Top 5 Ways to Install Apps Outside the App Store

Apple’s App Store is no longer the only way to install apps on iPhone in 2026. Whether you want tweaked apps, apps unavailable in your region, emulators, developer builds, or just more freedom over your device, there are several working methods. This guide covers the top five ways to install apps outside the App Store, from the simplest to the most advanced, with what each one needs and where it falls short.

The 5 Methods at a Glance

Method	Computer	Apple ID	iOS versions	Main catch
Scarlet iOS	No	No	iOS 14 to iOS 26 (iOS 27 reported, not confirmed)	Certificates can be revoked
AltStore + AltServer	Yes	Yes	Current iOS versions	7-day re-signing, 3 active apps on a free account
Sideloadly	Yes	Yes	Current iOS versions	Same 7-day and 3-app limits, no app library
TrollStore	Sometimes	No	iOS 14.0 to 16.6.1, iOS 17.0	Does not work on newer iOS
EU marketplaces	No	Your normal account	iOS 17.4 and later, EU only	Only Apple-notarized apps

Before You Start

• Know your iOS version (Settings, General, About). It decides which methods are open to you, especially TrollStore.
• Expect a trust step. Certificate-based installs need you to trust a developer profile once in Settings, General, VPN and Device Management. See how to fix the Untrusted Developer error if an app will not open.
• Apple ID methods need Developer Mode on iOS 16 and later. Our guide to Developer Mode on iPhone explains when it is needed and when it is not.
• Use trusted sources. Apps installed outside the App Store are not reviewed by Apple, so check IPA files before installing. The sideloading checklist for beginners covers the rest of the prep.

Method 1: Scarlet iOS (On-Device Certificate Signing)

Difficulty: Easy
Requires computer: No
iOS support: iOS 14 through iOS 26 (iOS 27 reported by third parties, not officially confirmed)
App availability: Built-in library plus any repositories you add

Scarlet iOS is the most accessible method for most users. You install it in Safari on your iPhone, with no computer, no Apple ID, and no technical knowledge required. Once installed, Scarlet gives you a built-in library and support for third-party repositories: tweaked apps, games, emulators, utilities, and more. Tap Install on an app and Scarlet handles signing and installation. Trust the profile in Settings once and you are ready to go. For the full walkthrough, see how to install Scarlet iOS without a computer.

Best for: Casual users, anyone without computer access, users who want an app library in one place

Main limitation: Certificates can be revoked by Apple, requiring re-signing (how long an outage lasts varies)

If Scarlet iOS is the option you pick, you can get it from our Scarlet iOS install page.

Method 2: AltStore with AltServer (Personal Apple ID Signing)

Difficulty: Moderate
Requires computer: Yes (Mac or PC running AltServer)
iOS support: Current iOS versions
App availability: Smaller curated library plus IPA files you provide

AltStore signs apps with your personal Apple ID. Install AltServer on your computer, sign in with your Apple ID, connect your iPhone, and AltStore appears on your device. With a free Apple ID, apps must be refreshed every 7 days; AltStore does this automatically when your phone is on the same Wi-Fi network as the computer running AltServer. Because the apps are signed with your own account, they are not affected when an enterprise certificate is revoked.

Best for: Users with a computer who want apps signed with their own account, developers testing their own apps

Main limitation: 3 active apps on a free Apple ID, 7-day re-signing, and the computer must be reachable for refreshes

Method 3: Sideloadly (Computer-Based Signing Tool)

Difficulty: Moderate
Requires computer: Yes (Mac or Windows)
iOS support: Current iOS versions
App availability: Any IPA file you provide

Sideloadly is a Mac and Windows desktop app for signing and installing IPA files. It is not an app store: you bring the IPA files yourself. Sideloadly signs them with your Apple ID and installs them on your iPhone, by cable or over Wi-Fi once the device has been set up. It is widely used as the successor to Cydia Impactor. The same 7-day expiry and 3-app limit apply to free accounts. Our free sideloading tools comparison puts Sideloadly, AltStore and the on-device options side by side.

Best for: Installing a specific IPA file, users who want signing under their own control on a computer

Main limitation: No built-in app discovery, manual re-signing, requires a computer

Method 4: TrollStore (Exploit-Based Permanent Installation)

Difficulty: Moderate to hard (installation varies by iOS version)
Requires computer: Sometimes
iOS support: iOS 14.0 to 16.6.1, and iOS 17.0 only
App availability: Any IPA file plus community sources

TrollStore uses a CoreTrust bug to install apps permanently: no certificates, no expiry, and no revocations. Apps installed with TrollStore stay installed like App Store apps. The catch is compatibility: Apple fixed the bug, so TrollStore does not work on iOS 16.7 or later 16.x releases, iOS 17.0.1 or later, or any newer major version such as iOS 26. For users on a supported version, it is technically the best option. Compare it in detail in Scarlet iOS vs TrollStore.

Best for: Users on a compatible iOS version who want permanent installs

Main limitation: Does not work on most current iPhones, which run newer iOS versions

Method 5: EU Marketplace Apps (European Union Only)

Difficulty: Easy
Requires computer: No
iOS support: iOS 17.4 and later, in EU countries only
App availability: Growing

The EU Digital Markets Act made Apple allow alternative app marketplaces in the European Union from 2024. Marketplaces such as AltStore PAL and the Epic Games Store operate as officially approved alternatives there. Apps from these marketplaces are treated as legitimate by iOS: no profile trust step and no revocations. The trade-off is that every app must pass Apple’s notarization, so tweaked and modified apps are not available, and these marketplaces do not install outside the EU. Our article on EU sideloading changes explains the rules.

Best for: EU iPhone users who want an official, low-maintenance route

Main limitation: EU only, and only apps that meet Apple’s rules

Not an Install Method, but Worth Knowing: Web Apps

Some services offer a web app you can add to your home screen from Safari (Share, then Add to Home Screen). It is not sideloading, needs no certificate, and never gets revoked. If the service you want has a good web version, this is the safest option of all.

Which Method Should You Use?

Here is a simple decision framework:

• Want the easiest option without a computer: Scarlet iOS
• Have a computer and want apps signed with your own account: AltStore
• Have a specific IPA file you want to install: Sideloadly
• On iOS 14.0 to 16.6.1 or iOS 17.0 and want permanent installs: TrollStore
• In the EU on iOS 17.4 or later and only need approved apps: an EU marketplace

Many users combine methods: Scarlet iOS for its library and on-device installs, with AltStore or Sideloadly for specific apps they want signed with their own account. For a closer look at the top three, read AltStore vs Scarlet iOS vs Sideloadly, and for stores ranked side by side see the best third-party app stores for iPhone. The step-by-step guide to sideloading apps on iOS 26 and iOS 27 without a jailbreak takes you from here to your first installed app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to install apps outside the App Store?

It can be, if you use well-known tools and trusted sources. The method matters less than where the app comes from. Our sideloading security guide covers the risks and how to reduce them.

Do I need to jailbreak my iPhone?

No. None of the five methods here requires a jailbreak.

Why did my sideloaded app stop opening?

Usually a 7-day Apple ID signature expired or a certificate was revoked. Re-sign or reinstall the app with the tool you used to install it.

Can I use more than one method at the same time?

Yes. For example, Scarlet iOS and AltStore can be installed side by side, and many users keep one as a backup for the other.