iloader Guide: Install SideStore and IPAs From Your Computer (2026)

ByScarlet iOS Team Updated on

iloader is a free, open-source computer app that installs SideStore and other apps on your iPhone with your own Apple Account, and places the pairing file those apps need. Since 2026 it is the tool the SideStore team points to for the first install, which is why it shows up in so many of our guides. This page covers what iloader does, how to install and use it, its other features and how to fix the errors people hit most. Last checked: 2 November 2026, against iloader’s GitHub page and release notes (version 2.4.1, released 28 October 2026).

The Short Version

  • iloader runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. It is made by the developer nab138 and is open source under the MIT license.
  • It installs SideStore (or LiveContainer + SideStore), imports SideStore’s certificate and places its pairing file in one go. It can also install any other IPA.
  • It signs with your Apple Account, so a free account has Apple’s usual limits: apps last 7 days and only a few can be active at once.
  • Download it only from its GitHub page or iloader.app. The developer says those are the only official sources.
  • Most failed logins are fixed by updating iloader, because the fixes for Apple’s server changes ship as updates.

What iloader Does

iloader describes itself as a “user friendly sideloader”. It uses two open-source libraries by the same community: idevice to talk to the iPhone and isideload to sign and install apps. Its README lists these features:

  • Install SideStore, or LiveContainer + SideStore, and set up the certificate and both pairing files (RPPairing and lockdown) automatically.
  • Import any IPA file.
  • Show “intelligent error suggestions” for common problems.
  • Manage pairing files for apps such as StikDebug, SideStore and Protokolle.
  • See and revoke your development certificates and app IDs.

Version 2.4.1 also turns on the increased memory entitlement by default, so emulators and other heavy apps no longer need a separate tool such as GetMoreRam for that.

What You Need

  • A Windows, Mac or Linux computer and a USB cable.
  • An Apple Account. A free one works; a second account just for sideloading is a common choice.
  • The USB connection software (usbmuxd). On Windows, install iTunes; on macOS it is built in; on Linux, install usbmuxd from your package manager if it is missing.
  • A passcode set on the iPhone, and the iPhone unlocked during setup.

How to Install iloader

  • Windows: the installer comes as .exe or .msi (the msi is the recommended one).
  • macOS: a universal .dmg for Intel and Apple silicon Macs.
  • Linux: .deb (Debian/Ubuntu), .rpm (Fedora/openSUSE) or an AppImage. NixOS has an official package in nixpkgs-unstable.

There is also a Homebrew cask, an AUR package and a Fedora COPR repository. The README marks those as unofficial, community-maintained builds. Do not download iloader from any other site.

How to Install SideStore With iloader

  1. Plug the iPhone into the computer and tap Trust if it asks.
  2. Open iloader and sign in with your Apple Account, including the two-factor code.
  3. Choose the action, for example install SideStore (or LiveContainer + SideStore).
  4. Wait until iloader reports success. It installs the app, imports the certificate and places the pairing files.
  5. On the iPhone, enable Developer Mode if iOS asks for it, and trust your developer profile under Settings > General > VPN & Device Management (see fixing “Untrusted Developer”).
  6. Install LocalDevVPN from the App Store. SideStore uses it to install and refresh apps without the computer.

Our full SideStore install guide walks through the iPhone side in more detail. To install some other app, use iloader’s option to import an IPA instead, and check the IPA first.

Managing Pairing Files, Certificates and App IDs

When an app says its pairing file is invalid, open iloader, click Manage Pairing File and click Place next to the app. SideStore’s own steps add one thing first: click Delete Stored Pairing and tap Trust on the iPhone again. Our pairing file guide explains why the file expires.

A free Apple Account can only have a limited number of app IDs and certificates. iloader shows the ones on your account and lets you revoke old ones, which helps when an install fails because you hit a limit. Since version 2.4.0, iloader applies the main profile by default to save app IDs. For the limit itself, see the free Apple ID 3-app limit.

Common iloader Problems

  • Login fails, 2FA error, “403” or “503 Service Temporarily Unavailable”: iloader signs in through an “anisette” server that supplies the device data Apple’s login expects. When Apple changes something, these logins break until iloader updates its server list. The October 2026 releases fixed exactly this (a new default server in 2.3.9 and 2.4.0, an SMS two-factor 403 fix in 2.4.1). Update iloader first.
  • The iPhone does not show up: on Windows install iTunes, on Linux install usbmuxd, use a data cable, unlock the iPhone and tap Trust.
  • SideStore installed but will not refresh: turn on LocalDevVPN, stay on Wi-Fi, and replace the pairing file. Our SideStore errors guide lists the messages.
  • Apps stop opening after 7 days: that is Apple’s free-account limit, not an iloader bug. See sideloaded app expired after 7 days.

Still stuck? Click View Logs in iloader (set the log level to Debug if it is empty) and take the full error message to the idevice Discord server or the GitHub issues page, as the README suggests. Logs are also saved in %APPDATA%\me.nabdev.iloader\logs on Windows, ~/Library/Application Support/me.nabdev.iloader/logs on macOS and ~/.local/share/me.nabdev.iloader/logs/ on Linux.

What Is Next for iloader

The developer says version 2 now only gets critical fixes and that work has moved to iloader-next, with a new interface, a web version, better two-factor options and a step-by-step install wizard. There is no release date yet.

iloader, Impactor or Scarlet?

  • Impactor is the closest alternative: also open source, also on Windows, macOS and Linux, and also able to install SideStore and place pairing files.
  • Sideloadly is a closed-source desktop installer for any IPA, without the SideStore and pairing file tools.
  • Scarlet iOS needs no computer and no Apple Account, because it provides the certificate. That certificate is shared, so Apple can revoke it, while iloader apps use your own certificate but last 7 days on a free account. Our free sideloading tools compared guide puts them side by side. To try Scarlet, see how to install Scarlet iOS or start from our Scarlet iOS install page.

FAQ

Is iloader free?
Yes. It is free and open source (MIT). The developer accepts GitHub sponsorships, but nothing is locked.

Is iloader safe?
The code is public and the official downloads are on GitHub and iloader.app. You do sign in with your Apple Account, so only use an official build; many people use a separate Apple Account for sideloading.

Do I need iloader every week?
No. After the first install, SideStore refreshes apps on the iPhone with LocalDevVPN. You only need iloader again to replace a pairing file or reinstall SideStore if it expires.

Does iloader work without a computer?
Not yet. The current version is a desktop app; a web version is planned for iloader-next.

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