Absolutely, this is totally doable with Xcode and Apple's official tools—no messy workarounds needed! Let me walk you through the best methods to set this up so your friend can get updates seamlessly whenever you push changes:

This is the easiest way to handle both initial installation and automatic updates. It’s designed exactly for this kind of beta testing scenario.

• Step 1: Ensure you have an Apple Developer Account
  You’ll need a paid Apple Developer Program account ($99/year) to use TestFlight. Free accounts only let you test on your own devices, so this is a must for distributing to others.

• Step 2: Archive and upload your build to App Store Connect

  1. In Xcode, go to Product > Archive to build your project for distribution.
  2. Once the archive finishes, the Organizer window will pop up. Select your archive and click Distribute App.
  3. Choose TestFlight as the distribution method, then follow the prompts to upload your build to App Store Connect.

• Step 3: Invite your friend as a tester

  1. Log in to App Store Connect via your web browser.
  2. Find your app, navigate to the TestFlight tab.
  3. For quick, review-free testing, use the Internal Testing group; for broader access, use External Testing (up to 10,000 testers, requires a short Apple review).
  4. Add your friend’s email address to the test group. They’ll get an invite email with instructions to install the TestFlight app and download your beta.

• Step 4: Push automatic updates
  Every time you make changes, just re-archive and upload the new build to TestFlight. Once you add the new build to your test group in App Store Connect, your friend will get an automatic notification in TestFlight—they can tap to update instantly, no manual links required.

If you prefer a more direct approach (without TestFlight’s external review), you can use Ad Hoc distribution. Note: This still requires a paid developer account, and updates won’t be automatic—you’ll need to share the new build link each time.

• Step 1: Add your friend’s device UDID to your Developer Account
  Ask your friend to find their device’s UDID (they can do this by connecting to Finder/iTunes, or using a free on-device app). Then log in to your Apple Developer Account, go to Devices, and add the UDID there.

• Step 2: Generate an Ad Hoc build

  1. Archive your project in Xcode (Product > Archive).
  2. In Organizer, select the archive and click Distribute App, then choose Ad Hoc.
  3. Select the provisioning profile that includes your friend’s device, then export the IPA file.

• Step 3: Share the build with your friend
  Host the IPA file somewhere (like a personal server or cloud storage). Create a plist file that references your IPA, then link to it from a simple web page. Your friend can open the link in Safari to install the app. For updates, repeat the archiving/hosting step and send them the new link.

• Paid Developer Account is Non-Negotiable: Free accounts don’t allow distributing apps to devices other than your own.
• TestFlight Internal Testing is Faster: Skip Apple’s review process by using the internal test group for quick iterations with your friend.
• Check iOS Version Compatibility: Make sure your friend’s device runs an iOS version that meets your project’s Deployment Target (set in Xcode’s project settings).

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Faisal Alkhotaifi