README

AltStore

 AltStore is an alternative app store for non-jailbroken iOS devices. 





AltStore is an iOS application that allows you to sideload other apps (.ipa files) onto your iOS device with just your Apple ID. AltStore resigns apps with your personal development certificate and sends them to a desktop app, AltServer, which installs the resigned apps back to your device using iTunes WiFi sync. To prevent apps from expiring, AltStore will also periodically refresh your apps in the background when on the same WiFi as AltServer.

For the initial release, I focused on building a solid foundation for distributing my own apps — primarily Delta, my all-in-one emulator for iOS. Now that Delta has been released, however, I'm beginning work on adding support for anyone to list and distribute their apps through AltStore (contributions welcome! 🙂).

 Features
- Installs apps over WiFi using AltServer
- Resigns and installs any app with your Apple ID
- Refreshes apps periodically in the background to prevent them from expiring (when on same WiFi as AltServer)
- Handles app updates directly through AltStore 

 Minimum Project Requirements
- Xcode 15
- Swift 5.9
- iOS 14.0 (AltStore)
- macOS 11.0 (AltServer)

 Project Overview

 AltStore
AltStore is a just regular, sandboxed iOS application. The AltStore app target contains the vast majority of AltStore's functionality, including all the logic for downloading and updating apps through AltStore. AltStore makes heavy use of standard iOS frameworks and technologies most iOS developers are familiar with, such as:
 Core Data
 Storyboards/Nibs
 Auto Layout
 Background App Refresh
 Network.framework (new in iOS 12)

 AltServer
AltServer is also just a regular, sandboxed macOS application. AltServer is significantly less complex than AltStore though, and for that reason consists of only a handful of files.

 AltKit
AltKit is a shared framework that includes common code between AltStore and AltServer.

 AltSign
AltSign is my internal framework used by both AltStore and AltServer to communicate with Apple's servers and resign apps. For more info, check the AltSign repo.

 Roxas
Roxas is my internal framework used across all my iOS projects, developed to simplify a variety of common tasks used in iOS development. For more info, check the Roxas repo.

 Compilation Instructions
AltStore and AltServer are both fairly straightforward to compile and run if you're already an iOS or macOS developer. To compile AltStore and/or AltServer:

1. Clone the repository 
	 
	git clone https://github.com/rileytestut/AltStore.git
	
2. Update submodules: 
	
	cd AltStore 
	git submodule update --init --recursive
	
3. Open AltStore.xcworkspace and select the AltStore project in the project navigator. On the Signing & Capabilities tab, change the team from Yvette Testut to your own account.
4. (AltStore only) Change the value for ALTDeviceID in the Info.plist to your device's UDID. Normally, AltServer embeds the device's UDID in AltStore's

Top issues

Latest release

New

Remote AltServer
 Supports sideloading apps without a computer
 Install, refresh, and (de-)activate apps from anywhere with a WiFi connection
 Tap “Set up Remote AltServer” in AltStore settings to get started
 Thanks @jkcoxson and the entire SideStore team for making this possible!

Liquid Glass UI
 Updated design to fit at home on iOS 26

 Improved

 Includes ALT_CLASSIC_VER header with current build version when fetching sources
 Uses app's tint color as background color when loading app icon
 Improved error messages for better troubleshooting guidance
 Raised minimum iO