How to easily sideload apps on any iPhone using AltStore

Apple’s iPhones are pretty notorious for being jailbroken, and jailbreaking is the only way most people can imagine sideloading apps. However, there are other ways to sideload apps on iPhone and the easiest way is via AltStore.

AltStore is, as the name implies, an alternative app store for iOS devices. Created by Riley Testut, it’s the easiest and most secure way to sideload apps to your iPad or iPhone, including the iPhone 15 series. It doesn’t rely on enterprise certificates that Apple suppresses, but instead uses a feature Apple introduced that lets you install up to three apps for free using your Apple ID.

If that sounds good to you, here’s everything you need to know about how it works and how to install it.

How AltStore works

It is quite innovative

AltStore requires an Apple ID and password, but you can create a one-time account if you don’t trust it. The developer says it is never sent to any third-party server. It’s only sent directly to Apple for authentication and then stored securely on the device’s keychain so nothing else can retrieve it. However, you’d be perfectly within your rights to still feel uncomfortable putting your main Apple ID into the app, hence the throwaway account.

AltStore then signs the app with your Apple ID so the app can run. You’ll need to trust the developer certificate in your device’s settings, but once you do, any apps you install via AltStore will work for… seven days. Apple has set several restrictions to make the process as difficult as possible, but the developer managed to work around these restrictions. As the clock nears the end of the seven-day period, AltStore will refresh the in-app signing key so you can get an additional seven days of use. This can also run in the background.

AltStore uses a feature introduced by Apple that allows you to install up to three apps for free using your Apple ID.

However, AltStore relies on a computer on the same network where AltServer is running, so you’ll need to install both iTunes and iCloud on that device. AltServer is a companion application that sits and waits for AltStore connections, and applications can only be installed and refreshed through AltServer. Also, if you’re using iOS 16 or later, you’ll need to enable Developer mode in your device settings.

The reason AltServer is necessary is because of the limitations placed on free Apple developer accounts. Apps cannot be distributed wirelessly with a free Apple ID. This means that apps cannot be installed locally, but they can be installed using iTunes Wi-Fi sync. AltServer is also required for the initial installation of AltStore, but once installed, AltStore can send commands to AltServer to install the application. All you need to ensure is that you are on the same network.

How to install AltStore

Quick and painless

You will need a Windows or Mac machine to install AltStore on your iOS device. You will also need to install iTunes and iCloud, and those I can not be from the Windows Store. They need to be downloaded directly from Apple.

You can now start the AltStore installation process. Here’s how:

1. Download AltServer via the AltStore website.
2. Connect yours iPhone to your computer.
3. Say yes to you confidence the computer you connected it to.
4. Run it AltServer and leave it running in the background.

You will then need to point it to your iCloud installation.

1. Open iTunes.
2. Enable Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi in your iPhone’s settings.

   

3. Turn off your iPhone.
4. Click the AltServer icon in the notification area.
5. Click Install AltStore
6. Select your phone.

You will then be prompted to enter your Apple ID and password. You can use a disposable account as previously mentioned. Wait a bit and AltStore should be installed on your iPhone.

Using AltStore

Plug and play

AltStore is a fairly simple application. It comes with the ability to install Delta (an emulator), Clip (a more advanced clipboard manager), UTM (for virtual machines) and much more. There’s even an Emergence Launcher, which lets you play the Java edition of Minecraft on your iPhone. You can also install custom IPA files that you download from the Internet.

To install apps, you need to make sure you’re on the same Wi-Fi network as your computer running AltServer, so when you install an app (it needs to be signed and distributed by AltServer). Apps will try to refresh automatically in the background, but it’s lucky if the app tries to refresh in the background or not when you’re on the same network.

Testut recommends running the AltStore app occasionally in the background just to make sure it can check the local server more often because your phone will recognize that it’s an app you use a lot.

There are tons of apps you can install and try out, and becoming a Testut patron also gives you access to beta versions of Delta and AltStore, including AltStore 2.0 coming later this year. The biggest draw when you become a patron is the ability to add third-party sources to AltServer, and you can search for them on Google or Reddit to find some to add to your iPhone.

I’ve been using Delta from the AltStore to emulate some retro games, and I’ve also been messing around trying to get Dolphin to work. Some apps don’t quite work on newer versions of iOS yet, but many will likely be updated as time goes on. If you still want to play retro games on the go, then a mini retro handheld might be better for you.

What custom apps do you use? Let us know in the comments below!