# Can an ipa file built using an emulator type be installed on a real device?

**URL:** <https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/can-an-ipa-file-built-using-an-emulator-type-be-installed-on-a-real-device/241456>\
**Category:** Capacitor\
**Created:** [May 3, 2024, 11:45am UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/can-an-ipa-file-built-using-an-emulator-type-be-installed-on-a-real-device/241456 "2024-05-03T11:45:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![q962](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/97f17d/32.png) [@q962](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/q962)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 11:45am UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/can-an-ipa-file-built-using-an-emulator-type-be-installed-on-a-real-device/241456/1 "2024-05-03T11:45:20Z")

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My app runs fine on [https://appetize.io/](https://appetize.io/) but crashes on my device.

I don’t have a Mac so I can’t get more information

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**Author:** ![Hills90210](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/57b2e6/32.png) [@Hills90210](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/Hills90210)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 2:08pm UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/can-an-ipa-file-built-using-an-emulator-type-be-installed-on-a-real-device/241456/2 "2024-05-03T14:08:46Z")

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No – you need a mac.

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**Author:** ![q962](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/97f17d/32.png) [@q962](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/q962)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2024, 1:39am UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/can-an-ipa-file-built-using-an-emulator-type-be-installed-on-a-real-device/241456/3 "2024-05-04T01:39:47Z")

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No mac required, probably because the emulator type cannot be installed on a real device.

Using the method provided by [Export-unsigned-ipa-files](https://github.com/MrKai77/Export-unsigned-ipa-files), I successfully obtained unsigned ipa in other ci/cd.

and successfully installed on my device.

So, my conclusion is that the emulator type cannot be installed on a real device.

appflow is not suitable for me