When a user taps a link starting with itms-services:// , iOS intercepts the request and launches the system software update or app installation handler, rather than opening Safari. Let’s dissect the example string:
Notice that the https:// inside the url parameter has been encoded to https%3A%2F%2F . The string itms-services Action Download-manifest Amp-url Https represents a small but critical part of iOS history and enterprise functionality. While the average user will never see it, developers and IT administrators rely on it daily to push critical internal software to fleets of iPhones and iPads. Itms-services Action Download-manifest Amp-url Https
itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmycompany.com%2Fmanifests%2Fv2.1%2Fapp.plist When a user taps a link starting with
At first glance, this string looks like a typo or a garbled code snippet. However, it is one of the most powerful tools for distributing iOS applications outside the Apple App Store. This article breaks down the components: , Action , Download-Manifest , and AMP-URL (though the standard parameter is simply url , the concept of an "AMP" or secure URL applies). What is itms-services ? itms-services is a proprietary URL scheme used by Apple’s iOS operating system. The acronym "ITMS" stands for iTunes Music Store , but in this context, it refers to the underlying service that handles iTunes Store redirects and, crucially, Over-the-Air (OTA) installation . While the average user will never see it,
itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https://your-server.com/app.plist