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altstoreio

altstoreio/AltStore

An alternative app store that sideloads .ipa apps onto non-jailbroken iOS devices using a personal Apple ID.

Open-source alternative to:App Store

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What is it?

AltStore is an iOS app that lets you sideload .ipa files onto an iPhone or iPad without jailbreaking it, using only your Apple ID. Apps are re-signed with your personal development certificate and handed to AltServer, a macOS companion app, which installs them to the device over WiFi sync.

Because sideloaded apps normally expire after a short period, AltStore periodically refreshes them in the background while the phone is on the same WiFi network as AltServer. It also handles updates for installed apps directly within AltStore.

The project is split into an iOS app, a macOS app, a shared framework (AltKit), and the AltSign library used to communicate with Apple's servers for signing. Building it requires Xcode 15 or later and Swift 5.9.

Key features

  • 01Installs .ipa apps over WiFi through the AltServer desktop app
  • 02Re-signs apps with your Apple ID, with no jailbreak required
  • 03Refreshes sideloaded apps in the background to keep them from expiring
  • 04Handles app updates from within AltStore

Use cases

  • Installing your own iOS apps on a personal device without an App Store release
  • Distributing development builds of an app to your own test devices
  • Sideloading emulators or other apps unavailable in the App Store

Topics

#ios#sideloading#app-store#swift#macos#apple-id

FAQ

What is AltStore?
An alternative app store that sideloads .ipa apps onto non-jailbroken iOS devices using a personal Apple ID. AltStore is an iOS app that lets you sideload .ipa files onto an iPhone or iPad without jailbreaking it, using only your Apple ID. Apps are re-signed with your personal development certificate and handed to AltServer, a macOS companion app, which installs them to the device over WiFi sync.
Is AltStore free to use? What license does it have?
AltStore is open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is AltStore still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to AltStore was on Oct 16, 2026.
What can I use AltStore for?
Installing your own iOS apps on a personal device without an App Store release Distributing development builds of an app to your own test devices Sideloading emulators or other apps unavailable in the App Store
Where can I get AltStore?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/altstoreio/AltStore

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