Notice that the https:// inside the url parameter has been encoded to https%3A%2F%2F . The string itms-services Action Download-manifest Amp-url Https represents a small but critical part of iOS history and enterprise functionality. While the average user will never see it, developers and IT administrators rely on it daily to push critical internal software to fleets of iPhones and iPads.
At first glance, this string looks like a typo or a garbled code snippet. However, it is one of the most powerful tools for distributing iOS applications outside the Apple App Store. This article breaks down the components: , Action , Download-Manifest , and AMP-URL (though the standard parameter is simply url , the concept of an "AMP" or secure URL applies). What is itms-services ? itms-services is a proprietary URL scheme used by Apple’s iOS operating system. The acronym "ITMS" stands for iTunes Music Store , but in this context, it refers to the underlying service that handles iTunes Store redirects and, crucially, Over-the-Air (OTA) installation .
If you have ever worked with enterprise iOS application distribution, you have likely encountered a strange URL scheme that looks like this:
When iOS sees action=download-manifest , it knows: "Do not try to play a song or open a movie. I need to download an installation manifest file." The original specification for this URL scheme uses the key url . However, you will sometimes see variations like amp-url in third-party documentation or forums. This is likely a confusion with AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) or simply a typo.
Understanding this mechanism is essential for anyone managing iOS devices outside the confines of the public App Store. Just remember: are the three pillars that make this magic work.
itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https://your-server.com/app.plist The action parameter tells the iOS device exactly what to do. In standard iTunes links, you might see action=open or action=play . For app distribution, the critical action is download-manifest .
