Unlike Android, iOS has made it very difficult for users to install apps from third-party sources. If you’re wondering how to install an iOS app on your iPhone or iPad that isn’t available on the App Store, then you have to resort to third-party app stores such as AltStore.
AltStore is a third-party installer for iOS that lets you sideload and install IPA files on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It has been built to allow users to install iOS apps on their devices that aren’t normally available on the App Store, such as emulators, jailbreaks, tweaks, and torrent apps.
If you’re looking to install IPA files on your iOS device, then you can read this guide to learn how to install the AltStore app on your iPhone or iPad and use it to sideload apps.
The first part of the process is to download and install AltServer on your Windows or macOS computer. Once it has been done, you can install AltStore onto your device and sideload iOS apps.
How to Install AltStore using Windows
1. Install the latest version of iTunes
Download and install the latest version of iTunes from Apple’s website (not from the Microsoft Store). If you already have iTunes, then ensure that it’s updated to the latest version.
On Apple’s website, you have to scroll down a bit and click the Windows button next to the “Looking for other versions?” label.
2. Install the latest version of iCloud
Download the latest version of iCloud from Apple’s website (not from the Microsoft Store). If you already have it, then check that it’s updated to the latest version.
3. Download AltStore
Download AltStore to your computer. When you go to the official website, click the Windows button to download the file.
4. Install AltServer
Once the file is downloaded, right-click on it and select Extract here to unzip the file and extract all the contents. If this option doesn’t appear, then make sure you have WinRAR installed.
After it’s extracted, double-click on the setup.exe file to begin installing AltStore to your computer. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
5. Launch AltServer
Now search for AltServer using the Search field in the taskbar and open it.
An icon will appear in the taskbar notification area for AltServer. This indicates that AltServer is running in the background.
6. Connect your iOS device to the PC
Now connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer using a USB cable.
Unlock your device, and if prompted, choose to trust the computer. This ensures that iTunes on your computer has permission to access your iOS device.
7. Enable Wi-Fi Sync on iTunes
Open iTunes and enable iTunes Wi-Fi sync for your iPhone. Read this guide to find out how you can do it.
8. Install AltStore
Click the AltServer icon in the taskbar, then select Install AltStore, and choose your iOS device.
9. Enter your Apple ID and Password
You may be prompted to enter your Apple ID and password. Enter the credentials because AltStore requires it to create a signing certificate for sideloading iOS apps.
If you’re not comfortable providing it, then you can create a new Apple ID and use that instead.
10. Verify your Apple ID profile on iOS
Within a few seconds, AltStore will be installed on your iPhone. Once installed, go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, tap on the profile labeled with your Apple ID, then press the Trust button.
- On iOS 14 and lower, the setting is called Profiles or Profiles & Device Management.
How to Install AltStore using macOS
1. Download AltServer for Mac
Go to AltStore and click on the macOS button to download the AltServer file to your computer. It supports macOS 10.14.4 and higher.
2. Unzip and install AltServer
Double-click on the downloaded altserver.zip to unzip it and extract the file.
Once extracted, a DMG file appears named “AltServer”. Double-click on it to open the file.
If a prompt appears to confirm that you want to open it, click Open to proceed.
An icon will appear in the menu bar to indicate that AltServer has been launched, as shown below.
3. Connect your iOS device to your computer
Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to your Mac using a USB cable, then unlock the device. If a prompt appears whether you want to trust the computer, click the Trust button.
Now do the following steps only if you are using macOS Mojave or Catalina:
- Mojave: Open iTunes and enable iTunes Wi-Fi sync for your iPhone. Read this guide to find out how you can do it.
- Catalina: Open Finder and enable “Show this iPhone when on WiFi”. You can read this guide for the instructions.
4. Click the AltServer icon in the menu bar and install AltStore
It’s now time to install AltStore on your iOS device. To do so, click the AltServer icon in the menu bar, select Install AltStore, then choose your device.
5. Enter your Apple ID and Password
You may be prompted to enter your Apple ID and password. Enter the credentials because AltStore requires it to create a signing certificate for sideloading iOS apps.
If you’re not comfortable providing it, then you can create a new Apple ID and use that instead.
6. Verify your Apple ID profile on iOS
Within a few seconds, AltStore will be installed on your iPhone. Once installed, go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, tap on the profile labeled with your Apple ID, then press the Trust button.
- On iOS 14 and lower, the setting is called Profiles or Profiles & Device Management.
How to Sideload and Install iOS Apps with AltStore
- Download the .ipa file of an app onto your iOS device. You can skip this step if you already have the IPA file that you wish to install. Check out our IPA Library for a collection of IPA files.
- Once the IPA file is downloaded, open the AltStore app on your device and go to the My Apps tab.
- Press the + icon in the top left corner. A list of your downloaded IPA files will be displayed. Tap on the IPA file which you downloaded earlier.
- If you’re using AltStore for the first time, you’ll be prompted to enter your Apple ID and password to begin the installation.
- AltStore begins installing the app. It takes a few minutes to complete the installation. Once the app is installed, it will appear in the My Apps tab and you can open it from there or from the Home screen.
Apps last for 7 days and you can easily resign them from your device by going to My Apps in AltStore, then tap the “X days” button next to the app.
AltStore FAQ
What is AltStore?
AltStore is a third-party installer for iOS that lets you install unofficial iOS apps on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod, such as jailbreaks, tweaks, modded apps, and hacks. It lets you sideload IPA files onto non-jailbroken iOS devices.
Where can I find AltStore apps for sideloading?
You can visit our IPA Library to download from a large collection of iOS apps available for sideloading through AltStore or any other method.
Is AltStore safe to use?
Yes, AltStore is 100% safe to use. It doesn’t have any malware, does not install anything malicious on your device, and doesn’t store your Apple ID credentials. The developer behind this app is Riley Testut who is a well-known and reputable developer in the iOS community. He is also the person who built the popular Delta emulator app.
AltStore crashes when opening. How can I fix it?
If AltStore crashes when you open it, then you can try reinstalling the app and make sure that you’re using the latest version of the app. If the issue occurred after updating AltStore, then try downgrading to the version that was working fine for you.