IOS App test via Windows Laptop

Hi guys,
I would like to ask you a question. I have a laptop Windows10 and an IPhone5s.
Is there a possibility to test the iOs build via the Windows laptop..
I am a bit confused please accept my apologies if this is a noobs issue..
Thanks in advance
Cheers
Fau

 

Yes, get this:
https://assetstore.unity3d.com/en/?stay#!/content/15522

Works like a charm. But you will need a mac for the initial setup.

 

Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose then?

 

Hi rastro.. Just to clear some uncertain points. I own a pro unity licence and I don't have a mac.

Hi rasto61.. I just wanted to clear some points in the way... I don't have a Mac. And I own a pro license.. Do I still need to have a Mac for the initial setup? And lastly, I won't be able to buy a mac machine in the short term. I might be using a cloud service for this purpose.. Any suggestions. I have a VR app to test on iPhone5s.. Any specific experience or advice would be a huge boost..
Wish you the best.
Cheers
Fau

 

That's what I'm stuck...
Bull's eye

 

Not at all. His question was: 'Is there a possibility to test the iOs build via the Windows laptop..'. And the answer is yes. Use the plugin I suggested.

It's only needed for the setup. You can just use a friend's mac, a mac in a library, a cloud service, a hackintosh if you feel like fiddling with it, ... But you do need something running osx to either build and test with or use to setup that plugin.

 

Thanks guys. I will be using an apple cloud device.
Cheers
Fau

 

Unity Cloud Build is another option, I believe?

Still requires a Mac for initial setup, though.

 

@fau7, I'm going into a lot of detail here as you mentioned that you are new to this. Sorry if it's redundant info for you.

I use the "iOS Project Builder for Windows" asset linked above.

I recommend it without reservation. It's saved me countless hours and is much faster and more reliable than Unity's Cloud Build tool. The developer has also been very responsive on email.

You do need access to a Mac for several reasons:

1) You need the Mac to download your mobile provision and signing certificate files into the local keychain, which then get exported to a file used by the Project Builder tool (or Unity's Cloud Build tool).
2) You need the Mac to download XCode, which includes the SDK files used by the Project Builder asset.

The asset comes with two scripts you need to copy to a USB stick.

The first script extracts your keys and the SDK files from your Mac and copies them to the USB stick.
The second script installs the files from the USB into your installation of the iOS Project Builder tool.

You need to repeat this process every time there is an SDK update or you renew your Apple developer account and need to create updated certificates.

I know that there are ways to setup a "hackintosh" MacOS installation on a cheap PC or to even install MacOS on a VM. I've also heard that some companies offer a cloud based MacOS environment that you can rent as needed. I don't have any advice on these options. I bought a cheap Mac a few years ago and use it for this purpose.

To be clear, even if you resign yourself to using Unity's Cloud Build tool, you will need to use a Mac to create the developer certificates and mobile provision files.

It might have changed since I last looked at it, but Unity's Cloud Build website had a pretty good tutorial on how to create the necessary certificates and mobile provision files, then download them to a Mac and export them to a file. This tutorial was useful for setting up the iOS Project Builder as it's the same process you would have to follow to configure Unity's Cloud Build system.

 

@schmosef Thank you very much for the patience and time while preparing your precious reply... It would be great time saver for me.
With best wishes