Itms-services Action Download-manifest Amp-url Https May 2026
When writing the actual link in HTML, you should use:
<a href="itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https://example.com/app.plist">Install App</a>
When using in a shell script or email client that supports raw URIs, use:
itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https://example.com/app.plist
Never use amp-url literally. It will break the installation.
If you see itms-services in logs or network traffic: Itms-services Action Download-manifest Amp-url Https
Step 1: Upload MyApp.ipa and manifest.plist to https://files.yourcompany.com/ios/
Step 2: Create an HTML file (install.html):
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head><title>Install Company App</title></head>
<body>
<h1>Internal Distribution</h1>
<p>
<a href="itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https://files.yourcompany.com/ios/manifest.plist">
Click here to install the app
</a>
</p>
<p>If the link doesn't work, copy this URL into Safari:</p>
<code>itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https://files.yourcompany.com/ios/manifest.plist</code>
</body>
</html>
Step 3: Ensure your web server serves manifest.plist with HTTPS and correct MIME type.
Step 4: On an iOS device, open https://files.yourcompany.com/ios/install.html in Safari, tap the link. When writing the actual link in HTML, you
Result: The "Install" system dialog appears.
Not an amplifier. Not a shortcut for “&.” In this context (likely a typographical formatting quirk from an encoded URL), it’s the quiet cousin of &url=. But let’s focus on the real star:
amp-url appears nowhere in Apple’s official itms-services documentation. Possible origins:
If you encounter amp-url in logs or code, treat it as a custom or erroneous parameter. It will be ignored by iOS. When using in a shell script or email
Here’s where it gets clever. The device isn’t downloading the app itself yet. First, it wants the manifest—a tiny XML file (the plist) that acts like a packing slip. This manifest tells the device:
download-manifest is the polite ask: “Show me the recipe before I bake the cake.”
This is a query parameter. It instructs the iOS device specifically to download a manifest file rather than, say, streaming media or checking for updates. The action expects a specially formatted XML file (the manifest) that describes the app to be installed.