IPA

ipa icon

Apple iOS application

File type: Archive and compressed file, Mobile phones related file

Files with ipa extension can be often found as app packages downloaded from Apple iTunes app store. Used to manually install apps.

What is ipa file?

File type category:
Archive and compressed file
Mobile phones related file

Date updated: December 1, 2024

File extension ipa is associated with the iOS operating system for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices from Apple, Inc. and uses for app packages.

iOS applications can be installed to device via App Store integrated to Apple iOS, or via iTunes and computer with cable connected device.

You can also set the app synchronization in your iOS device that means what you downloaded in iTunes on computer, will be automatically downloaded to your device.

The ipa file is basically a ZIP archive that contains:

  • META-INF folder
  • Payload folder
  • various *.plist files
  • app container with application and its related data as graphics, settings, media files, etc.

The Apple iOS applications are written in Xcode integrated development environment for OS X (macOS) operating system used by Mac computers.

iTunes stores IPA files in /Music/iTunes/Mobile Applications/ subfolder.

How to open ipa file?

The *.ipa file stores app installation for Apple iPhone, its not meant to be opened directly. However its a ZIP file and therefore can be opened as any other archive.

How to convert ipa file?

There is no way or easy way how to convert the IPA iPhone application file in to other file format like Android .apk, but you can rename the IPA file extension on ZIP file extension and open the ZIP file in compression utilities such as WinZip or WinRAR.

Suggested software to open ipa file:

Apple iOS icon
Apple iOS
App Store icon
App Store

Associated software actions with the ipa file

Software applications that can open ipa files:

iPhone Backup Browser icon iPhone Backup Browser (Microsoft Windows)

Apple iOS icon Apple iOS (Apple iOS)

Programs for viewing ipa files:

iPhone Backup Browser icon iPhone Backup Browser (Microsoft Windows)

Software apps that create ipa files:

Xcode icon Xcode (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Software apps that import ipa files:

Apple iTunes for Windows icon Apple iTunes for Windows (Microsoft Windows)

Apple iTunes for Mac icon Apple iTunes for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Software apps that export ipa files:

Apple iTunes for Windows icon Apple iTunes for Windows (Microsoft Windows)

CocoonJS icon CocoonJS (Microsoft Windows)

Apple iTunes for Mac icon Apple iTunes for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Cydia icon Cydia (Apple iOS)

Software apps that extract ipa files:

iPhone Backup Extractor icon iPhone Backup Extractor (Multiplatform)

Software apps that backup ipa files:

Apple iTunes for Windows icon Apple iTunes for Windows (Microsoft Windows)

Apple iTunes for Mac icon Apple iTunes for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Software apps that recover ipa files:

iPhone Backup Extractor icon iPhone Backup Extractor (Multiplatform)

Software applications that handle other tasks involving ipa files:

App Store icon App Store (Apple iOS)