After AltStore, here is SideStore, an interesting alternative in more ways than one for sideloading fans. AltStore is a well-known software that allows iPhone and iPad users to install applications on their device without going through the App Store, thus allowing the installation of applications that Apple would never allow on the App Store. If it was mainly known in the world of jailbreak, it is now even officially available under the name AltStore PAL in Europe (since Apple opened to third-party stores). But for those who still use classic AltStore, you know that you also need AltServer on a computer.
SideStore Manager Overview
For many, having to log into a computer once a week to re-sign downloaded apps can be a real hassle.
That’s why a project called SideStore is a particularly interesting alternative. According to the project’s GitHub page, SideStore is a fork of AltStore that only requires the use of a computer once for the initial configuration. After that, you’re completely free. Be careful, the installation is a little longer, but you’ll only do it once, see our tutorial below.
SideStore still uses your Apple ID to download and sign apps with your personal developer certificate, and then uses a specially designed VPN (Virtual Private Network) to trick iOS into installing them. Therefore, an internet connection is required to use it.
What sets SideStore apart from AltStore is the truly wireless app download experience. Even a commonly used alternative app download platform, Sideloadly, requires the use of a computer to download apps. And that changes everything.
As an open-source, community-driven fork of AltStore, SideStore has already implemented many of the most requested features that AltStore has yet to adopt, and the community is always welcome to make new contributions to the project.
SideStore can be used to install any .ipa file, whether it’s a jailbreak app or a regular app that would never be accepted into the App Store. If you’re already using AltStore, it might be worth a try, especially if you can’t use TrollStore due to firmware requirements.
Finally, note that SideStore requires iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 or later. It also has a built-in JIT enabler, which lets you play hardware-accelerated games and emulators, like DolphiniOS , as well as any other software that can take advantage of it.
To learn more, visit the official SideStore website .
How to install SideStore
- To get started, you will need:
- A Mac running macOS 10.15 or later
- An Apple ID
- An internet connection
- An iPhone or iPad with iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 or later.
On your computer, download the following:
- Download AltServer on AltStore.io
- Download SideStore.ipa from the official SideStore website
- Download JitterbugPair on Github
Then open the downloaded AltServer zip file and extract it. Then drag AltServer.app into your Applications folder. Open the application (you may need to right-click and select “Open” if you get a warning).
To install SideStore on iPhone or iPad:
- Connect your device to your computer using a cable.
- Trust your computer on your device (if prompted).
- Launch Altserver and, while holding options, click on the Altserver icon in the menu bar and select Sideload .ipa.
- Select the SideStore .ipa file, follow the prompts, and wait for AltServer to confirm that SideStore has been installed.
- Open Settings > General > VPN & Device Management on your device and approve the developer app linked to your Apple ID email address.
- If your device is running iOS/iPadOS 16 or later, you now need to enable Developer Mode. To do this, follow these steps
- Open the Settings app
- Tap “Privacy and Security”
- Scroll to the bottom and enable Developer Mode.
Follow these steps to pair your device:
- Extract Jitterbugpair.zip. Set a passcode for your device if you don’t already have one, and make sure your device is always connected to your computer via cable.
- Open your device to its home screen. Then run JitterBugPair by double-clicking on it or right-clicking on it and selecting Open.
- JitterBugPair then generates a pairing file. This pairing file will have the extension mobiledevicepairing.
- Zip this pairing file and transfer it to your device via Google Drive, emailing it to yourself, or any other method.
In the Files app, long-press your zipped pairing file and select Unzip. Then, locate and launch the SideStore app and select OK when prompted.
- If you can’t find the SideStore app, you may need to restart your device to make it appear.
- Select your unzipped pairing file and SideStore will be paired!
- Note that if you update your iDevice, your pairing file will no longer be valid and you will have to start the procedure again.
- To have SideStore ask you for your pairing file again, tap Reset Pairing File in the SideStore app.
To install the VPN:
- On your device, download the WireGuard VPN app from the App Store .
- Next, download the SideStore configuration file and “share” it with the WireGuard application.
- Enable SideStore VPN. You will need to enable this VPN every time you want to use SideStore. This VPN does not connect to an external server, but allows your device to communicate with itself. If enabled, SideStore will attempt to refresh your background apps if necessary.
Now, to complete the process, open SideStore and sign in with the same Apple ID you used to install SideStore:
- Open SideStore and sign in with the Apple ID you used to install SideStore.
- Go to the Apps tab and refresh the SideStore app by tapping the green day counter or selecting Refresh All. You must do this every time you install SideStore. Otherwise, you may cause errors, including SideStore expiring prematurely.
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