How long an iOS App could live on the developer’s device if he does not pay 100$ an year – meaning it is unverified?
Short answer: it depends on how it was installed — Apple has a few different “unverified” paths, and they expire differently.
Here’s the clean breakdown 👇
1️⃣ Installed via free Apple ID (Xcode sideloading)
This is the most common “unverified developer” case.
- ⏳ Lifetime: 7 days
- After 7 days:
- App won’t launch
- You’ll see something like “App is no longer available”
- Fix: reconnect to Xcode and re-sign / reinstall the app
👉 This applies when:
- You use a free Apple Developer account
- App is installed directly from Xcode to the device
2️⃣ Installed via paid Apple Developer account
Still technically “unverified” (not App Store), but more trusted.
- ⏳ Lifetime: up to 90 days
- After that:
- App stops opening
- Needs to be re-signed and reinstalled
👉 Common for:
- Internal testing
- Test devices without TestFlight
3️⃣ Installed via Enterprise Developer profile
This is the riskiest one.
- ⏳ Lifetime: technically 1 year
- BUT ⚠️:
- Apple frequently revokes enterprise certificates
- If revoked → app dies instantly
- Symptoms:
- “Unable to verify app”
- App crashes immediately on launch
👉 Very common with:
- Corporate internal apps
- Third-party app stores
- “IPA download” websites
4️⃣ Installed via TestFlight
(Not unverified, but for comparison)
- ⏳ Lifetime: 90 days
- After that, build expires automatically
TL;DR cheat sheet
| Install method | App lifetime |
|---|---|
| Free Apple ID (Xcode) | 7 days |
| Paid dev account | 90 days |
| Enterprise profile | Up to 1 year (can die anytime) |
| TestFlight | 90 days |