TL;DR Want to help test an app on iOS, send me your device(s) UDID’s.

NOTE: The new Testflight public URL has made this whole method significantly easier for applications which have passed Apple’s (simplified) Testflight Beta review process.

UDI-what? Unique Device Id. A long hexadecimal number which uniquely identifies your iOS device.

How do I find it. One of these two methods:

Via iTunes

  • Open iTunes (the Mac or PC app, not iTunes on your iPhone).
  • Plug in your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.
  • Click its name under the devices list.
  • Ensure you’re on the Summary tab.
  • Click on the text that says Serial Number. It should change to say Identifier (UDID).
  • Select Copy from the Edit menu.
  • Your UDID is now in the clipboard, so you can paste it into an email or message.

Install a (temporary) profile

Visit udid.io from Safari on your iOS device and install the profile (which you can delete after) and email me the UDID.

What am I testing

At the moment this is just a test of the build and CI process the app will just display a splash screen and some settings.

More details

Unlike Android and Windows, it’s not possible to simply install beta software; instead individual devices (or Apple ID’s) need to be provisioned.

There are three distinct was that this can be done.

  1. Via the Apple suppled TestFlight Application
    This isn’t currently a good fit for us as the application has to be approved by Apple (not as rigerous as getting a app into the store, but approval never the less). This add a delay to the beta schedule and my not even be relavent to us (as we may use the Apple Developer Enterprise Program for our final solution).

  2. Via Hockey App and the Apple Developer Enterprise Program
    Good idea - but I don’t have access to an Enterprise Developer account.

  3. Via Hockey App and Device Id (UDID)
    This relies on knowing the Device Id for every device (not person) we want to run the app on.
    This is the solution I’ve (surrently) chosen.

So, I’d like the UDID’s of any Apple devices you would like to run test version of the app on email me so I can start to prepare a list. These don’t have to be company devices, just a iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch you want to to run it one. You’re not limited to one device but it have to be running a current (ish) version of iOS (V10.something)