How to create IPA file from visual studio for Xamarin Forms project

Question

I have Xamarin.Forms project Visual Studio 2017 in Windows 10 PC. My VS connected to mac machine over the network. I want to create IPA file from Xamar

Answer 1

My VS connected to mac machine over the network. I want to create IPA file from Xamarin forms project. In Google, there is no single article available for this.

I think there is an extensive guide that helps you do the exact thing by Microsoft which can be found here.

Is it possible to release an app to App Store from Windows machine only or I need to use Mac physically.

By this, if you mean that, do you need a mac's connection then yes a connection to the mac is mandatory, the first build from should be from macOS with Application Loader. But the application can also be uploaded to apple from a windows machine, using a mac here in my knowledge is not mandatory. (Personally, I have never done it from a windows machine though)

If I need to use Mac then for which steps while releasing an app to App Store

Having an active mac connection and provisioning and publishing should do the trick.

We are releasing an app to App Store using Application Loader or Xcode, Can we do it from Windows machine.

There are multiple products that provide services for uploading the IPA directly to Appstore but in my knowledge, the first time should be Application loader with macOS.

Can we access Xcode from VS in order to release an app to App Store.

The answer for this would be a NO! for now.

If I want to connect real device(to visual studio as targeted device) to create IPA file do I need to connect it in Mac or PC(Via USB cable) in order to get in VS PC

Of course to the MAC system since VS uses X-Code for its build process, but note that it's always better to create an IPA by selecting the Selected Platform as Any CPU. Secondly. while earlier there was a requirement that your mac should have a device connected to it(While archiving from windows), I do not think it still exists.

To create IPA file do we need Mac machine connection

Yes, it is mandatory to have a mac system connected as VS uses XCode to bundle everything and iOS is closed source hence has a dependency on the MAC.

Goodluck

Feel free to revert in case of queries.