Distribute - Sample Swift (iOS) App and Tutorials

Important

Visual Studio App Center was retired on March 31, 2025, except for the Analytics and Diagnostics features, which will continue to be supported until June 30, 2026. Learn more.

In this tutorial, you'll learn to distribute a sample Swift app to a group of users, who can install the app on their device.

If you haven't already, first follow the getting started tutorial to set up the sample app.

Prerequisites

• Optional: Provisioning Profile and Certificate. Go to the Apple Developer Documentation to learn about creating an App ID to codesign the sample iOS app with.

Choose a build to Distribute

Upload your own .ipa file from Xcode. Skip this if you followed the steps to distribute above.

1. From the Distribute service, click Distribute new release at the top.

2. Click Distribute new release at the top of the page.

3. Upload your .ipa file.

4. Click Next twice. Leave the Release notes blank.

Distribute the app

By creating groups of users, you can easily distribute to them all at once, and add new testers when needed:

1. Click New distribution group.

2. Name the group Beta Testers and add your email in the invitation box below.

3. Press Create Group.

4. Click Next twice and then Distribute build.

Install the sample app

1. You should receive an email with a link to download the sample app.

2. Open the link and follow the instructions to register your device with App Center, and the app will begin installing.