What is an IPA file?

An IPA file (iOS App Store Package) is the container format for iOS and iPadOS applications — the equivalent of Android's APK. Every app that runs on an iPhone ships as an .ipa at some point in its life.

What's inside an IPA

Technically an IPA is just a ZIP archive. Rename one to .zip and you'll find a Payload/ folder containing the .app bundle: the compiled binary, images and resources, the Info.plist (bundle ID, version, permissions) and the embedded provisioning profile that says which devices may run it.

How IPA files are installed

• App Store — the normal route for released apps;
• TestFlight — Apple's beta program;
• OTA (over-the-air) — a share link installs the app directly from Safari; this is what IPALinked automates;
• Xcode / Apple Configurator — cable install for development.

OTA installation only works when the build is signed for the target device — see our full install guide.