You cannot automate:
- Enterprise apps (they are signed with distribution certs)
- App Store apps (they are signed with distribution certs)
- Apps sent over AirWatch (they are signed with distribution certs)
This is because the .ipa file needs to be signed with a DEVELOPMENT provisioning profile/cert not a distribution provisioning profile/cert for Apple’s Instruments (the thing that tells iOS what to tap) to automate your app.
.ipa files that you have downloaded from the app store cannot be automated because they would need to be resigned with a valid Development provisioning profile/cert (something that is tied to your appleId and authenticated against Facebook, etc’s developer accounts.).
If you have an internal app that is an Enterprise App, you can resign it and then install it to the device to be automated. The point is you need access to the development certificate and profile to resign it.
@sendlink To be clear: It is .ipas with a “Development” provisioning profile that can be automated – NOT a “Development Distribution” profile.