Apple plugged a hole that allowed users to sideload iOS and iPad apps for M1 Macs that were never intended to run on desktops, reports 9to5Mac. Changing the server side ensures that only applications that application developers have flagged as optimized for Mac will run.
Late last year, Apple launched its first Macs running on its own custom ARM-based CPU, called M1, as opposed to the Intel chips that have been used in Macs for several years. These new machines included the basic 13-inch MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air and the basic Mac mini.
Since these machines now share an architecture with iPhones and iPads, which also have closely related ARM-based chips, it became possible to run iOS and iPadOS applications natively on Macs equipped with the M1 chip. Apple supported this by listing iPhone and iPad apps that passed an automated test on the Mac App Store, as long as developers didn’t choose not to have the app listed.
However, many developers did they chose a number of reasons: because they felt that the application did not provide a good user experience on laptops or desktops; because they offer preferred alternative ways to access services or content on Macs; because they don’t have time to support an additional platform; or any other reason.
In such cases, the applications did not appear on the Mac App Store. But a few months ago, a Reddit user shared a way to sideload these apps on M1 Macs, getting the app’s IPA file from a connected iOS or iPadOS device using third-party software, like iMazing, for Macs.
According to 9to5Mac, however, Apple has now “hit the required server button” to block this method. The change already affects Macs running macOS Big Sur 11.1 and also applies to Macs running 11.2 beta. In fact, it even offers an error message about the latter: “This application cannot be installed because the developer did not intend it to run on this platform.”
There are several reasons why Apple may have introduced this change. On the one hand, an alternative version of the IPA file method described above can also be used to sideload pirated versions of applications instead of files from legitimate and legally installed versions on iOS or iPadOS devices. In addition, Apple and developers may find that these applications provide a bad user experience on macOS and may be a support or security issue.