IPA file – An in-depth view

An IPA file extension is used to represent an archive containing Apple app bundle. The IPA file is a zip archive, so that when the file extension .ipa is changed to .zip, the archive can be opened and files can be extracted. The IPA file contains a ‘Payload’ folder and an iTunesArtwork file. The iTunesArtwork file is used to show the app icon in the App Store and iTunes and contains a 512×512 PNG image. Payload folder contains all data related to the app.

How to Open and Extract an IPA File

Getting inside an IPA file only takes a few steps.

First, locate the .ipa file on your system. Make a copy before editing anything, since renaming the original can cause issues if you need it again later.

Next, change the file extension from .ipa to .zip. Most operating systems will prompt a warning about changing file extensions. Confirm the change.

Once renamed, the .zip file behaves like any standard archive. Use your operating system’s built-in extraction tool, or a third-party archive utility, to unzip its contents.

This will reveal the Payload folder, iTunesArtwork file, and other components covered above.

A quick note: this method only works for unencrypted or already-decrypted IPA files. Apps downloaded directly from the App Store are protected with FairPlay DRM, so their binaries stay encrypted even after extraction. You’ll typically only get full, readable access to enterprise-distributed or ad hoc IPA files, which aren’t wrapped in the same DRM layer.

If you’re just inspecting metadata, resources, or localization files for development or auditing purposes, this extraction method is sufficient. If you’re trying to modify and reinstall the app, you’ll also need to handle re-signing, which is covered in the Code Signing section below.

An iTunesMetadata.plist can be seen inside the IPA file, which contains details such as Apple ID, artist name, buy-only (can be set true or false), version, price, publisher and all other information regarding the app. A PLIST file is an XML file.

When opening a Payload folder, there is a .app folder which represents the name of the application. In this folder, all data related to the app can be found. There are a lot of .lproj folders which represents languages such as English, Spanish etc. The .lproj are folders holding localizations and each .lproj contains a Localizable.strings file. The Localizable.strings file is also an XML file. An executable file (with no file extension) is present in the .app. Executable files are specified using Info.plist.

Two Localizable.strings file samples (a part of the file) are given below, one located in en.lproj (English),

and the other in fr.lproj (French).

There will be a .bundle folder inside an IPA file, such as Settings.bundle or FBConnect.bundle. Settings.bundle stores setting page files.

Information Property Lists (Info.plist) in an IPA File

Information Property Lists can be seen inside the root folder of an IPA bundle. The contents of a sample Info.plist is given below:

All keys used in Info.plist file, and its values can be seen at About Info.plist Keys and Values.

Code Signing

Some IPA files uses Code Signing. Code signature is used to determine whether the code is modified by any person other than the one who signed the app. An update can be identified by the system as the same app if the same unique identifier is used to sign the new version. Signed code can be seen in .ipa\Payload\.app\_CodeSignature\CodeResources.

A sample signed code is shown below. The signed code is an XML code.

Code signature consists of:

• Seal: Seal is a collection of hashes of various parts of the code.
• Digital signature: A digital signature is used to sign the seal.
• Unique identifier: A unique identifier is provided in the code signature for identifying the code.

Code signing is used mainly for three purposes, to determine whether:

1. A piece of code is modified,
2. The different versions of code come from the same source, and
3. The app is reliable (for example, whether the app access keychain).

PkgInfo

PkgInfo file is used to alternatively specify the application type (4 bytes) followed by signature (4 bytes). For example, a PkgInfo file contains “APPLtxtt” for TextEdit application. This file is not required, and the information in it can be given inside the information property list within the IPA file.

How IPA Files Get Installed on iOS Devices

Understanding an IPA’s structure is only half the picture. The other half is how it actually reaches a device.

There are three common installation paths:

App Store distribution: The most common path for consumer apps. The IPA is signed by Apple and installed through the App Store, with FairPlay DRM tying it to a specific Apple ID.

Ad hoc distribution: Used for testing. A provisioning profile whitelists specific device IDs, and the IPA is signed with a distribution certificate. The app will only launch if the device ID and signature match what’s specified in the profile.

Enterprise/in-house distribution: Used by organizations to distribute custom-built, internal apps without going through the App Store. These IPAs are signed with an enterprise certificate instead of a personal Apple ID.

A device won’t install an unsigned IPA unless it’s jailbroken. This is intentional. Apple’s code signing requirement (covered above) exists specifically to block tampered or unverified apps from running.

For most end users, none of this matters — installation just happens. For IT teams managing dozens or thousands of iOS devices, though, manually handling provisioning profiles, certificates, and IPA uploads for every device quickly becomes unmanageable. That’s where centralized app deployment comes in.

Featured Resource

Hexnode App Management Solution

Gain insights on leveraging Hexnode’s App Management capabilities

Download the datasheet

Deploying IPA Files at Scale with Hexnode UEM

Manually installing an IPA on one device is straightforward. Doing it across a fleet of corporate iPhones and iPads is a different challenge entirely.

Hexnode UEM lets IT admins upload enterprise IPA files directly to the App Inventory and push them to devices or device groups without touching individual handsets. Admins can:

• Upload and version-manage enterprise apps from a single console
• Push silent, zero-touch installs on Supervised devices
• Attach app configurations to pre-fill settings like server URLs or logins before the app even launches
• Automatically remove the app if a device is disenrolled

This matters because the code signing and provisioning concepts covered earlier aren’t just theoretical. A certificate expiring or a bundle ID mismatch is exactly what causes enterprise app installs to fail silently across an entire device fleet. Centralized management gives IT visibility into which devices received an app, which failed, and why.

For teams that regularly build and distribute internal iOS apps, this turns a manual, error-prone process into a repeatable one, and removes the need to individually inspect an IPA’s internals every time something goes wrong.