Sideloading means installing apps on your iPhone directly — without going through Apple’s App Store. You install the IPA file yourself using a developer certificate to sign it.
What You Need
1. Your Device UDID
Your UDID (Unique Device Identifier) is a 25-character string that identifies your specific iPhone or iPad. The developer certificate must be registered to your UDID. Find yours at udid.tech on your device.
2. A Paid Apple Developer Certificate
CertDrop issues individual developer certificates registered to your specific UDID for $12 USDT. Valid 360 days — no 7-day refresh, no computer required.
3. An On-Device Signing App
With a paid developer certificate, you can sign and install IPAs entirely on your iPhone. The most popular options:
- Feather — Clean, modern on-device signer. Import your .p12 certificate and install any IPA directly on your device.
- ESign — Widely used on-device signing app. Supports .p12 import and installs IPAs from the Files app.
- Scarlet — Popular on-device signer with a polished interface.
Why not AltStore? AltStore requires a computer to refresh every 7 days. With a paid developer certificate from CertDrop, you get 360-day validity and can use fully on-device signing apps — no computer needed at all.
4. The IPA File
The app itself in IPA format. Community forums, developer GitHub releases, and app-specific communities are common sources.
Step-by-Step: Sideloading an App
Step 1: Find your UDID — Open Safari on your iPhone and visit udid.tech. Your UDID will appear on the page.
Step 2: Order your developer certificate — Go to certdrop.app, enter your UDID and email, pay $12 USDT. Your .p12 certificate and password are emailed within minutes.
Step 3: Install a signing app — Download Feather, ESign, or Scarlet onto your iPhone.
Step 4: Import your CertDrop certificate — Open your signing app, navigate to certificate settings, import your .p12 file and enter the password from your CertDrop email.
Step 5: Import and install your IPA — Save the IPA to the Files app, open it in your signing app, tap Install. The app signs the IPA and installs it directly to your home screen.
Step 6: Launch your app — The app appears on your home screen. Tap to open — no trust step, no Settings detour.
You're done. No jailbreak, no computer, no trust prompts. Just tap and launch.
Troubleshooting
App crashes immediately after install: Your UDID doesn’t match your device. Verify your UDID at udid.tech.
"Unable to Install" error: Make sure both the .p12 file and password are entered correctly in the signing app.
App disappears after 7 days: This is the free Apple ID signing problem — it does not apply to paid developer certificates. A CertDrop certificate lasts 360 days.
Certificate Renewal
Your CertDrop certificate is valid for 360 days. When it expires, sideloaded apps stop launching. Renewal is identical to the initial purchase. Your UDID doesn’t change unless you replace your device.
Is Sideloading Legal?
Yes. Sideloading is legal in most countries. In the EU, Apple is required to allow alternative installation methods under the Digital Markets Act. In the US and elsewhere, installing software on a device you own is a well-established right.
Does Sideloading Void My Warranty?
No. Sideloading installs an app through a signed certificate — it makes no system-level modifications.