iOS has become increasingly complex over the years. Luckily, there are plenty of benefits to this, not just disadvantages. Here I'll cover different iOS apps, sideloading tools, and more. If any information appears to be incorrect or outdated, please leave a reply.
Sideloading is the process of installing an application outside of the App Store's usual distribution process. Think of it like installing an APK on Android, but with extra steps for installing and keeping it usable.
There are many benefits sideloading brings to iOS. I've listed some notable apps/features below.
SideStore (GitHub) - iOS 15+ -- SideStore brings powerful functionality to iOS, allowing you to sideload apps on-device. It will also familiarize you with how Apple's signing and certificate system works, and allow you to refresh your apps before and after they expire. However, if SideStore itself expires, you will need to reinstall it using another sideloading method.
LiveContainer (GitHub) - iOS 15+ -- LiveContainer can be installed either as a standalone app, or merged with SideStore for better efficiency. This is currently what I would consider the most powerful tool for iOS, as it is an efficient workaround for the 3-app-limit that Apple normally pushes on Apple IDs without a developer subscription. By storing and running supported apps in LiveContainer's specialized environment, you also have much more control over your hosted apps and their data, such as the ability to open individual app's data folders. And, best of all, tweaks and tweak injection for supported apps, working on unjailbroken iOS devices.
LocalDevVPN - iOS 14+ -- LocalDevVPN is available on the App Store, and is a central component of many different apps and functions. This VPN opens a tunnel on the iOS device, allowing apps like SideStore and JIT enablers to function. Also note that the tunnel requires iOS to have an active WiFi connection.
Emulation and JIT (Just-In-Time compilation) -- The App Store is strict with what apps it allows on the platform. By sideloading apps, there's no need to worry about what Apple thinks. JIT is a special technology that allows apps to convert specific parts of a program into native code, which results in much faster performance when using emulators and translation layers. Notable emulators that make use of this ability are Retroarch, UTM, Madeira, and more.
StikDebug and alternative JIT debuggers/JIT enablers -- StikDebug allows enabling JIT on-device, without requiring a computer for methods like JitStreamer. StikDebug requires a valid pairing file to function.
Tweaks and customizations -- Using exploits found in different iOS versions, you can use a custom-built app that utilizes them and lets you customize iOS in ways you normally can't. For example, tools like Nugget utilize the BookRestore exploit in iOS 26.0.1 which allows modification of iOS's MobileGestalt, which can enable features like Dynamic Island, Apple Intelligence features, and more on unsupported devices. There are various other types of customization tweaks that work on both jailbroken and unjailbroken iOS. Notable customization tweaks include Nugget, AirCard iOS, Cowabunga Lite, and more. (Always back up your device before making modifications.)
Native ports -- Many developers have adapted games from other platforms to run directly on Apple's hardware. A native port is a game that's been built to run natively on iOS, potentially improving performance on Apple's processors. Some examples include emerging experimental (proof-of-concept) GTA V ports, various classic games like Modern Warfare on Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch games like Legend of Zelda BOTW, and even Mario Kart Wii.
Preparing your environment
Sideloading is the process of installing an application outside of the App Store's usual distribution process. Think of it like installing an APK on Android, but with extra steps for installing and keeping it usable.
There are many benefits sideloading brings to iOS. I've listed some notable apps/features below.
SideStore (GitHub) - iOS 15+ -- SideStore brings powerful functionality to iOS, allowing you to sideload apps on-device. It will also familiarize you with how Apple's signing and certificate system works, and allow you to refresh your apps before and after they expire. However, if SideStore itself expires, you will need to reinstall it using another sideloading method.
LiveContainer (GitHub) - iOS 15+ -- LiveContainer can be installed either as a standalone app, or merged with SideStore for better efficiency. This is currently what I would consider the most powerful tool for iOS, as it is an efficient workaround for the 3-app-limit that Apple normally pushes on Apple IDs without a developer subscription. By storing and running supported apps in LiveContainer's specialized environment, you also have much more control over your hosted apps and their data, such as the ability to open individual app's data folders. And, best of all, tweaks and tweak injection for supported apps, working on unjailbroken iOS devices.
LocalDevVPN - iOS 14+ -- LocalDevVPN is available on the App Store, and is a central component of many different apps and functions. This VPN opens a tunnel on the iOS device, allowing apps like SideStore and JIT enablers to function. Also note that the tunnel requires iOS to have an active WiFi connection.
Emulation and JIT (Just-In-Time compilation) -- The App Store is strict with what apps it allows on the platform. By sideloading apps, there's no need to worry about what Apple thinks. JIT is a special technology that allows apps to convert specific parts of a program into native code, which results in much faster performance when using emulators and translation layers. Notable emulators that make use of this ability are Retroarch, UTM, Madeira, and more.
StikDebug and alternative JIT debuggers/JIT enablers -- StikDebug allows enabling JIT on-device, without requiring a computer for methods like JitStreamer. StikDebug requires a valid pairing file to function.
Tweaks and customizations -- Using exploits found in different iOS versions, you can use a custom-built app that utilizes them and lets you customize iOS in ways you normally can't. For example, tools like Nugget utilize the BookRestore exploit in iOS 26.0.1 which allows modification of iOS's MobileGestalt, which can enable features like Dynamic Island, Apple Intelligence features, and more on unsupported devices. There are various other types of customization tweaks that work on both jailbroken and unjailbroken iOS. Notable customization tweaks include Nugget, AirCard iOS, Cowabunga Lite, and more. (Always back up your device before making modifications.)
Native ports -- Many developers have adapted games from other platforms to run directly on Apple's hardware. A native port is a game that's been built to run natively on iOS, potentially improving performance on Apple's processors. Some examples include emerging experimental (proof-of-concept) GTA V ports, various classic games like Modern Warfare on Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch games like Legend of Zelda BOTW, and even Mario Kart Wii.
Preparing your environment
The main focus of this guide will be on sideloading apps. Depending on your iOS version and installation method, Developer Mode may be required to run sideloaded apps. This setting is normally hidden until you initiate a development workflow, such as installing an app.
To start, you'll need a computer with internet access, a USB charger cable with data transfer capabilities, and an iOS device you will be installing apps on. You'll also need an Apple account, generally referred to as an Apple ID (personal or a burner account, either one works).
Which sideloading tools to use:
iLoader (GitHub) -- One of the most notable and easiest-to-use sideloading companions. I recommend iLoader for beginners, since pairing files are easy to manage and there are options to simply install SideStore/LiveContainer quickly. It is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Impactor (previously PlumeImpactor) (GitHub) -- A bit more technical than iLoader, but in a good way. There are many more options to choose while installing an app (e.g. "Only register main bundle"), and tweak support for advanced users using ElleKit for injection. It is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Sideloadly -- A straightforward sideloading companion. It is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Sideloading generally requires your Apple ID credentials and authentication. Remember to download sideloading programs from trusted sources, such as the official websites or GitHub pages. Scam sites are common.
There are many other tools you can use for sideloading. These are just the ones I'd recommend above others as of now.
Please take note that there have been various issues with different sideloading methods in the past. For example, iLoader was unable to sign SideStore correctly for a short period of time this year (2026). When you run into a problem/error, don't automatically assume your setup or device is broken. There is almost always a fix to your issue. It's not uncommon for Apple to make things difficult for various reasons. Research is important, so make sure to check in on GitHub issues and other sources when a problem occurs. If you're stuck, then make sure to ask a question.
Dependencies for sideloading
Once you've got a sideloading tool downloaded/installed, there may be certain dependencies needed for installation.
On Windows, most sideloading tools require iTunes to be installed in order to communicate with the iOS device.
On Linux, you may need usbmuxd and related communication libraries such as libimobiledevice library for communication and handling the USB connection.
macOS should automatically supply you with any needed dependencies.
If you're on Windows, make sure you install iTunes from the web, and not from the Microsoft Store. If iTunes is already installed through the Microsoft Store, make sure to uninstall it first, and then install the web version. You can download iTunes from Apple's Official iTunes web page. If you're unable to find iTunes there or it's been changed/removed after the making of this guide, you can download it here. (If this page also has been taken down at some point in the future, then please tell me.)
How to install an app (IPA file)
Connect your iOS device to your computer using a USB data cable. If prompted, trust the computer on iOS so that the computer can communicate with your device. If you've installed a sideloading program on your computer, you can now proceed to the iOS app installation. Open your sideloading program, and you should be able to import an IPA file. IPA files are archives that iOS can use to install apps, similar to APKs on Android.
Follow the sideloading tool's instructions to import the IPA you want to install (e.g. Select SideStore in iLoader). At some point in the process, you will be prompted to sign in with your Apple ID. This is the Apple ID you'll be using to sign apps, and the login will succeed if you meet Apple's requirements.
Once the app is successfully installed, you can located it in your apps/home screen. If iOS requires Developer Mode for the installation, you can enable it by going into Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Developer Mode.
After enabling developer mode, you will get a prompt saying you need to trust apps from this developer. To do that, you need to navigate to Settings -> General -> VPN and Device Management. Here you'll see your Apple ID email, which you can press and then trust it on iOS.
After that, your app is successfully installed, and you should be able to open it. Free app provisioning profiles generally need to be refreshed before they expire. Tools like SideStore allow you to refresh apps on-device.
Take note that signing and installing apps are separate steps. Signing authorizes the app before installation. Modern tools complete this for you automatically.
Apple enforces a 3-app limit per device on each non-developer Apple ID, so you will not be able to install another until at least one app slot is free. If you have 3 apps sideloaded, then you will need to delete one or use SideStore's deactivate tool in order to install another app.
Apple also enforces a limit of 10 App IDs for non-developer Apple IDs, and only 10 can be registered within a seven-day period. Each app and extension you install must register an App ID with Apple. App IDs are separate from the apps installed on your device. App IDs cannot be deleted and instead normally expire after 7 days. You can renew App IDs with SideStore and reset the 7-day expiration period.
Pairing files
iOS pairing files are small security files that allow a computer or a trusted device to communicate with iOS, either through USB or in certain network conditions, without having to repeat the full pairing process another time. They normally end with a .plist extension and should be treated like credentials. Keep them private and avoid sharing them or storing them in an insecure location.
Pairing files have many uses, such as enabling JIT in apps like StikDebug and emulators, or allowing SideStore's primary functionalities to work.
Tools like idevice_pair (GitHub) can generate a pairing file for your device. idevice_pair also lets you import the pairing file directly into apps after it's been created. (e.g. SideStore's pairing file.)
I have attempted to make this guide as easily-understandable as I can. If there are any problems or you have a question, please leave a reply.