You can install apps from outside the App Store on your iPhone or iPad without jailbreaking. This is called sideloading. It uses Apple’s own developer signing, so your device stays on the latest iOS and your warranty stays intact.
Why Sideload Instead of Jailbreak?
- No system modifications — Sideloading doesn’t change iOS. No jailbreak tweaks or instability.
- Latest iOS — You can stay on the newest iOS version. Jailbreaks often lag behind.
- Warranty and security — Apple’s security model stays in place. No need to bypass it.
- Official method — You use the same signing mechanism that developers use. It’s allowed by Apple for development and personal use.
What You Need
- A free Apple Developer account (sign up at developer.apple.com).
- An iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch on a supported iOS version.
- iLoader on your computer (download for Windows, macOS, or Linux).
- A USB cable to connect your device for initial setup.
No paid developer program ($99/year) is required. A free account is enough; apps signed with it typically expire after 7 days and can be refreshed with SideStore.
How It Works
- Sign with your Apple ID — iLoader uses your free Apple Developer account to create a development certificate.
- Install SideStore — iLoader installs SideStore on your device and configures pairing and certificates.
- Install and refresh apps — You can sideload IPA files with iLoader or use SideStore’s built-in sources. SideStore can refresh apps so they don’t expire (with a free account you’ll need to refresh about once a week).
Everything is done through a normal app (SideStore) and a desktop helper (iLoader). No Terminal commands or jailbreak tools.
Supported iOS Versions
iLoader and SideStore support a wide range of iOS versions, including recent ones. Typically supported are:
- iOS/iPadOS 15.x – 17.x and iOS 18.x
- On iOS 16 and later, you may need to enable Developer Mode in Settings → Privacy & Security.
Check the Documentation or Download page for the latest supported versions.
Get Started
- Download iLoader for your operating system.
- Connect your iPhone or iPad via USB and open iLoader.
- Sign in with your Apple ID and follow the prompts to install SideStore.
- Use SideStore to install and refresh apps, or use iLoader to sideload IPA files.
For more detail, see Documentation and How to Install IPA on iPhone.