codesign -fs "iPhone Developer: Your Name (XXXXXXXX)" MyNewApp.ipa If you don't have a developer account, you cannot complete this step. Use Method 2 or 3 instead.

If your ZIP file contains a folder called Payload with a .app inside, you are 90% of the way there. But you cannot just rename it. You must it. Step-by-Step (Mac required) Step 1: Extract the ZIP Unzip your archive. Ensure the directory structure looks like this: MyApp.zip → Payload/ → MyApp.app/

Here is the hard truth: Recent security updates in iOS, macOS, and Xcode (as of late 2024 and 2025) have rendered the old "rename trick" obsolete.

zip -qr MyNewApp.ipa Payload/ The flags: -q (quiet), -r (recursive), -y (store symbolic links). This is the "new" critical flag.

Using codesign (part of Xcode):

cd /path/to/your/extracted/folder Instead of renaming, use the zip command with specific flags to preserve symlinks and metadata.

Older guides told you to rename .zip to .ipa and use AltServer. The new method uses tools that modify the Info.plist and regenerate the SC_Info directory—two things a simple rename never did. Part 4: Method 3 – The "Online Converter" Myth (Danger Zone) Warning: Not recommended for private or copyrighted files.

Since you cannot sign the app yourself, you need a that injects a developer certificate dynamically. The "new" standard for 2025 is AltStore , SideStore , or Sideloadly . How to convert ZIP to IPA using Sideloadly (Windows/Mac) This method works even if your ZIP contains a raw .app folder (not Payload).