Simplify installing sidestores and third-party apps on iPhone with a desktop tool
The hassle of manually finding and inserting pairing files to install a sidestore on an iPhone is eliminated. This tool handles the necessary certificates and pairing files automatically once you connect your iPhone to a computer and log in with your Apple ID. It simplifies the process of putting third-party apps on an iPhone with developer mode enabled, much like installing an app from the App Store.
Automating sidestore installation and pairing files
The core of this tool is handling sidestore installation and pairing file retrieval in one go. Users only need to connect their iPhone to a computer, log in with their Apple ID, and select the desired task. When installing a sidestore or a combination of LiveContainer and a sidestore, it automatically proceeds with certificate retrieval and the placement of rppairing and lockdown pairing files. It also allows importing and installing arbitrary IPA files. The tool suggests solutions for common errors that may occur during this process to help users avoid getting stuck.
Managing pairing files and certificates
Pairing files required for sideloading may be scattered across various apps. This tool allows managing pairing files from diverse apps such as StickDebug, Sidestore, and Protocolle. It also enables checking development certificates and app IDs, and canceling them when necessary. This helps users clearly understand their account and device status and clean up unnecessary authentication information. These management tasks can be performed through a graphical interface instead of complex terminal commands.
Installation environment and requirements
To use this tool, usbmuxd suitable for your operating system must be installed. On Windows, installing iTunes is sufficient, while macOS includes it by default. On Linux, it can be installed via a package manager. The latest version can be downloaded from the release page, and NixOS users can install it via flakes. The official download paths are only this repository and the iloader.app site; while community-maintained Homebrew, AUR, and Fedora COPR packages exist, users should be careful not to download from other sources.
Pre-use checks and limitations
This tool operates correctly only if the iPhone is set to developer mode. The README states that it plans to automatically check for developer mode status, password settings, and other factors in the future. Currently, users must verify these prerequisites themselves. Additionally, this tool is for sideloading, not for bypassing iPhone security policies. The team selection feature for Apple ID accounts with multiple teams is still in the planning stage, with the current focus on default account login. The license follows the MIT License, but the brand, logo, and the name 'iloader' have separate restrictions, so this should be kept in mind.
