Download .ipa build via App Store Connect API

Question

Due to some unique quality and regulatory requirements in our organisation, we need to be able to download a .ipa build from App Store Connect, in order to be able to compare it against a locally built binary. I appreciate this is an unusual requirement, but it is non-negotiable.

Clearly there is no way to do this via the App Store Connect web interface, so I've been looking at the App Store Connect API. However it is ambiguous from the documentation, whether it is possible to use this to download an .ipa build.

Does anyone know if this is possible, and how one might go about doing it if so please?

Answer 1

Apple does not provide any way of retrieving an upload app/IPA. It's neither possible through App Store Connect nor the App Store Connect API.

You can only check entitlements and additional build information in the App Store Connect interface. For that go to App Store Connect > My Apps > Activity > All Builds > Click on the build

(Fastlane does also not provide any way, because Apple does not expose the data. It uses the "web API", i.e. has access to more information than the "standard" App Store Connect API)

Answer 2

We can download IPA file with the help of Apple Configurator. Follow below steps to download IPA file.

• Download Apple Configurator 2 app on your MAC.
• Connect your iPhone with MAC and Apple ID should be same in apple Configurator and iPhone.
• New window will display with app count badge in All Devices Tab.
• Right click on your connected device in Apple Configurator and select Add and then Apps.
• Process will complete and Popup will show with options, no need to click any option and go to this path

~/Library/Group Containers/K36BKF7T3D.group.com.apple.configurator/Library/Caches/Assets/TemporaryItems/MobileApps/

• Save IPA file in your directory -Now stop Apple Configurator