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Unfortunately, it isn't possible to get the real Cydia without jailbreaking your iPhone. If you really want Cydia and you feel comfortable with jailbreaking, you can get Cydia in no time! If you just want to install apps that aren't available in the App Store but don't want to mess around with jailbreaking, check out alternative app stores like AltStore and AppCake. Both AltStore and AppCake also let you install apps from IPA files you've downloaded from elsewhere--just make sure you only download apps from sites you trust.
Steps
What are some Cydia alternatives?
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Try AltStore instead. AltStore, like Cydia, allows you to install apps and games that aren't available in the App Store. Unlike now-banned Cydia alternatives that used revokable security certificates (Tweakbox, Panda Helper, and AppValley, to name a few), AltStore works by tricking your iPhone into thinking you're installing apps you've developed yourself. [1] X Research source You can even use it to sideload apps you download from elsewhere. Check out How to Install AltStore for step-by-step installation instructions.
- If you download an app from AltStore, it'll be available for 7 days before Apple's developer restrictions kick in. But don't worry, AltStore automatically refreshes your apps every 7 days to keep things running. [2] X Research source
- To install an app from an IPA file on AltStore, start by downloading the IPA from a site you trust. Really, do your research so you don't get malware! Then, open AltStore, tap My Apps , tap + , and select the IPA file.
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Install the non-jailbroken version of AppCake. AppCake has been around for a long time, but it used to only be available if you used Cydia. [3] X Research source Now you can use AppCake to install non-App Store apps and games without needing to jailbreak your iPhone. Check out How to Install AppCake to learn how to install the app with and without Cydia.
- There is a catch to using AppCake without jailbreaking—it's only able to work on non-jailbroken devices by installing enterprise certificates. Apple gets cranky about this and periodically revokes such certificates. When that happens, the app stops working, which means you'll have to wait days, weeks, and sometimes longer before you can reinstall. Once-popular apps like Tweakbox no longer work on non-jailbroken devices because of this problem.
- If you're unable to use AppCake because the certificate is revoked, the developer recommends a paid option called iPASTORE . [4] X Research source iPASTORE provides full revoke coverage, meaning that if Apple revokes it certificate, it issues a new one immediately. [5] X Research source
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I get it without a computer?Community AnswerThere’s not a way to jailbreak if you don’t have a computer, and you need to backup using iTunes if your iOS device gets bricked.
Tips
- Some popular websites that offer free apps in the IPA format are iOS Ninja , Archive.org's IPA Software Archive , IOS App, and IPA Download.Thanks
- Installing any app from somewhere other than the App Store is risky because these apps are not vetted by Apple. Do so at your own risk.Thanks
References
- ↑ http://rileytestut.com/blog/2019/09/25/introducing-altstore/
- ↑ https://faq.altstore.io/
- ↑ https://www.applegazette.com/apps/how-to-use-appcake-to-install-ipa-files-on-ios/
- ↑ https://cydia.iphonecake.com/
- ↑ https://ipastore.me/ipastore-premium/#:~:text=iPASTORE%20is%20a%20On%20device,resign%20install%20and%20its%20done .
About This Article
Since Cydia can't be installed without jailbreaking, you could try jailbreaking—just back up your data first. If jailbreaking is not for you, check out the AltStore, a new App Store alternative that also lets you sideload apps you've downloaded from the web. Another popular (and more old-school) alternative is AppCake. AppCake has tons of apps and lets you sideload downloaded files, but uses an enterprise certificate that can be (and has been often) revoked by Apple. The easiest option is AltStore, but the only true way to get Cydia is to jailbreak.
