People often mix up TrollStore with SideStore or desktop sideloaders. Both let you run apps outside the App Store, but they rely on different technical foundations and different device requirements.
What “normal” sideloading is (SideStore + iLoader)
iLoader and SideStore use Apple’s developer signing model: you sign IPAs with your Apple ID (free or paid). Free accounts get short-lived signatures (about a week), so you refresh periodically. This works on current iOS versions for most users, with no special exploit—just Developer Mode on iOS 16+ and the usual limits (3 app limit, etc.).
What TrollStore is (high level)
TrollStore is a separate ecosystem that installs apps with a CoreTrust bug on specific iOS versions (it does not apply to every device or every iOS release). Apps installed that way can behave like “permanently” signed for those configurations, without the same weekly refresh as a free dev account. Whether you can use TrollStore at all depends entirely on your exact iOS build and hardware—outside the scope of iLoader’s docs.
Which should you plan around?
- Latest iPhone / latest iOS: Assume SideStore + iLoader style sideloading unless you independently confirm a supported TrollStore path for your exact firmware.
- You want predictable steps: Our Getting Started and Install IPA on iPhone guides follow the SideStore path.
- You’re researching TrollStore: Use authoritative TrollStore documentation for compatibility; compare risks and support expectations yourself.
Can you use both?
Some advanced users run more than one installation method over time. For beginners, pick one primary workflow first (we recommend SideStore with iLoader), get comfortable with trust, refresh, and signing, then explore other tools if you need them.