IPA (iOS app archive)
Also known as: ipa file, ipa archive, iphone app archive, ios app package
An IPA is the archive format that packages an iOS app for distribution. It is a ZIP file containing the app bundle, its resources, and signing data. You rarely see IPAs on a phone, since the App Store installs apps directly rather than handing you a file.
- ZIP-based archive of an iOS app bundle
- Includes a Payload folder and code signature
- Normally installed via App Store, not as a loose file
What an IPA holds
IPA stands for iOS App Store Package. It is a ZIP archive whose main item is a Payload folder containing the `.app` bundle — the compiled binary, images, storyboards, and other resources — plus a code-signing signature that ties the app to a developer and provisioning profile.
Because iOS only runs signed code, an IPA cannot simply be copied onto a phone and opened the way an APK can on Android. It is installed through the App Store, TestFlight, or a managed deployment tool.
Where IPAs show up
For most people, IPAs are invisible: tapping Get in the App Store downloads, installs, and discards the package automatically, so no file lingers in storage. You mainly encounter IPAs as a developer building, archiving, or testing an app, or when distributing internal builds.
What to do with an IPA archive on a computer
If you find .ipa files on a Mac or PC, they are usually app backups from the old iTunes era, when syncing an iPhone also copied every installed app into a Mobile Applications folder. Those archives can quietly hold many gigabytes, and they are safe to delete: any app still on the App Store can be reinstalled directly on the phone.
Because an IPA is a ZIP archive, renaming a copy to .zip and extracting it lets you inspect the Payload folder. What you cannot do is install it on an iPhone by copying the file over; iOS only accepts signed installs through the App Store, TestFlight, or an enterprise deployment tool.