The appeal of SideStore is easy to explain. You set it up once with a computer, and from then on your iPhone re-signs its own apps over Wi-Fi. No weekly cable, no remembering to leave a laptop running. The catch is that the setup has more moving parts than a desktop tool, and 2026 has been a rough year for it, with two iOS and Apple-side changes breaking things for a while.
This guide covers which build to install right now, the setup steps with the real menu names, and how to fix the errors people actually run into.
What SideStore is
SideStore is an open-source fork of AltStore. AltStore needs a desktop helper running on your network to refresh apps. SideStore moves that job onto the phone, using a small local VPN so iOS thinks it’s talking to a computer when it’s really talking to itself.
It signs apps with your own Apple ID, the same way Apple lets developers install test builds, so there’s no shared certificate for Apple to revoke. It’s free, and the code is public.
If you don’t mind plugging in once a week, Sideloadly is simpler and has been more stable this year. Got an old iPhone still on iOS 16 or 17.0? TrollStore gives you permanent installs instead. The side-by-side comparison has every other option.
Which version to install (October 2026)
This matters more than usual right now, so check before you start:
- 0.7.0-alpha (September 15, 2026) is the build the project currently marks as latest. It fixes sign-in errors caused by a change on Apple’s side.
- 0.6.4 is flagged “do not use” by the developers, because sign-in is broken on it and on older versions.
- iOS 26.4 and later changed how the phone validates the local connection SideStore relies on. The release notes tell anyone seeing VPN errors on 26.4+ to reinstall using iloader, the desktop setup tool.
- iOS 27 isn’t mentioned in the release notes yet. If you’re on it, read the latest notes and issue tracker on SideStore’s GitHub before setting anything up.
Things move quickly here, so treat the SideStore releases page as the final word.
What you need
- An iPhone or iPad with a passcode set.
- A Windows, Mac or Linux computer for the first install only.
- A cable.
- An Apple ID. A free one works. Many people use a secondary account because the signing certificate is tied to it.
- The free LocalDevVPN app from the App Store.
- The IPA you want to install, from its developer or another source you trust.
Setting it up
1. Install SideStore from your computer
SideStore’s first install happens with iloader, a free desktop app for Windows, Mac and Linux. Plug in the phone, sign in to iloader with your Apple ID, pick your device and click SideStore (Stable). Our iloader guide covers the download, the Windows and Linux prerequisites and the settings in more detail.
iloader also places the pairing file SideStore uses to talk to your phone later. You’ll need a new one after a reset or a big iOS update, and iloader is where you make it.
The one-time computer step. After this, the cable can go back in the drawer.
2. Trust it and turn on Developer Mode
- Open Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, tap the profile under your Apple ID and choose Trust.
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Developer Mode, switch it on and let the phone restart.
3. Connect LocalDevVPN
LocalDevVPN doesn’t send your traffic anywhere. It creates a loop on the phone so SideStore can re-sign apps without a computer. Older guides mention WireGuard or StosVPN for this. Current SideStore expects LocalDevVPN, and version 1.3.0 is the one the latest notes refer to.
- Open LocalDevVPN, let it add its configuration and tap Allow when iOS asks.
- Open SideStore and connect the VPN when prompted.
Leave Background Refresh on so apps get re-signed before they expire.
4. Sign in and add your IPA
- In SideStore, open Settings and sign in with the same Apple ID you used in iloader.
- Go to My Apps and tap +.
- Pick your IPA from the Files app.
- Wait while SideStore signs and installs it.
Each app shows a countdown, like 7 DAYS. Tap it to refresh one app, or use Refresh All. With LocalDevVPN connected and the phone on Wi-Fi, SideStore tries to do this by itself in the background.
The + button in My Apps adds an IPA. The counter shows how long each app has left.
Fixing common problems
Sign-in fails with a 503 or similar error. You’re probably on 0.6.4 or older. Update to 0.7.0-alpha, which fixes this.
VPN or signing errors on iOS 26.4 and later. Reinstall SideStore with iloader, as the release notes recommend. If it still fails, open LocalDevVPN’s network settings and set the tunnel and device IPs to a free address in your Wi-Fi network’s range (you can see the range under Settings > Wi-Fi > ⓘ). Some people also have to turn off Private Wi-Fi Address for that network and re-import the pairing file.
Apps die after a week. That’s the seven-day limit on free Apple IDs. Keep LocalDevVPN connected and SideStore will refresh before the counter runs out. If an app already expired, try Refresh All. After a long stretch off Wi-Fi, you may need to reinstall it.
“Maximum number of apps reached.” Free accounts get three sideloaded apps at once, and SideStore itself takes one slot. There’s also a limit of 10 new app IDs per week. Remove something you don’t use, or look at LiveContainer, which runs several apps inside one slot. A paid developer account removes the cap.
It stopped working after a big iOS update. Updates often invalidate the pairing file. Connect to the computer and place a fresh one with iloader, and only reinstall SideStore if that doesn’t help.
Removing apps
Delete an app from My Apps in SideStore, or long-press it on the Home Screen and choose Remove App. Leftover profiles can be removed under Settings > General > VPN & Device Management.
FAQ
Do I need the computer every time?
No, just for the first setup and occasionally after a big iOS update. Day to day, everything happens on the phone.
Does SideStore work on iOS 27?
The release notes don’t confirm it yet. Check the GitHub releases page before you update or set it up on iOS 27. If you need something that definitely works today, Sideloadly is confirmed on iOS 27.
Why did my apps stop opening?
Usually the seven-day signature ran out because the VPN was off or the phone wasn’t on Wi-Fi. Less often, an iOS update broke the pairing file.
Is it safe to use my real Apple ID?
It uses the same signing system Apple offers developers. Lots of people still prefer a secondary Apple ID so their main account never gets locked or asked for extra verification.
SideStore asks more of you at the start and occasionally after iOS updates. In exchange you get apps that keep themselves alive without a computer, which for most people is worth one fiddly evening.
