Providing an iPhone/iPod Touch Device Identifier to a Developer
Since the web page I used to give out for this seems to have gone away, here is the information:
A (unique) device identifier is required (by Apple) to allow adhoc (or beta) testing of applications; the developer builds the version of the application provisioned for a given set of identifiers. This is mechanism is how Apple allow developers to release an application to a small (<=100) set of users before going through App Store submission.
The mechanism for getting the 40 character hexadecimal device identifier is somewhat obtuse.
- Connect your device to iTunes
- Select the device, and view it’s “Summary” information (the first tab)
- Click on the “Serial Number:” label to see it change to “Device Identifier:” Note: This is the obtuse part … it is the “Serial Number:” label you click on. No visual indication is given that this is possible, you just have to know (hence this posting.)
- To copy-n-paste the device identifier double click it (it will not show as selected) and CMD-C to copy and CMD-V to paste into (say) an e-mail.
 Serial Number Mode |
 Device Identifier mode |
Note: I have been told…
- This does not work whilst iTunes is downloading content.
Note: If you are a developer and you have XCode/Organizer you have a far easier way to get the device identifier.