Sideload apps not on App Store
This is an article about sideloading iPhone and iPad applications onto M1 Apple silicon Macs. Currently apps are only listed on the App Store under the tab 'iPhone and iPad Apps' if the developer has opted in. The methods listed on the article bypass this restriction and allow users to install any app onto their M1 devices.
Sideloading is last enabled in macOS 11.2.3. Sideloading was disabled in macOS 11.3 beta and in the current macOS 11.3 full release. If one attempts to sideload an app, the error message "This application cannot be installed because the developer did not intend for it to run on this platform" appears. The only method that currently works is the Rickpactor method.
Self-signing methods
appdb and Rickpactor
- Visit appdb
- Click 'Link your device'
- Enter email address
- Confirm by clicking confirmation email link
- Go to System preferences, Profiles
- Install the 'appdb Device Link'
- Download and open Rickpactor
- Enable revocation protection
- Paste command into Terminal application and press return
- Search on appdb for apps to download
After 11.3, Rickpactor has a 3-App Limit, just like it has on iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS devices. Also, due to bugs on Apple's side, Rickpactor can no longer manually re-sign apps for you, you have to do it after 7 days (or 365 if you have a paid dev account).
Sideload methods with an iPhone or iPad
- These methods has been disabled in macOS 11.3, these methods only work from macos 11 to 11.2.3.
iMazing
- Download and install trial of iMazing, the trial is all that is required
- Attach an iPhone or iPad - make sure this device is logged into the same iCloud account as the M1 Mac being used
- In iMazing, select the iPhone or iPad
- Click 'Manage Apps'
- Download or select an existing application
- Ctrl + click on application and select 'Export .IPA'
- Double click on exported app, it will export into the Applications folder
Apple Configurator 2
- Download Apple Configurator 2 from App Store
- Connect iPhone or iPad via USB cable
- Use Apple Configurator 2 and click Add and then Apps
- Sign into Apple ID
- Find app to download, select and Add
- A message will appear to 'Skip App', 'Replace' or 'Stop' - do nothing
- Open Finder and navigate to
~/Library/Group Containers/K36BKF7T3D.group.com.apple.configurator/Library/Caches/Assets/TemporaryItems/MobileApps/and locate the app IPA that has been download - Open Terminal and then copy and paste the command
sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine - Then drag the app IPA after this code (so that the path appears afterwards)
- Press return
- Double click on app IPA to install, which will then appear in Applications folder