Unable to update release iOS app with dev build: "*AppName* is already installed"

user_5489007 0
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I'm trying to test user data migration from a released app (installed from App Store) to new development build.

But when I'm installing IPA on the device, I get an error:

AppName is already installed.
AppName has the same Bundle ID as AppName and can't be installed. To continue, delete AppName from your device and start again.

Any ideas, how to fix it? Thanks.

bundle-identifier xcode installation ios
2 Answers

I also ran into this issue. Mine was a fairly specific case but figured I should post a reply just incase someone else runs into the same thing.

I was using Hockey, now App Center, for testing. With my last build I was unable to upgrade in place. When I would attempt to install from App Center I would see the "{AppName} is already installed. To install {app}, delete {app} from your device and try again." After trying a number of things to fix this I was never able to get it working. I instead put my app on TestFlight where I was able to upgrade in place. We ended up shipping as is and did not have any problems upgrading in the field.

My issue was a combination of both changing distribution profiles and upgrading from the Hockey SDK -> App Center in the same build.

Anyone running into this using App Center. I suggest double checking if you have the issue on TestFlight.

user_10696480

The iOS allows identifies app by their bundleId.

  • No two apps on app store can have the same bundleId
  • No two apps on a phone can have the same bundleId (more applicable during development)

If you use the same bundle-id, between your QA and Prod/App store builds then at a given time you can only have one app installed on your device.

Two solutions:

  • delete the existing app on your phone and install it again
  • use distinct bundleIds for different environments.
user_51757090
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