to it from XCode. Not sure exactly what is required, how to upload to the other team, or if their is an easier way?

Answer 1

My first guess, if you were given a technical role on your clients iTunes Account, you cannot use Xcode to upload the build. You have to be of admin role for that.

Use Xcode to export an IPA file. Then use the 'Application Loader' to submit to your clients account.

Also be sure you're added correctly on iTunes Connect, because only in the developer account are you added to the 'team'. In iTunes Connect you are added as a 'user' and assigned a 'role'.

EDIT:

So there's not any confusion: There are two parts to this process, code signing, and uploading to iTunes. You need to be on your clients Developer Account team to properly code sign the app, with a distribution certificate and App Store provisioning profile created via their account. Once you have a properly code-signed IPA with those credentials, then you need to upload to their iTunes Connect account in the manner I described above.

Answer 2

Did you create certification from dev portal ? If yes, you have added the account to xcode settings and follow the steps from 3. If you did nothing, please do these step by step:

1. Create certificate from here: https://support.magplus.com/hc/en-us/articles/203808748-iOS-Creating-a-Distribution-Certificate-and-p12-File
2. Use the certificate : http://sites.injoit.com/knowledge-base/for-developers/certificates/how-to-use-distribution-certificate
3. Create adhoc mobile proviosion to create ipa for client: http://www.manyfriends.com/wiki/iphone/index.php/Create_an_ad-hoc_provisioning_profile
4. How to create IPA in Xcode 6?

Now upload the ipa through https://www.diawi.com/ and get the ipa link to be installed from iphone safari. Send the link to client.

Otherwise, send the ipa file directly to client. Then it needs to be installed from itunes. Follow this: Install IPA with iTunes 12

Hope these will help you!