The Ultimate iOS Sideloading Checklist for Beginners

Your Complete Beginner Checklist for iOS Sideloading

Starting with iOS sideloading can feel overwhelming. There are certificates, IPA files, repositories, and trust settings to navigate, all without the polished simplicity of the App Store. This checklist is designed to take the guesswork out of your first sideloading experience, walking you through every step with clear verification criteria so you know you have done each step correctly before moving on. If a term is new to you, our Scarlet iOS glossary explains it in plain words.

Work through this checklist in order. Each section builds on the previous one. By the time you reach the end, you will have a fully configured Scarlet iOS setup and at least one sideloaded app running on your iPhone. Last checked: October 27, 2026, against Apple’s support articles and iPhone User Guide.

Part 0: Know the Risks Before You Start

• [ ] I understand that Scarlet uses a shared enterprise certificate, and that Apple can revoke it at any time, which stops the apps from opening until a new one is available (see is Scarlet safe)
• [ ] I understand that IPA files and repositories come from third parties, not from Apple or Scarlet, and I will check files before installing
• [ ] I will not sign in to banking, email or my main Apple Account inside modified apps
• [ ] I will never type my Apple ID password into an install website

Pick Your Route

Route	Computer	Developer Mode	Guide
Scarlet iOS (this checklist)	No	Not needed	Install Scarlet iOS
SideStore	Once, for setup	Needed	SideStore guide
Sideloadly	Yes	Needed	Sideloadly guide
Approved marketplace (EU, Japan, Brazil)	No	Not needed	AltStore PAL guide

If you choose a route that signs with your own Apple ID, add the extra checks in Part 7 below.

Part 1: Device Readiness Checklist

Before installing anything, verify your device meets all requirements.

Hardware Verification

• [ ] Confirm your device can run a supported iOS version (see below)
• [ ] Check available storage in Settings > General > iPhone Storage, and leave room for the apps you plan to install
• [ ] Ensure your battery is above 30% or plug in your charger before starting
• [ ] Confirm your internet connection is stable; iOS has to reach Apple to verify the developer when you trust it

iOS Version Verification

• [ ] Go to Settings > General > About and note your iOS version
• [ ] Confirm you are running iOS 14.0 or later. Scarlet is confirmed on iOS 14 through iOS 26; iOS 27 support is reported by third parties but not officially confirmed. On an older iPhone stuck below iOS 14, see sideloading on older iPhones.
• [ ] If you are on iOS 27, check the Scarlet iOS website first: iOS 27 is released, but Scarlet support on it is not officially confirmed

Account and Security Check

• [ ] Know your Apple ID password for Settings and the App Store, but never enter it on an install website
• [ ] Disable Screen Time restrictions if they are active (Settings > Screen Time)
• [ ] If your organization manages your iPhone via MDM, confirm you have permission to install non-Store apps
• [ ] If Lockdown Mode is on, know that Apple says configuration profiles “can’t be installed” while it is enabled

Part 2: Safari Preparation Checklist

Scarlet iOS must be installed via Safari. Other browsers will not work.

• [ ] Open Safari (the compass icon), not Chrome, Firefox, or any other browser
• [ ] Disable any content blocker extensions: Settings > Safari > Extensions, toggle off all content blockers
• [ ] Disable any VPN you have running: Settings > VPN or Settings > General > VPN & Device Management
• [ ] Clear Safari cache: Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data
• [ ] In Safari settings, ensure JavaScript is enabled: Settings > Safari > Advanced > JavaScript: On
• [ ] Turn the VPN and content blockers back on once Scarlet is installed, and if they block ppq.apple.com, add an exception (Apple lists that address for enterprise app validation)

Part 3: Scarlet iOS Installation Checklist

Follow these steps in order and check each box when complete.

Starting the Install

• [ ] Navigate to the official Scarlet iOS website in Safari
• [ ] Tap the Install or Download button on the page
• [ ] When iOS asks whether to install the app, tap Install
• [ ] Watch for the Scarlet iOS icon to appear on your home screen; do not open it yet, it shows “Untrusted Developer” until you trust it below

Scarlet installs as an enterprise app, so there is no configuration profile to download or install. Be careful with sites that ask you to install an extra profile for Scarlet (see what is confirmed about Scarlet).

Trusting the Certificate

• [ ] Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management
• [ ] Find and tap the Scarlet iOS certificate under “Enterprise App”
• [ ] Tap “Trust [Scarlet iOS certificate name]”
• [ ] On iOS 18 and later, Apple says to tap “Allow & Restart” and follow the steps after the restart; on earlier versions, tap Trust in the confirmation dialog
• [ ] Verify the developer now shows as verified. If it says “Not Verified”, Apple says to connect to the internet and tap Verify App (see how to fix Unable to Verify App)
• [ ] Scarlet is enterprise-signed, so you do not need to turn on Developer Mode

Launching Scarlet iOS

• [ ] Find the Scarlet iOS icon on your home screen
• [ ] Tap to open; it should launch without any error message
• [ ] If you see “Untrusted Developer,” repeat the certificate trust step above (see the Untrusted Developer fix)
• [ ] Verify Scarlet opens and shows its app library

Part 4: Installing Your First App Checklist

Choose a simple, well-known app for your first installation to verify everything is working before attempting more complex apps.

Browsing the App Library

• [ ] Open the built-in library in Scarlet iOS (you can also add repositories or use IPA files you already have)
• [ ] Pick a small app you can see in the library today; what the library contains changes over time
• [ ] Check that the app supports your iOS version
• [ ] Start the install from the app’s entry in Scarlet

Completing Installation

• [ ] If iOS asks you to confirm the install, tap Install
• [ ] Watch for the app icon to appear on your home screen (this can take a little while)
• [ ] Tap the new app icon to open it
• [ ] Verify the app opens without errors

If Installation Fails

• [ ] Check available storage, and free up space if it is nearly full
• [ ] Restart your iPhone and try again
• [ ] Delete and reinstall Scarlet iOS if the error persists (apps installed through it may need reinstalling too, so back up app data first)
• [ ] If you see “integrity could not be verified”, follow the integrity error fix
• [ ] Try a different app to determine if the issue is app-specific or Scarlet iOS-wide

Part 5: Ongoing Maintenance Checklist

Sideloaded apps require periodic maintenance to keep working. Build these habits from day one.

Weekly Tasks

• [ ] Let your iPhone go online regularly: Apple says the device “must reverify the app developer’s certificate periodically to maintain trust”
• [ ] Check whether newer versions of the apps you use regularly are available in the library or your repositories
• [ ] Note which apps stop opening so you can reinstall them; if all of them stop at once, the certificate was probably revoked (see what to do after a revocation)
• [ ] Update apps over the top with the same bundle ID so they keep their data (see updating sideloaded apps)

After iOS Updates

• [ ] After any iOS system update, open Scarlet iOS and verify it still works
• [ ] Check the Scarlet iOS website or community for any iOS update compatibility notes
• [ ] Re-install any sideloaded apps that stopped working after the update

Security Best Practices

• [ ] Only install apps from the official Scarlet iOS library or trusted community repositories
• [ ] Never install IPA files sent to you by strangers via direct message
• [ ] Review app permissions when first opening any newly installed app, and check Settings > Privacy & Security > App Privacy Report now and then
• [ ] Keep Scarlet iOS itself updated to the latest version

Part 6: Advanced Setup Checklist (Optional)

Once your basic setup is working, consider these additional optimizations.

• [ ] Browse and add additional repositories to expand your app library
• [ ] Configure a Bluetooth controller if you plan to use emulators
• [ ] Set up iCloud Drive folders for ROM and IPA file storage
• [ ] Sideloading communities on Reddit or Discord can help with tips, but treat download links shared there with care
• [ ] Read our guides on best emulators and best tweaked apps for app recommendations

Part 7: Extra Checks for Apple ID Tools (SideStore, AltStore, Sideloadly)

• [ ] Turn on Developer Mode in Settings > Privacy & Security, then tap Restart and, after the restart, Enable (see the Developer Mode guide)
• [ ] Know the free Apple ID limits: Apple says up to 3 apps per device, with profiles that “expire 7 days from issuance” (see the 3-app limit guide)
• [ ] Set up automatic refresh, or put a weekly reminder in your calendar (see apps that expire after 7 days)
• [ ] Never delete an expired app before re-signing it with the same Apple ID; deleting it deletes its data

Checklist Complete: You Are Ready

Working through this checklist systematically ensures that every component of your sideloading setup is correctly configured before you invest time in building a library of apps. The few minutes you spend on verification now prevents hours of troubleshooting later.

Sideloading is more accessible than it first appears, but it is never risk-free. Keep the checks in Part 0 in mind every time you add a new source or app.

Ready to begin? Start with how to install Scarlet iOS (or open our Scarlet iOS install page in Safari), or pick one of the other routes in the table above.