Sideloading on Older iPhones: iPhone 6, 6s, 7, 8 and X
An older iPhone that no longer gets the newest iOS can still run sideloaded apps, but fewer tools support it, and the right one depends on which iOS version it is stuck on. This guide shows the last iOS version for each older iPhone, which sideloading tools still support it according to their own documentation, and what that means for installing apps and games. Last checked: October 27, 2026, against Apple’s security updates list and iOS 26 compatibility page, and the SideStore, AltStore, Sideloadly and TrollStore project pages.
The Risks First
- Older iOS versions get fewer security fixes, and some none at all. An older iPhone is a poor place for banking, email or your main Apple Account inside sideloaded apps.
- Most new apps and games need a recent iOS version. Sideloading does not change that: an IPA built for iOS 17 will usually not run on iOS 12 or 15.
- Tools that let you lower an app’s minimum iOS version only change a number in the app. If the app uses newer iOS features, it will crash.
- Every free computer-based method signs apps with your own Apple ID, so you will need one. Installers that sign with a shared certificate instead, such as Scarlet, need iOS 14 or later.
Step 1: Find Your iPhone’s Last iOS Version
Check your model in Settings > General > About and your iOS version in Settings > General > Software Update. Apple’s security updates list shows the newest update each older group of iPhones received:
| iPhone | Last iOS line | Latest update in Apple’s list |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus | iOS 12 | iOS 12.5.8 (26 Jan 2026) |
| iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, iPhone SE (1st generation) | iOS 15 | iOS 15.8.8 (11 May 2026) |
| iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X | iOS 16 | iOS 16.7.16 (11 May 2026) |
| iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR | iOS 18 | iOS 18.7.11 (26 Oct 2026) |
| iPhone 11 and later, iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later | iOS 26 | Current |
Apple’s iOS 26 page lists iPhone 11 and later and iPhone SE (2nd generation and later) as compatible, so anything older stops at the version above. Install the last update for your model first: it fixes security issues and gives sideloading tools the newest version they can support.
Step 2: Which Tools Support Your iOS Version
| Tool | Minimum iOS (own docs) | iOS 12 | iOS 15 | iOS 16 | iOS 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sideloadly | iOS 7 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SideStore | iOS 14 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AltStore Classic | iOS 14.0 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scarlet iOS | iOS 14 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TrollStore | 14.0 beta 2 to 16.6.1, 16.7 RC, 17.0 | No | Yes | Only up to 16.6.1 | No |
Sources: Sideloadly’s FAQ says it “should support iOS 7 up to iOS 27+”. SideStore’s README lists “iOS 14+” and explains that targeting iOS 14 lets the team develop faster, “especially since not many developers have older devices to test on”. AltStore’s repository lists “iOS 14.0 (AltStore)” under its minimum requirements. TrollStore’s README gives its supported versions as “14.0 beta 2 – 16.6.1, 16.7 RC (20H18), 17.0”. Scarlet is confirmed on iOS 14 through iOS 26; iOS 27 support is reported by third parties but not officially confirmed.
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus (iOS 12)
This is the hardest case. SideStore, AltStore and Scarlet all need iOS 14 or later, so on iOS 12 the free option is Sideloadly from a Windows PC or Mac, signing with your Apple ID.
- You need a computer and an Apple ID. A free Apple ID gives 3 apps at a time that expire after 7 days. Sideloadly’s FAQ notes the 3-app limit applies “on iOS 10, 11, 12” and later.
- The IPA must support iOS 12. Look for an older version of the app or game, ideally from the developer’s own release page.
- Developer Mode does not exist before iOS 16, so you only need to trust the developer in Settings after installing.
Our Sideloadly guide covers the install, and how to refresh apps after 7 days covers keeping them working.
iPhone 6s, iPhone 7 and iPhone SE 1st Generation (iOS 15)
iOS 15.8 is inside every tool’s range, so you have the most choice:
- TrollStore: iOS 15.8.x falls inside TrollStore’s “14.0 beta 2 – 16.6.1” range. Apps installed with it do not expire. TrollStore’s README points to ios.cfw.guide for installation; do not install it from anywhere else.
- SideStore or AltStore: free, with your Apple ID, 7-day signatures and the 3-app limit. See our SideStore guide.
- Scarlet iOS: no computer, and apps are signed with a shared certificate instead of your Apple ID, but Apple can revoke that certificate. See is Scarlet safe.
Developer Mode is not part of iOS 15, so Apple ID tools only need the developer trust step.
iPhone 8 and iPhone X (iOS 16)
Apple’s list shows these on iOS 16.7.x. TrollStore’s README says 16.7.x (except the 16.7 RC build) “will NEVER be supported”, so TrollStore is out unless the phone was never updated past 16.6.1. SideStore, AltStore, Sideloadly and Scarlet all work. On iOS 16, apps signed with your Apple ID need Developer Mode; see our Developer Mode guide. Scarlet itself is enterprise-signed and does not need it.
iPhone XS and XR (iOS 18)
These get the same tools as current iPhones except TrollStore. See our overview of how to sideload apps without a jailbreak.
Finding Apps and Games That Still Run
- Check the minimum iOS first. On a project’s GitHub releases or its AltStore source, the app’s requirements are usually listed. Our guide to AltStore and SideStore sources explains how sources show compatible versions.
- Use older versions of open-source apps. Emulators and other open-source apps keep old releases on GitHub. An older release may still support your iOS version.
- Be careful with “lowered” IPAs. Sideloadly lists a feature to “change the minimum iOS version required to run the app”. That only removes the version check; it does not make a new app work on old iOS.
- Check every file. Old IPAs are often re-uploaded by strangers. See how to scan IPA files for malware.
Can You Install Games Without Signing In?
Not with the free tools. Sideloadly, SideStore and AltStore all sign apps with an Apple ID, because that is how a free development certificate is issued. Shared-certificate installers such as Scarlet sign apps with their own certificate rather than your Apple ID, but they need iOS 14 or later, so they do not help an iPhone 6. For any method, use a secondary Apple ID rather than your main one if you are unsure.
FAQ
Will updating my old iPhone break sideloading?
For these models the last update is a small security update within the same iOS line, so it does not change which tools work, with one exception: on iPhone 8 and X, updating past iOS 16.6.1 rules out TrollStore.
Does the 3-app limit apply on old iOS?
Sideloadly’s FAQ says iOS 7, 8 and 9 had no limit, and that from iOS 10 onward a free Apple Developer account is limited to 3 sideloaded apps.
Can an iPhone 6 run Scarlet?
No. Scarlet is confirmed on iOS 14 through iOS 26, and the iPhone 6 stops at iOS 12.