You can now sideload unverified apps on iOS without Jailbreak or revokes

Apple’s mobile operating system has a lot of nice features, but it lacks the flexibility of Android. In particular, installing apps on iOS feels restrictive compared to Android’s APK system. However, a new method of sideloading unverified apps (i.e., apps not available through the App Store) onto iOS is now available. Best of all, apps installed via this method cannot be revoked, and the procedure doesn’t require Jailbreak.

The new sideloading method is known as AltServer/AltStore. While AltStore has been available for a while, the latest version (1.3) now supports sideloading apps via IPA files stored in the Files app. Essentially, users can now download an IPA file or load an IPA file via iTunes. Once it is saved into the Files app in iOS, AltStore can locate and install the custom app.

The best part about AltStore is that it does not require Jailbreak, so there’s little to no danger in using the method. Additionally, AltStore uses individual user licenses to install apps (and exploits this system), so app revokes aren’t an issue. (An app “revoke” occurs when Apple revokes, or blacklists, an enterprise license tied to an app, causing the app to fail to load.) However, there is a downside: users need to refresh installed apps through AltStore every 7 days, and users are limited to 10 custom app installs at a time.

AltStore itself is free to download, though the developer does appreciate donations. You can read more information about installing AltStore/AltServer and how to use it over at altstore.io.

What are your thoughts on AltStore and its new sideloading feature? Have you used AltStore? Let us know in the comments.

UPDATE 13/04/2020: We would like to clarify that currently, while you can install 10 apps at one time via AltStore on iOS 13, only three may be active at one time. AltStore can activate and deactivate installed apps without deleting them.