Fix “Maximum Number of Installed Apps” (Free Apple ID 3-App Limit)
“This device has reached the maximum number of installed apps using a free developer profile” is the error you get when you sideload a fourth app with a free Apple ID. AltStore shows the same limit as error 2009, “Cannot activate more than 3 apps with a non-developer Apple ID”. It is not a bug in your tool: Apple allows only 3 apps signed with a free Apple ID on a device at the same time. This guide explains the limit, the related 10 App ID limit, and every real way to deal with them. Last checked: October 27, 2026, against the SideStore, AltStore and Sideloadly documentation.
The Short Version
- With a free Apple ID, you can have 3 sideloaded apps active on a device at once. With SideStore and AltStore, the store app itself counts as one of the 3.
- Separately, a free Apple ID can register only 10 App IDs in 7 days. Apps with extensions use more than one App ID each.
- Both limits come from Apple. No setting in SideStore, AltStore or Sideloadly removes them.
- The fixes: remove or deactivate an app, run several apps inside LiveContainer, wait for App IDs to expire, or pay for an Apple Developer account ($99 a year). Another route, with its own risks, is the DNS-profile method on our free sideloading page.
The Two Limits
| Limit | Free Apple ID | Typical error | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active apps | 3 at a time | “maximum number of installed apps using a free developer profile” or AltStore 2009 | Remove or deactivate an app, LiveContainer, paid account |
| App IDs | 10 every 7 days | “You may only register 10 App IDs every 7 days” (AltStore 3013, 1009) | Wait until App IDs expire, another Apple ID, paid account |
The app limit counts apps that are installed right now. The App ID limit counts how many different apps (and app extensions) you registered in the last week, even if you deleted them again. AltStore’s docs explain that each app needs a number of App IDs that depends on how many app extensions it contains, and that each App ID expires after one week.
Fix 1: Remove or Deactivate an App
The quickest fix is to free a slot.
- AltStore: long-press the app in the My Apps tab and tap Deactivate. AltStore backs up the app’s data before removing it, and you can tap Activate later to reinstall it with its data. AltStore also offers this automatically when you try to activate a fourth app.
- SideStore: remove a sideloaded app you no longer need from My Apps, then install the new one.
- Sideloadly: delete one of your sideloaded apps from the iPhone, then sideload again. See our Sideloadly guide.
Before you delete an app, back up anything stored only inside it. Deleting an app from the Home Screen also deletes its data.
Fix 2: Run Several Apps Inside LiveContainer
LiveContainer is a free, open-source app that runs other apps inside itself, so several apps share the one slot LiveContainer uses. SideStore’s FAQ names it as an alternative to the 3-app limit. Not every app works inside it, and it needs some setup; see our LiveContainer guide.
Fix 3: Wait for App IDs to Expire
If the error is about App IDs rather than active apps, removing apps does not help, because the App IDs stay registered for 7 days. In AltStore, tap View App IDs in the My Apps tab to see when each one expires. Sideloadly’s FAQ suggests waiting a few days or using another Apple ID. To save App IDs, avoid installing and removing many different apps in the same week.
Fix 4: A Paid Apple Developer Account
An Apple Developer Program membership costs $99 a year. According to the SideStore and Sideloadly FAQs, it removes the 3-app limit, and apps signed with it last up to a year instead of 7 days. It is the only official way to lift the limit. Be careful with third-party sellers of “developer certificates”: those are shared with other buyers and can be revoked; see what to know about shared certificates.
What About Exploits That Remove the Limit?
Some old exploits could remove the 3-app limit, but only on old iOS versions. Sideloadly’s FAQ mentions one for iOS 16.1.2 and earlier, AltStore’s docs mention MacDirtyCow for supported devices, and SideStore’s FAQ mentions one that works on iOS 18.0.1 and earlier and still does not lift the 10 App ID limit. Each works only up to the iOS version listed, so on current iOS versions they are not an option, and we do not recommend staying on an old iOS version for them.
Does Scarlet iOS Have a 3-App Limit?
No. Scarlet signs apps with a shared distribution certificate instead of your free Apple ID, so the free-account limits do not apply. The trade-off is that Apple can revoke the shared certificate, and then apps stop opening until a new one is available; see what to do when a certificate is revoked. Scarlet is confirmed on iOS 14 through iOS 26; iOS 27 support is reported by third parties but not officially confirmed. You can also use both: Scarlet for most apps, and up to 3 apps with their own Apple ID for the ones that must keep working.
Related Errors
- “Integrity could not be verified”: a signature problem, not the app limit. See how to fix the integrity error.
- Apps stop opening after 7 days: free Apple ID signatures expire weekly and need a refresh. See how to refresh an app that expired after 7 days.
FAQ
Does the store app count toward the 3 apps?
Yes, with SideStore and AltStore. SideStore’s FAQ says it can install 3 apps “including itself”, so you have 2 free slots for other apps.
Does a second Apple ID give me 3 more apps?
Not on the same device. The limit is per device, as the error message itself says (“this device has reached the maximum”). A second Apple ID gives you another 10 App IDs per week, which helps with the App ID error only.
Do App Store apps count?
No. Only apps signed with a free developer profile count. Apps from the App Store are not affected.
Can I lift the limit without paying?
On current iOS versions, not officially. LiveContainer lets several apps share one slot, which is the closest free alternative.