Sideloadly Guide: Install IPA Files on iPhone from Windows or Mac

ByScarlet iOS Team Updated on

Sideloadly is a free desktop app for Windows and Mac that signs an IPA file with your own Apple ID and installs it on your iPhone or iPad. Apple does not revoke apps signed this way for public use the way it revokes shared certificates, but a free Apple ID comes with firm limits: apps expire after 7 days, and you can have only 3 sideloaded apps at a time. This guide covers what Sideloadly is, what you need, how to install an IPA with it step by step, and how to fix its most common errors. Last checked: October 27, 2026, against sideloadly.io (version 0.71.0).

The Short Version

  • Sideloadly runs on Windows 7 SP1 and later and on macOS 10.12 and later. It is free and funded by Patreon supporters. Download it only from sideloadly.io.
  • You sign in with a free or paid Apple ID. Your Apple ID and password go only to Apple’s servers, according to Sideloadly’s FAQ.
  • With a free Apple ID, apps last 7 days and you can have 3 sideloaded apps installed at once. A paid Apple Developer account ($99 a year) makes apps last up to 1 year and removes the 3-app limit.
  • Its auto-refresh feature re-signs apps before they expire, but only while your computer can reach the iPhone over USB or Wi-Fi. If an app already expired, see how to bring back an app that expired after 7 days.
  • On iOS 16 and later you have to turn on Developer Mode on the iPhone.

Know the Limits First

  • You need a computer. Sideloadly installs from Windows or a Mac, not from the iPhone. For the weekly re-sign the computer has to be on and reachable, too.
  • 3 apps and 10 app IDs. A free Apple ID allows 3 sideloaded apps on the device at the same time and 10 new app IDs every 7 days. Sideloadly’s FAQ calls both limits set by Apple, with no workaround on current iOS versions.
  • No in-app purchases. Sideloadly’s FAQ says Apple blocks real in-app purchases in sideloaded apps. To support a developer, buy in the App Store version.
  • Game Center progress. With a free Apple ID, Sideloadly has to give apps a new bundle ID, so Game Center does not recognize the game. Keep progress synced to an account the game itself offers.
  • Only use IPAs you trust. Sideloadly signs whatever file you give it. Check files from unknown sources first; see how to scan IPA files for malware.

What You Need

  • A Windows PC (Windows 10 or later recommended) or a Mac with macOS 10.12 or later.
  • On Windows: the web versions of iTunes and iCloud from Apple, not the Microsoft Store versions. Sideloadly’s site links to the right installers and says to uninstall the Store versions first.
  • A USB cable for the first connection.
  • An Apple ID. You can use a second, free Apple ID for sideloading to keep your main account separate.
  • The IPA file of the app you want to install.

How to Install an IPA with Sideloadly

  1. Download Sideloadly for your system from sideloadly.io and install it. On Windows, install the web versions of iTunes and iCloud first.
  2. Connect your iPhone with the USB cable, unlock it and tap Trust when it asks whether to trust the computer.
  3. Open Sideloadly. Your device should appear in the device list.
  4. Drag the IPA file into Sideloadly, or click the IPA button and choose it.
  5. Type your Apple ID and click Start. Enter your password and, if asked, the two-factor code Apple sends you.
  6. Wait until Sideloadly says it is done. The app icon appears on the Home Screen.
  7. On the iPhone, open Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, tap the Apple ID you used and trust it.
  8. On iOS 16 or later, turn on Settings > Privacy & Security > Developer Mode when iOS asks, and restart. Our Developer Mode guide explains this step.

On macOS, Sideloadly also asks you to enable its Mail plug-in: open the Mail app, go to Settings, click Manage Plug-ins, enable SideloadlyPlugin.mailbundle and click Apply and Restart Mail. Its FAQ explains that Mail has to be open while you sideload.

Keep Apps Working: Auto-Refresh and Wi-Fi

When you sideload, you can tick the option to refresh the app automatically. The Sideloadly Daemon then re-signs apps that are close to expiring whenever it detects the iPhone over USB or Wi-Fi. To set up Wi-Fi, connect by USB once and then:

  • Windows: in iTunes, open the device, go to Summary > Options, enable Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi, then Sync.
  • Mac: in Finder, select the iPhone under Locations, open General, enable Show this iPhone when on Wi-Fi, then Sync.

The computer and iPhone must be on the same network, and the iPhone screen should be on. If a refresh is missed and the app expires, sideload the same IPA again with the same Apple ID: that overwrites the app and keeps its data.

Useful Advanced Options

  • Change the app name, icon or bundle ID. A different bundle ID lets you install a second copy of an app; see running multiple versions of the same app.
  • Modify the minimum iOS version or remove the supported-device limit, for IPAs that refuse to install on your model.
  • Remove app extensions (PlugIns) before installing.
  • Export a signed IPA instead of installing it.
  • Apple Silicon Macs: Sideloadly can install iPhone apps on an M-series Mac itself.

Common Sideloadly Errors and Fixes

Error What it means Fix
No devices detected Sideloadly cannot see the iPhone Reinstall the web versions of iTunes and iCloud, restart the PC, open iTunes with the iPhone connected and tap Trust; try another cable or port
Maximum number of installed apps using a free developer profile You already have 3 sideloaded apps Remove one sideloaded app, then try again
Maximum App ID limit reached (10 every 7 days) Too many new apps this week on a free account Wait a few days, or use another Apple ID
The identity used to sign the executable is no longer valid Usually a wrong date or time Set the correct date and time on both the computer and the iPhone
LOCKDOWN_E_INVALID_HOST_ID The iPhone does not trust the computer Trust the computer on the iPhone, restart the computer with the iPhone plugged in
NP_E_CONN_FAILED or AFC_E_MUX_ERROR (Windows) Microsoft Store iTunes is installed Uninstall it and install the web version of iTunes
Untrusted Developer when opening the app The Apple ID is not trusted yet Trust it in VPN & Device Management; see the Untrusted Developer fix

If an install fails with “integrity could not be verified”, see how to fix the integrity error. For anything else, Sideloadly’s FAQ lists 47 questions, and its developers answer on the r/Sideloadly subreddit.

Sideloadly or an On-Device Installer?

Sideloadly and an on-device installer such as Scarlet iOS solve different problems. Scarlet installs apps directly on the iPhone with a shared certificate, with no computer and no 3-app limit, but Apple can revoke that certificate, and then the apps stop opening until a new one is available. Scarlet is confirmed on iOS 14 through iOS 26; iOS 27 support is reported by third parties but not officially confirmed. Sideloadly needs a computer and a weekly re-sign, but the apps are signed for your device with your own Apple ID. Many people use both: Scarlet for convenience and Sideloadly or SideStore for the one or two apps that must keep working. Our AltStore vs Scarlet iOS vs Sideloadly guide compares them in detail.

FAQ

Is Sideloadly free?

Yes. It is free to download and use, and it is funded by Patreon supporters.

Is Sideloadly safe?

Download it only from sideloadly.io. Its FAQ says your Apple ID and password are sent only to Apple, and that the optional Remote Anisette server sees only your IP address, operating system and Sideloadly version. Using a separate Apple ID for sideloading adds a layer of safety.

Does Sideloadly work without a computer?

No. You need Windows or a Mac to install and to refresh apps. For a setup that refreshes on the iPhone itself after the first install, see SideStore.

Which iOS versions does Sideloadly support?

Sideloadly’s site says it supports iOS 7 through iOS 27 and later, which makes it the main free option for an iPhone stuck on iOS 12 (see our guide to sideloading on older iPhones).

Can Sideloadly enable JIT?

Its site lists JIT support up to iOS 16. For JIT on newer iOS versions, see our StikDebug guide.

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