Works on the latest iOS versions, including iOS 26 db8.
Hello r/sideloaded!
After the mass revocation wave I decided to make this guide to help people sideload apps using an alternative method. A method that is 100% revoke free, costs nothing, and requires a computer only one time (for initial setup)!
After following this guide you will not need to worry about the 3 app limit OR refreshing every 7 days. You will be able to install as many apps as you want and they should not ever expire. This is a completely free method.
Here is what we will go over in this guide:
- Installing LiveContainer+Sidestore
- Setting up LiveContainer and Sidestore
- Setting up auto-refresh that actually works
- Installing Apps
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Prerequisites
Before starting this guide, please install the following applications for your computer platform. Any downloads are linked to their original source.
Windows:
iTunes (32x / 64x)
iCloud
Sideloadly or AltServer
idevice-pair
ℹ️ NOTE: If you already have iTunes installed from the Windows store, uninstall it. You need the .exe version from above.
Mac:
Sideloadly or AltServer
idevice-pair
iOS/iPadOS:
Download StosVPN (from the App Store) to your device.
LiveContainer+SideStore.ipa (from Github)
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We may now proceed with the guide.
There are two ways of doing this, this guide will cover both. Both require you to have the .exe versions of iCloud and iTunes installed if you are on a Windows machine.
Make sure you have AltServer installed and setup, detailed instructions can be found here for Windows and here for macOS.
Step 1: Plug your device into your computer. Make sure AltServer is running, click the AltServer icon found in the menu bar on macOS or the taskbar on Windows.
Step 2: While holding either Option (⌥) on macOS or Shift (⇧) on Windows, click the “Sideload .ipa” option. It will only appear if you are holding the key.
Step 3: Select the downloaded LiveContainer+SideStore.ipa to start sideloading it.
Step 4: If prompted, enter your Apple Account email, password, and 2FA code. If you’re concerned about this, use a burner account, you will be fine using your main account though. After this, you will see a notification that reads “Installing LiveContainer to [your device].”
Once you see another notification telling you that LiveContainer installed successfully, you can move onto setting up the app. Good job so far!
Make sure you already have Sideloadly installed and setup on your computer. The download can be found here for both macOS and Windows.
Step 1: Plug your device into your computer and open Sideloadly.
Step 2: Select your device from the dropdown manu, then click on the "IPA" button and select the downloaded LiveContainer+SideStore.ipa.
Step 3: If prompted, enter your Apple Account email and press start. You will be asked for your password and 2FA code. If you’re concerned about this, use a burner account, you will be fine using your main account though.
Step 4: Wait... eventually the log at the bottom of the Sideloadly windows will say "Done!', you can continue onto setting up the app. Great job!
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Before we can open LiveContainer we need to both allow the app and enable developer mode on our phone, otherwise the app won’t open.
Step 1: Open the settings app of your device, then go to General > VPN & Device Management.
Step 2: You should see the email of the Apple Account you use listed, tap on it, then allow app.
Step 3: Back out to the main settings menu, then scroll to Privacy and Security.
Step 4: Scroll to the very bottom, you will see Developer Mode as one of the last few options, turn it on then follow the directions given by your phone.
After your device restarts, you can now open LiveContainer! There are still a few more steps before we are finished though.
Before setting up SideStore, open StosVPN. Add the VPN, enable it, then make sure you're connected to Wi-Fi.
Open LiveContainer and you will see an icon in the top left corner, it’s the SideStore logo! Tap on it to open SideStore (if the app just closes, open it again, it should take you to SideStore).
You will be greeted by probably a lot of popups, press allow to all of them and then when you see a screen asking for a pairing file, close the app. We will now load our pairing file into SideStore.
Step 1: Plug your device into your computer and open idevice-pair, select your device from the dropdown. Make sure it is unlocked, and trust your computer if needed.
Step 2: Press "Generate" to create your pairing file. You may be asked to trust your computer again, if you are, do it, then press "generate" again.
Step 3: You should see your pairing file on the right and some options on the left, scroll until you see LiveContainer and press the "Install" button under it. This will sync your paring file with SideStore within LiveContainer.
Step 4: Once your paring file is synced, open LiveContainer, then SideStore, and navigate to the "My Apps" tab. Tap on where it says "7 DAYS" next to LiveContainer to refresh the app.
Step 5: You will likely get a purple pop up screen, press "Refresh Now" and then authenticate with the same Apple Account you used to install LiveContainer. When you see a popup titled "App Contains Extensions", press "Keep App Extensions (Use Main Profile).
Now to complete setup, close SideStore and go to the main LiveContainer app. Go to settings and then tap "Import certificate from SideStore". After that tap "JIT-Less Mode Diagnose" and then "Test JIT-Less Mode". If you see "Success" then you are all done! Otherwise try following the SideStore setup one more time.
You now have LiveContainer and SideStore installed and ready to use! Great job! Almost done!!
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One of the main caveats of using AltStore/SideStore is the 7-day limit, and the "auto-refresh" that they have, admittedly, barely ever works. Let's get an actually working daily auto-refresh going. This means we never have to worry about refreshing.
Step 1: Add this shortcut to your device by opening/sharing the link to it.
Step 2: In the main menu of the Shortcuts app, naviagte to the "Automations" tab then press the "+" in the top right corner.
Step 3: Choose the following automation settings:
Trigger: Time of Day
When: (Pick a time your phone will be on and connected to Wi-Fi)
Repeat: Daily
Run Immediately (If this is not checked, your app won't refresh!
Notify When Run: Off
Step 4: Tap "Create New Shortcut", search for the "Run Shortcut" action on the next screen and add it to your automation.
Step 5: Select the imported "Refresh Sidestore Apps" shortcut, then press the checkmark to save the automation.
You now have LiveContainer and SideStore set up! Apps will be refreshed every single day and you can install as many as you want with LiveContainer!
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There are currently two ways to install apps to LiveContainer, direct .ipa installing, or installing using LC-DL, which supports repositories, downloading tweaks, and more!
Installing .ipa files:
On the main screen of LiveContainer, tap the "+" in the top-left corner. You will see two options, you can either install an .ipa file you have downloaded or install an .ipa file from a URL, from Github, catbox.moe, or something similar.
Using LC-DL
LC-DL is actually a tool made by me, the same person who wrote this guide! I know this seems like an ad but LC-DL is completely free and comes with a repository of apps and games to get you started.
For detailed information, including setup, usage, and more, please go here. I hope you enjoy it. :)
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Yay! You can now install apps in LiveContainer without any worry of revokes or refreshing! This is a great and free alternative to a signing service so you may as well keep it on your device in case something like this happens again!
If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment and I will get to you ASAP. I hope this guide helped you out!
Thank you for reading, seriously, this took a long time to write.
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¹Sideloadly does not prompt to revoke previous certificates before installing an app, this causes issues when refreshing SideStore after installation, please use AltServer if you can for now.
Hey everyone!
As you may know, StosVPN got taken off the App Store (it says "StosVPN is currently not available in your country or region“).
They had issues with their developer cert, and are working to fix it by releasing another VPN app
In the meantime, you can use StikDebug from the App Store instead of StosVPN!
Here's how to get it working:
- install StikDebug. No point opening it yet, as it will ask you for a pairingfile. Here's how you get the pairingfile:
- download and run idevice_pair on your computer
- press the
Loadbutton under "Load the pairingfile from the system".- you'll now see a huge box with the raw pairingfile text content show up!
copy all that text, open a text editor like VS Code, and paste it.
save it as
any_name.plist.THIS is the pairingfile you simply need to copy to your iPhone/iPad, and then select it when you open StikDebug!
That's it! From here on, StikDebug & its VPN is your alternative to StosVPN :)