export
Export an Xcode archive to IPA
export
Export a .xcarchive to a signed .ipa file.
This is an advanced command for users who want to separate the build and export steps. For most workflows, use ship which handles everything automatically.
Commands Overview
| Command | Alias | Description |
|---|---|---|
mysigner export ARCHIVE_PATH |
e |
Export archive to IPA |
export
Export an Xcode archive (.xcarchive) to a signed IPA file.
Usage
bash
mysigner export ARCHIVE_PATH [options]
Alias
bash
mysigner e ARCHIVE_PATH [options]
Arguments
| Argument | Description | Required |
|---|---|---|
ARCHIVE_PATH |
Path to the .xcarchive file | Yes |
Options
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
--method |
Export method: appstore, adhoc, enterprise, development |
appstore |
--output |
Output directory for the IPA | Same directory as archive |
Export Methods
| Method | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
appstore |
App Store / TestFlight distribution | Production releases |
adhoc |
Ad-hoc distribution | Testing on registered devices |
enterprise |
Enterprise distribution | In-house apps |
development |
Development builds | Local testing |
Examples
bash
# Export for App Store (default)
mysigner export MyApp.xcarchive
# Export for ad-hoc distribution
mysigner export MyApp.xcarchive --method adhoc
# Export to specific directory
mysigner export MyApp.xcarchive --output ./builds
# Using alias
mysigner e MyApp.xcarchive --method adhoc --output ./builds
Example Output
bash
$ mysigner export MyApp.xcarchive
📦 My Signer - Export
================================================================================
Exporting archive...
▸ Creating export options
▸ Signing with distribution profile
▸ Creating IPA
================================================================================
✓ Export succeeded!
================================================================================
📦 IPA: ~/Archives/MyApp.ipa
Next steps:
mysigner upload testflight ~/Archives/MyApp.ipa
mysigner ship testflight
When to Use Export
Separate Build and Export
If you need to build once and export multiple times:
bash
# Build archive once
mysigner build
# Export for different purposes
mysigner export MyApp.xcarchive --method appstore --output ./appstore
mysigner export MyApp.xcarchive --method adhoc --output ./adhoc
CI/CD Pipelines
When you want fine-grained control in CI:
bash
# Build step
mysigner build
# Export step (can be conditional)
if [ "$DEPLOY_TYPE" = "production" ]; then
mysigner export MyApp.xcarchive --method appstore
else
mysigner export MyApp.xcarchive --method adhoc
fi
Using Existing Archives
If you have an archive from Xcode:
bash
mysigner export ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/Archives/2026-01-15/MyApp.xcarchive
Troubleshooting
"No matching provisioning profile"
The export method requires a compatible provisioning profile:
bash
# Sync profiles first
mysigner sync ios
# Check available profiles
mysigner profiles
"Archive not found"
Ensure the path points to a valid .xcarchive:
bash
# List recent archives
ls -la ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/Archives/