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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-06-15T17:42:11+00:00

I have created a mobile app using Phonegap Build (not just Phonegap…but Build ).

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I have created a mobile app using Phonegap Build (not just Phonegap…but Build). I have a Windows PC and do not use eclipse or xcode. I just write the Javascript and let Build do all the complex stuff for me.

I can easily test my app on an Android device by scanning the QR code that is displayed on the Build page after my app compiles….but how can I test on an iPhone or iPad? I can convince a family member to loan me one for a day, but I don’t have a Mac (I could probably visit another friend to use one, briefly).

It would not be appropriate at this point to spend $99 on a developer certificate, even though this app may be submitted to the store eventually. If $99 is the only option, I would be grateful to anyone who makes this clear!

Or perhaps I just need to learn about TestFlight or Lesspainful? The descriptions are confusing me at present, but I will try harder if I hear some experts tell me that this is the right way to go!

It would be good to test on a real Apple device, as I haven’t had much luck getting an emulator going…but perhaps the only answer to my dilemma is to tell me to stick with emulators. (In which case: is there a nice step-by-step tutorial for a complete beginner to install an iPhone emulator in Windows?).

Thank you.

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    If you want to test on a device, your app needs to be signed using your certificate. You’ll also need a development provision profile that includes the device ID’s of any devices you want to test on. In order to get those things, you need to join Apple’s iOS developer program. This is true even if you’re using the PhoneGap Build service; in order to build for a device, you need to upload your certificate and provision profile to PhoneGap Build. Look at PhoneGap Build’s Building for iOS page for complete information. All this means that you’ll need to pay the $99 fee to join the iOS Developer Program.

    An alternative is to jailbreak your device (or, in this case, your friend’s device). You can find instructions for that on the web if you’re so inclined. However, I don’t think you’ll be able to build through PhoneGap Build in that case — you’ll need to build your app yourself with Xcode or possibly some other set of tools.

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