How to Reinstall Scarlet iOS Without Losing Data

ByScarlet iOS Team Updated on

Whether Scarlet iOS is crashing, showing a white screen, or simply not working after an iOS update, reinstalling it is often the fastest path to a fix. The main concern most users have is losing their sideloaded apps or the data stored inside them. This guide explains exactly what happens to your installed apps when you reinstall Scarlet iOS, how to protect any data you care about, and how to do the reinstall cleanly so you end up in a better state than before.

What Happens to Your Sideloaded Apps When You Reinstall Scarlet iOS

Before anything else, let us clear up the most common misconception: deleting and reinstalling Scarlet iOS does not delete your sideloaded apps.

Scarlet iOS is an installer, not a container. When it installs an app on your device, that app becomes an independent entity on your home screen: just like an App Store app. Scarlet iOS hands off the app to iOS, and from that point on, iOS manages it. Removing Scarlet iOS removes the installer, not the installed apps.

What this means practically:

  • All apps installed via Scarlet iOS remain on your home screen after you delete Scarlet iOS
  • App data stored inside those apps (game saves, login sessions, settings) is preserved
  • The apps will continue to work as long as their certificates remain valid
  • You only need to reinstall apps if their certificates expire or get revoked

What You Might Lose: The One Exception

The only data at risk is anything stored within Scarlet iOS itself rather than in the installed apps. This includes:

  • Custom repositories you have added to Scarlet iOS
  • IPA files you imported or downloaded inside Scarlet iOS
  • Scarlet iOS’s own settings
  • Queued or in-progress downloads

If you have added custom repos, write them down before reinstalling. Repository URLs are simple text strings and you can re-add them in under a minute after reinstalling.

Before You Reinstall: Preparation Checklist

1. Document Your Custom Repositories

Open Scarlet iOS and navigate to the repository or sources section. Write down or screenshot the URL of every custom repo you have added. The default Scarlet iOS repositories will be restored automatically after reinstalling, but any custom ones you added manually will need to be re-entered.

2. Note Which Apps You Installed Through Scarlet iOS

Walk through your home screen and note which apps came from Scarlet iOS. While they will not be deleted, knowing this list helps you quickly verify everything is still working after the reinstall and lets you efficiently reinstall any that need certificate renewal.

3. Check the Developer Names in Settings

Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. Note which developer names are listed for your sideloaded apps (iOS does not show expiry dates here). If any of those apps already stop opening, plan to reinstall them through Scarlet iOS right after the reinstall. This saves you a second round of troubleshooting.

4. Back Up App Data (If the App Supports It)

For any sideloaded app that contains important data (game saves, notes, custom configurations), check whether that app has a built-in backup or export feature. Use it before proceeding. An iCloud backup may include data from sideloaded apps, but restoring it is not guaranteed, so an export is safer.

Step-by-Step Reinstall Process

Step 1: Delete Scarlet iOS

On your home screen, long-press the Scarlet iOS icon until the edit options appear. Tap Remove App, then tap Delete App to confirm. Scarlet iOS is now removed. Your sideloaded apps are still on your home screen and unaffected.

Step 2: Clear Safari Cache (Optional but Recommended)

A stale Safari cache can sometimes interfere with the installation process. To clear it: go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. This does not affect passwords saved in iCloud Keychain.

Step 3: Restart Your iPhone

Hold the side button and a volume button simultaneously until the power slider appears. Slide to power off. Wait 30 seconds. Power back on. Starting the reinstall from a freshly rebooted device reduces the chance of a failed installation due to cached network errors or stale process states.

Step 4: Open Safari and Visit the Official Site

Open Safari (not Chrome, Firefox, or any other browser: Safari is required for app installation on iOS). Navigate to scarletios.com. Do not use any third-party links or search results that may point to unofficial mirrors.

Step 5: Tap the Install Button

Go to scarletios.com/install and tap Install Now. Complete the short verification, and when iOS asks to install Scarlet, tap Install.

Step 6: Wait for the App to Install

Scarlet iOS is an enterprise-signed app, so there is no profile to install. After you tap Install, the Scarlet icon appears on your home screen while it downloads. Return to Safari if the installation does not proceed automatically.

Step 7: Trust the Certificate

Once Scarlet iOS installs on your home screen, go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. Under Developer App or Enterprise App, find the certificate associated with Scarlet iOS. Tap it, then tap Trust “[Name]” and confirm (on iOS 18 and later the button can read Allow & Restart). You need an internet connection for this step.

Step 8: Open Scarlet iOS

Return to your home screen and open Scarlet iOS. It should load normally. If you had custom repositories, re-add them now through the app’s repository or sources menu.

After Reinstalling: Verifying Your Sideloaded Apps

Open each of your sideloaded apps and verify they launch correctly. In most cases they will open without any issues. If an app shows the “Untrusted Developer” error, go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and trust the relevant certificate. If an app crashes immediately on launch, its certificate may have been revoked: reinstall it fresh through Scarlet iOS.

For a full walkthrough of the trust process, see our guide on Fix Untrusted Developer Error on iPhone: Step by Step.

When Reinstalling Scarlet iOS Is the Right Move

Reinstalling Scarlet iOS is the correct solution when:

  • Scarlet iOS shows a white screen and other fixes have failed
  • Scarlet iOS crashes immediately on launch
  • A certificate error prevents Scarlet iOS itself from being trusted
  • An iOS update broke Scarlet iOS’s functionality
  • You need a fresh certificate for a new batch of app installations

Reinstalling Scarlet iOS is not necessary when:

  • Individual sideloaded apps are crashing: reinstall those apps specifically instead
  • You just need to trust a certificate: do that in Settings without touching Scarlet iOS
  • Scarlet iOS is slow: a restart usually resolves this

If your sideloaded apps are crashing after an iOS update, see our focused guide on How to Fix Sideloaded Apps Crashing After an iOS Update for targeted solutions.

Keeping Scarlet iOS Healthy Long-Term

  • If Scarlet iOS stops opening after a major iOS update or a revocation, reinstall it to get the copy signed with the current certificate
  • Do not install Scarlet iOS from any source other than the official scarletios.com website
  • Keep at least 2 GB of free storage on your device to avoid installation failures
  • After any iOS update, open your sideloaded apps once to check they still launch (trust carries over through updates)

Reinstalling Scarlet iOS is a quick, low-risk operation when you know that your sideloaded apps are safe. It takes under five minutes from deletion to a fully working reinstall, and in most cases it resolves persistent problems that simpler fixes cannot. Head to Scarlet iOS to get the latest version and get back to installing your favorite apps on iPhone and iPad.

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