Is it possible run iOS app on Mac OS without insta...

# compose-ios

[Joel Denke]

Is it possible run iOS app on Mac OS without install it from App Store? Not simulator, run regular.

[Michael Paus]

Why not? On ARM-Macs you can install and run iOS-Apps from the App Store. Why is it not possible to do that locally?

[Joel Denke]

I know, but thats not what I want to do. I want to run the App from XCode.
Instead of the sucking simulator I want to run the real thing on Mac OS machine from XCode, closer to emulator that is.
I dont have an iPhone at the moment I can test on myself 🙂

[Joel Denke]

Also the app will not be available on App Store at all, will be distributed only in TestFlight or Firebase app Distribution.

[Michael Paus]

I understood your question very well and I am just wondering why something that is possible via the App Store should not be possible to do locally. I don’t know the answer. I just think that somehow it should be possible because that would be cool for people like you and me who don’t own any iOS device but have an ARM Mac.

[andrew]

If you have an Arm mac, yes, it is

[andrew]

Not sure about via catalyst on x86_64

[Joel Denke]

Yeah having ARM M2 Mac. Also I dont have iOS developer account and never want any.

[andrew]

You dont need a paid one, but you do need a developer account

[andrew]

Unless youre signing an app for the app store, a simple free apple developer account will do

[Joel Denke]

How do I make an free one? Also am I locked use same one each time?

[andrew]

Just use your apple id at developer.apple.com

[andrew]

From my understanding, if the bundle id is not used in the app store, any apple id works, otherwise you need to be in the same team

[andrew]

You should stick with the same apple id though

[andrew]

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/distributing-your-app-to-registered-devices

[andrew]

Should allow your plugged in and paired devices to work

[Joel Denke]

Thanks, will test it out :)

[Michael Paus]

Keep us informed how it worked out.

[Kashismails]

If you have an ipa you can use sideloadly

[Michael Paus]

If I have what?

[Kashismails]

https://www.browserstack.com/guide/what-is-an-ipa-file#:~:text=iOS%20package%20App%20Store%20(IPA,run%20apart%20from%20iOS%20devices.

[andrew]

If you're going to build/run it locally, it makes more sense to just use Xcode in this case

[andrew]

But I've ran iOS compose apps locally on macOS

[andrew]

There’s two compose apps running as iOS apps on macOS

[Michael Paus]

@andrew So, the question is how do you get a locally developed Compose iOS app running on an ARM Mac? I.e, outside of the simulator. Is there any easy step by step procedure to do that?

[andrew]

In Xcode when running the app, just select This Mac in the devices list. Really as simple as that @Michael Paus

[andrew]

Screenshot 2024-01-14 at 00.03.27.png

[Joel Denke]

Well it seems also require login first, before doing it :) Also with new Mac OS and Xcode update everything as usual broke for me. Will test again update everything in KMP. Quite funny Mac usually is UX friendly but not if developer 😁

[Michael Paus]

That's why it is called UX and not DX 😉.