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claration/impactor

Cross-platform desktop app for sideloading signed iOS, iPadOS and tvOS apps onto a device using a free Apple Account.

Open-source alternative to:SideloadlyAltStore

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What is it?

Impactor is a sideloading application for iOS, iPadOS and tvOS that runs on macOS, Windows and Linux. It signs an .ipa file with a certificate and provisioning profile obtained through your Apple Account, then installs the app on a connected device over USB. The project replicates the signing steps Xcode would perform, without requiring a paid developer program membership, though apps signed this way expire after 7 days and the number of registered apps is limited.

Beyond basic signing, Impactor can install SideStore and LiveContainer, export P12 certificates for AltStore-style tools, and generate pairing files used by apps such as SideStore, Feather, StikDebug and Protokolle. It also supports injecting .deb, .dylib, .framework and .appex tweaks through ElleKit, and can request entitlements such as increased-memory-limit for emulators.

On Linux, the app depends on usbmuxd, and automatic refresh only runs when a device is plugged in because usbmuxd does not support Wi-Fi. Windows requires iTunes for the Apple device drivers. The UI is translated through TOML locale files in the locales directory.

Key features

  • 01Signs and installs iOS, iPadOS and tvOS apps using a free Apple Account.
  • 02Runs on macOS, Windows and Linux.
  • 03Generates P12 certificates and pairing files for SideStore, Feather and other companion apps.
  • 04Injects .deb, .dylib, .framework, .bundle and .appex tweaks via ElleKit.
  • 05Installs SideStore and LiveContainer, and supports ipatool-obtained IPAs.

Use cases

  • Installing personal iOS apps or emulators on your own iPhone without a paid developer account.
  • Generating pairing files so SideStore or StikDebug can work on a device.
  • Testing tweaks or modified IPAs on a jailbroken-free test device.
  • Sideloading apps from a Linux desktop where other signing tools are unavailable.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install on macOS with Homebrew

    brew install --cask impactor
  2. 2

    Download the latest release for your computer from the releases page

  3. 3

    On Linux, install from Flathub using the badge link in the README

Things to know

  • On Linux, auto-refresh only runs when a device is plugged in because usbmuxd lacks WiFi connectivity.
  • On Windows, iTunes must be installed so Impactor can use Apple device drivers.
  • Without a paid Apple Developer program membership, signed apps last only 7 days and the number of registrable apps is limited.

In collections

Open-source Mac apps

Topics

#ios#sideloading#code-signing#ipa#apple-developer#rust#macos#linux#altstore#ipados

FAQ

What is impactor?
Cross-platform desktop app for sideloading signed iOS, iPadOS and tvOS apps onto a device using a free Apple Account. Impactor is a sideloading application for iOS, iPadOS and tvOS that runs on macOS, Windows and Linux. It signs an .ipa file with a certificate and provisioning profile obtained through your Apple Account, then installs the app on a connected device over USB. The project replicates the signing steps Xcode would perform, without requiring a paid developer program membership, though apps signed this way expire after 7 days and the number of registered apps is limited.
Is impactor free to use? What license does it have?
impactor is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is impactor still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to impactor was on Oct 24, 2026.
What can I use impactor for?
Installing personal iOS apps or emulators on your own iPhone without a paid developer account. Generating pairing files so SideStore or StikDebug can work on a device. Testing tweaks or modified IPAs on a jailbroken-free test device. Sideloading apps from a Linux desktop where other signing tools are unavailable.
How do I install impactor?
Install on macOS with Homebrew: brew install --cask impactor Download the latest release for your computer from the releases page On Linux, install from Flathub using the badge link in the README
Where can I get impactor?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/claration/impactor

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

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