How to Share Sideloaded Apps Between Apple Devices

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How to Share Sideloaded Apps Between Apple Devices

One of the conveniences of the App Store is Family Sharing and automatic downloads — buy an app once, install it on all your devices. Sideloaded apps work differently. Because they are signed with enterprise certificates and installed outside Apple’s distribution infrastructure, there is no automatic sync. But that does not mean sharing sideloaded apps between your devices is difficult — it just requires a slightly different workflow.

This guide covers every method for getting sideloaded apps from one Apple device to another, from direct IPA transfer to iCloud sync to using Scarlet iOS on multiple devices.

The Simplest Method: Install from Scarlet iOS on Each Device

The most straightforward approach to having a sideloaded app on multiple devices is to install it independently on each one using Scarlet iOS. Since Scarlet iOS is a web-based installer accessible from any iPhone or iPad, you simply open it in Safari on each device and install the app.

This approach:

  • Always gives you the latest version of the app
  • Ensures each device gets its own fresh, valid certificate
  • Requires no file transfer between devices
  • Works regardless of iOS version differences between your devices

For most apps, this is the best method. The only scenario where you might prefer a different approach is when you have a specific IPA version that is not currently available through Scarlet iOS, or when you want to transfer app data alongside the app.

Transferring IPA Files Between Devices via AirDrop

If you have a specific IPA file on one device and want to install it on another, AirDrop is the fastest transfer method within the Apple ecosystem.

Sending an IPA via AirDrop

  1. On the source device, open the Files app and locate your IPA file.
  2. Long-press the IPA file and tap “Share.”
  3. Tap AirDrop, then select the target device from the list.
  4. On the receiving device, accept the AirDrop transfer.
  5. The IPA file saves to the Downloads folder in the Files app on the receiving device.
  6. Open Scarlet iOS on the receiving device and install from the local IPA file.

AirDrop transfers work at Wi-Fi speeds over a direct peer-to-peer connection, so even large IPA files (emulators can exceed 100 MB) transfer in seconds.

Using iCloud Drive as a Shared IPA Library

If you regularly use multiple devices and want your IPA collection accessible everywhere, iCloud Drive is an excellent centralised storage solution. Create a dedicated folder in iCloud Drive for your IPA files and download apps from there on any device.

Setting Up an iCloud IPA Library

  1. Open the Files app on any device and navigate to iCloud Drive.
  2. Create a new folder named “IPA Library” or similar.
  3. Move or copy your IPA files into this folder.
  4. On any other Apple device signed into the same iCloud account, open Files > iCloud Drive > IPA Library.
  5. Tap an IPA file to download it, then install through Scarlet iOS.

This approach doubles as a backup strategy — your IPA collection is preserved in iCloud even if you lose or replace a device. For more on backup strategies for sideloaded content, see our guide on how to back up sideloaded apps and their data.

Sharing App Data Across Devices

Sharing the app itself is only half the equation — for apps where you want a continuous experience across devices (same game progress, same settings, same documents), you also need to sync the app data.

Apps That Support iCloud Sync

Some sideloaded apps are built with iCloud sync and store their data in iCloud Drive by default. For these apps, data syncs automatically between devices signed into the same iCloud account. Examples include Delta (game saves), some document editors, and productivity utilities.

To verify whether an app supports iCloud sync, check Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > scroll down to the app list. If the sideloaded app appears there with a toggle, it supports iCloud data sync.

Manual Data Transfer for Apps Without iCloud Sync

For apps that store data locally, manual transfer via AirDrop or iCloud Drive is the most reliable approach.

  1. On the source device, open the Files app and navigate to On My iPhone > [App Name].
  2. If the app exposes its data directory here, select the files or folders you want to transfer.
  3. Share via AirDrop to the target device, or copy to iCloud Drive.
  4. On the target device, install the app through Scarlet iOS.
  5. Move the transferred data files into the app’s Documents directory using the Files app.

Note that not all apps expose their Documents directory through the Files app — this depends on whether the app declares itself as a file provider in its configuration.

Sharing Between iPhone and iPad

iPhone-to-iPad sharing has one additional consideration: app compatibility. Universal IPA files (apps built for both iPhone and iPad) install and run natively on both devices. iPhone-only IPA files install on iPad but run in compatibility mode (scaled-up iPhone interface in a letterboxed window).

For the best experience when sharing across device types, prefer universal IPA files when they are available. If you are using an iPhone-only app on iPad and the interface scaling bothers you, check whether a native iPad version or a recompiled universal version exists.

For more on the specific differences of iPad sideloading, see our guide on iPadOS sideloading: how it differs from iPhone.

Certificate Sharing: What You Need to Know

An important technical point: when you install a sideloaded app on multiple devices, each device signs with its own certificate. The certificate is not shared between devices. This means:

  • A certificate revocation on one device does not affect the same app on another device (if different certificates were used)
  • Each device must independently trust the developer profile in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management
  • Reinstallation on one device is independent of other devices

This is actually beneficial — it means your iPhone and iPad maintain independent app signing, so an issue with one device does not cascade to the other.

Family and Friends: Sharing with Other People’s Devices

Sharing sideloaded apps with family members or friends follows the same technical process, but each person’s device is an independent install. Transfer the IPA via AirDrop, have the recipient install through their own Scarlet iOS session, and trust the certificate on their device. The entire process takes about two minutes per device.

App data generally does not transfer meaningfully between different Apple ID accounts since iCloud sync is per-account. For locally stored data that does not involve iCloud, the manual Files transfer method described above can work across devices regardless of account.

Keeping Multiple Devices in Sync Long-Term

The ongoing maintenance of sideloaded apps across multiple devices is simplified by a consistent approach:

  • Use Scarlet iOS as the primary install source for both devices — it ensures you always get the latest signed version
  • Maintain an iCloud Drive IPA Library for any specific versions you want to preserve
  • Enable iCloud sync for apps that support it to keep data current across devices
  • After any iOS update on either device, check that apps are still running — reinstall from Scarlet iOS if needed

For the full installation workflow that applies to each device in your setup, see our guide on how to sideload apps on iOS 18 without jailbreak.

Expand Your Sideloaded App Experience Across All Your Devices

Sideloaded apps do not have to be limited to a single device. With the right workflow, your entire Apple device ecosystem can run the same apps with synced data, giving you a seamless experience whether you are on your iPhone or iPad.

Visit Scarlet iOS to get started on all your Apple devices today.

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