<a href="itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https://example.com/manifest.plist">Install</a> Note: If you are placing this inside an XML feed or using JavaScript, you might need to escape the ampersand as & for the document to be valid XML, but the final href value should resolve to the raw ampersand. The https part of your keyword imposes strict server requirements:
Create an HTML file ( install.html ):
| Requirement | Specification | |-------------|---------------| | | HTTPS (TLS 1.2 or higher) | | SSL Certificate | Valid, not self-signed (for standard devices) | | MIME Types | .plist → text/xml or application/xml ; .ipa → application/octet-stream | | File paths | Absolute URLs only (no relative paths) | Itms-services Action Download-manifest Amp-url Https
itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https://example.com/app.plist (Result: The ampersand is escaped, but modern iOS is sometimes forgiving. However, avoid it.) <a href="itms-services://
While modern MDM solutions and TestFlight offer richer features, the raw URL scheme remains invaluable for scripts, automated build pipelines, and scenarios where you need to get a binary onto a device with minimal dependencies. Just remember: always use HTTPS, never mistype &url= as amp-url , and respect Apple’s distribution policies. Just remember: always use HTTPS, never mistype &url=
On an iOS device, open https://files.yourcompany.com/ios/install.html in Safari, tap the link.
The "Install" system dialog appears. Conclusion The keyword itms-services action download-manifest amp-url https is a historical, slightly mutated representation of one of iOS’s most useful enterprise distribution mechanisms. Properly understood as itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https://... , it provides a direct, unmediated way to install iOS apps from any web server.
