How do I verify a directly to my iPhone downloaded (side-loaded) app?

[Adora]

Hi,

I have downloaded an alpha version of an app to my iPhone with the latest iOS 18 beta. It now has this cloud symbol and the message is saying it can't be installed because its identity can't be verified. How do I verify this? Do I have to do something with it before on my Mac in XCode or so? I have installed it, but not a real clue how to use it.

A change in the settings of Swiftgram (a Telegram client) from the AppStore lead me to it's website to directly download a different version and I didn't have to do anything. It just ran like before.

I also have the free beta of the Setapp-Store installed, where I had to confirm something in settings before it worked.

I looked through everything in settings but nothing has popped-up there to allow that app. On the website were only links to the TestFlight beta and this alpha download without any explanation how to run it.

No other experience with side-loading anything.

 

[one more]

You might have a better luck asking the app developer directly. 🖐️

 

[twintin]

If it is aimed for testfligt, then I think you need an invitation from the developer to be able to install it.

TestFlight - Apple Developer

TestFlight beta tsting lets you invite users to beta test versions of your apps before you release them on the App Store.

developer.apple.com

 

[Adora]

If it is aimed for testfligt, then I think you need an invitation from the developer to be able to install it.

TestFlight - Apple Developer

TestFlight beta tsting lets you invite users to beta test versions of your apps before you release them on the App Store.

developer.apple.com

There is also a TestFlight Beta what I already installed, but I wanted to try the Alpha version too what is just an IPA-file on the website.

@one more

I had the same idea right after posting this. 🙈 Sometimes my brain is a little slow. I will do that.

Maybe I should also read a bit about what exactly now is possible with those EU-forced changes and how it's working.

I have even an App in TestFlight what seems to be an alternative AppStore, but everything is in Chinese when i open it. The Setapp Store Beta was simply downloadable from their website and I just had to confirm something in Settings anywhere.

 

[gwhizkids]

There is also a TestFlight Beta what I already installed, but I wanted to try the Alpha version too what is just an IPA-file on the website.

@one more

I had the same idea right after posting this. 🙈 Sometimes my brain is a little slow. I will do that.

Maybe I should also read a bit about what exactly now is possible with those EU-forced changes and how it's working.

I have even an App in TestFlight what seems to be an alternative AppStore, but everything is in Chinese when i open it. The Setapp Store Beta was simply downloadable from their website and I just had to confirm something in Settings anywhere.

As I understand it, apps cannot be side loaded directly but only via an Apple approved alternative App Store. As of now, unless its your own app (or perhaps if you know the developer personally and can get hold of the development project files) and you can load it via Xcode, Testflight is the only option for loading an app thats not yet in the Apple or an alternative App Store.

 

[Adora]

As I understand it, apps cannot be side loaded directly but only via an Apple approved alternative App Store. As of now, unless its your own app (or perhaps if you know the developer personally and can get hold of the development project files) and you can load it via Xcode, Testflight is the only option for loading an app thats not yet in the Apple or an alternative App Store.

Thanks. I wrote to the developer today. In earlier times you just needed to install a cerificated to "side-load" apps. For example the ProtonMail Beta and all Readdle Betas, that had not been in TestFlight. I got also an "internal" Telegram beta that way from a website called hockeyapp.

I changed a setting in an app from the AppStore and that redirected me to a direct download of that app from their website. I didn't even had to approve it after it was installed. This was in iOS 18, not sure if it's also possible in iOS 17.