mobileprovision

A mobileprovision file, often referred to as a provisioning profile, is a digital document created by Apple that allows an iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, or watchOS application to run on a specific device. It acts as a key, containing information about the developer's team, the app's unique identifier, the devices it's authorized to run on, and the app's enabled capabilities.

These capabilities can include things like access to the camera, push notifications, iCloud integration, or the ability to use Apple Pay. The mobileprovision file links these capabilities to the specific app and the devices.

Provisioning profiles are essential for development and testing. When a developer is building an app, they create a development provisioning profile that lists the specific devices they will use for testing. This allows them to install and run the app on those devices directly from Xcode.

For distribution, either through the App Store or Ad Hoc means, different types of provisioning profiles are used. An App Store provisioning profile allows an app to be installed on any device signed by the developer's distribution certificate. Ad Hoc profiles are used for distributing apps to a limited, pre-defined list of devices.

The mobileprovision file is typically embedded within the application bundle during the build process. When the app is launched on a device, the operating system checks the embedded provisioning profile against the device's identity and the app's code signature to ensure it's authorized to run. This security mechanism is a core part of Apple's ecosystem for controlling app deployment and usage.