Oliver Haslam on November 20, 2020, 12:01 am

You Can Install iOS Apps On Your M1 Mac Even If They Aren’t On The Mac App Store

Apple’s move to the M1 chips used in its latest Mac releases means that you can install your iOS and iPadOS apps on your Mac for the first time; so long as the developer has not opted out, that is.

Turns out that quite a few have, unfortunately, including some big names like Netflix and Gmail. That’s a shame, but this being a Mac, there’s a way around all that. But it’s definitely not supported by Apple.

The method involves using a third-party app and it’s fair to say that not all of the apps will play nicely on your Mac for obvious reasons. Netflix is a good example with reports saying that the app simply refuses to run full-screen. Still, it’s better than nothing!

Getting the apps installed involves getting the IPA files for them and Apple doesn’t make that a simple process anymore. Thankfully, there’s an app called iMazing that has the features we need, and someone on Reddit has outlined how to make it happen.

Bless them!

1. Plug-in device to Mac with iMazing running
2. Select “Apps” for the iPhone plugged in to your Mac
3. Select “Manage Apps” in the tabs at the bottom
4. Select “Library” in the manage apps screen
5. Download the apps you want
6. Right click on the downloaded app in the list -> Export ipa
7. Double-click the .ipa file on an M1 Mac to run install it.

It’s all fairly simple when you read it like that!

Now, it’s important to remember that none of this is supported by either Apple or the developers of the apps you’re shoehorning onto your Mac. But it’s still a fun endeavor regardless!