AltStore is an alternative app distribution system for iOS that works without a jailbreak by using your own Apple ID to sideload and periodically re-sign apps. It pairs with a companion desktop app, AltServer, running on macOS or Windows, which handles signing and pushing apps to your device over Wi-Fi or USB. Once installed, AltStore can refresh app signatures automatically, keeping them usable beyond the standard seven-day limit that applies to free developer profiles. Users can install featured apps as well as add third-party “sources,” enabling a wider ecosystem of utilities, emulators, and experimental tools that aren’t available through the official App Store. The design emphasizes safety and transparency: apps are signed with your credentials, you can see what’s installed and when it will expire, and you control which sources you trust.
Features
- Install apps over WiFi using AltServer
- Resign and install any IPA app with your Apple ID
- Automatic/periodic background refresh of installed apps to prevent expiration (when device is on same WiFi as AltServer)
- Handle app updates via AltStore
- Shared framework/code between the iOS app (AltStore) and the desktop app (AltServer) for common functionality (AltKit/AltSign etc.)
- Minimum version requirements: e.g. Swift version, Xcode version, iOS & macOS minimums
Project Samples
