How to convert .xcarchive to .ipa for client to submit app to app store using Application Loader How to convert .xcarchive to .ipa for client to submit app to app store using Application Loader ios ios

How to convert .xcarchive to .ipa for client to submit app to app store using Application Loader


  1. Create Xarchieve file by using Xcode, click product->archive
  2. first right click on xarchive file-> show in finder
  3. again right click on xarchive file-> show package contents
  4. Then open folder products->applications, here you get the your application file
  5. Now, Drag and drop this one to itunes store's app directory(find apps drop down menu at right top corner of itunes store). This will automatically converts archive file to ipa file. (Here, you can also do this -> drag and drop .app file anywhere in itunestore, once it get processed, search it back from search box).

  6. then again right click on it and ->show in finder, this will show your ipa file.Now you can give this one to any user


Updated for Xcode 7 and 8

Here is a script to create the archive and generate the .ipa - tweak as needed:

PROJECT=xxxARCHIVE_PATH=/tmp/${PROJECT}.xcarchiveEXPORT_PATH=/tmp/${PROJECT} # DIRECTORYmkdir -p $ARCHIVE_PATHxcodebuild -project ./${PROJECT}.xcodeproj -scheme ${SCHEME} archive -archivePath $ARCHIVE_PATH -verbosePLIST='{"compileBitcode":false,"method":"enterprise"}' # edit as neededEXPORT_PLIST=/tmp/${PROJECT}.plistecho $PLIST | plutil -convert xml1 -o $EXPORT_PLIST -xcodebuild -exportArchive -archivePath $ARCHIVE_PATH -exportPath $EXPORT_PATH -exportOptionsPlist $EXPORT_PLIST


First Product > Archive then Right click on the generated xcodearchive file and select Show package content and go to the Products -> Applications folder. Create a new folder named Payload and drag the .app file into that folder. Compress the Payload folder and rename it to whatever you want and change the extention to .ipa.

If your app size is too large, you can disable bit code in the build settings to make it 50-70% smaller.