iPhone App Upload file transfer broken through iTunes and AppleDevices

In standard, non-jailbroken iPhones, it is generally not possible to install or sideload an .ipa (iOS app archive) file—even from a trusted source—outside of the App Store ecosystem, unless the device is enrolled in special Apple programs or tools.

This restriction is due to Apple’s strict code-signing and app distribution policies, which are enforced to maintain security, privacy, and ecosystem integrity.

Unless a device is jailbroken—which removes Apple's restrictions—installing an .ipa requires one of the following:

• TestFlight: Apple’s official beta testing platform.
• Apple Developer Program (with provisioning profiles): Developers can install .ipa files to their own registered devices using Xcode or tools like Apple Configurator.
• MDM (Mobile Device Management): Some enterprise environments can push apps via MDM with a valid enterprise certificate.

However, outside of these official channels, uploading and installing an .ipa on a non-jailbroken iPhone is not possible. Apple deliberately enforces this to prevent the spread of unvetted or malicious apps.

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