development

Ad Hoc Distribution

A method for distributing signed iOS app builds directly to up to 100 specific registered devices without going through the App Store.

provisioning profile code signing testflight

Ad Hoc Distribution is an iOS distribution method that lets developers install signed builds on a limited set of registered devices. Teams use it for internal testing, client demos, and QA workflows that do not warrant full App Store submission.

How It Works

To use Ad Hoc Distribution, a developer must register the Unique Device Identifier (UDID) of each target device in the Apple Developer portal. A provisioning profile containing those UDIDs is then generated. The app is signed with this profile and runs only on enrolled hardware. Apple caps Ad Hoc Distribution at 100 devices per device type (iPhone, iPad, etc.) per membership year.

When to Use Ad Hoc Distribution

  • QA testing - distributing builds to a small team of testers before a formal TestFlight beta
  • Client previews - sharing work-in-progress builds with stakeholders
  • Device-specific debugging - testing on particular hardware configurations
  • Situations where TestFlight is not practical - quick iterations that do not need beta review

Limitations

The 100-device cap per device type resets each year, but registered devices cannot be removed mid-cycle. Managing UDIDs by hand grows tedious as teams scale. For broader testing needs, TestFlight supports up to 10,000 external testers without requiring device identifiers.