iOS Installation Guide

January 4, 2026 · View on GitHub

Debrify provides an unsigned IPA for iOS users. Since Apple requires a $99/year developer account for official distribution, you'll need to sideload the app using one of the methods below.

Important: Sideloaded apps expire after 7 days and need to be reinstalled. This is an Apple limitation, not a Debrify limitation.

AltStore automatically refreshes your apps in the background so you don't have to reinstall every 7 days.

Requirements

  • iPhone/iPad running iOS 12.2 or later
  • A computer (Mac or Windows) on the same Wi-Fi network
  • An Apple ID (free account works)

Setup (One-Time)

On your computer:

  1. Download AltServer from altstore.io
  2. Install and run AltServer
    • Mac: AltServer appears in the menu bar
    • Windows: AltServer appears in the system tray
  3. Connect your iPhone via USB
  4. Click AltServer icon → Install AltStore → Select your device
  5. Enter your Apple ID credentials when prompted

On your iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management
  2. Tap your Apple ID under "Developer App" and tap Trust

Install Debrify

  1. Download debrify-*-unsigned.ipa from GitHub Releases
  2. Open the file with AltStore, or:
    • Open AltStore on your iPhone
    • Go to My Apps tab
    • Tap + in the top left
    • Select the downloaded IPA file
  3. Wait for installation to complete

Keep It Fresh

  • Keep AltServer running on your computer
  • Make sure your iPhone and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network
  • AltStore will automatically refresh the app before it expires

Option 2: Sideloadly (Manual)

Sideloadly is a simple tool for one-time sideloading. You'll need to reinstall every 7 days.

Requirements

  • iPhone/iPad running iOS 7 or later
  • A computer (Mac or Windows)
  • An Apple ID (free account works)
  • Lightning/USB-C cable

Steps

  1. Download Sideloadly from sideloadly.io
  2. Install and run Sideloadly
  3. Connect your iPhone via USB cable
  4. Download debrify-*-unsigned.ipa from GitHub Releases
  5. Drag and drop the IPA file into Sideloadly
  6. Enter your Apple ID and password
  7. Click Start
  8. Wait for installation to complete

On your iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management
  2. Tap your Apple ID under "Developer App" and tap Trust
  3. Open Debrify

Reinstalling

Repeat steps 3-8 every 7 days before the app expires.

Option 3: Build From Source

If you have a Mac with Xcode, you can build and run directly on your device:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/varunsalian/debrify.git
cd debrify

# Get dependencies
flutter pub get

# Open in Xcode
open ios/Runner.xcworkspace

In Xcode:

  1. Select your device from the device dropdown
  2. Go to Signing & Capabilities
  3. Select your personal team (free Apple ID)
  4. Click the Run button

Troubleshooting

"Unable to install" error

  • Make sure you trusted the developer profile in Settings
  • Try revoking your Apple ID certificates in AltStore/Sideloadly and try again

App crashes on launch

  • Reinstall the app
  • Make sure you're using the latest IPA from releases

"Your session has expired"

  • Apple IDs with 2FA may require an app-specific password
  • Generate one at appleid.apple.com → Sign-In and Security → App-Specific Passwords

AltStore not refreshing automatically

  • Ensure AltServer is running on your computer
  • Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network
  • Try manually refreshing in AltStore → My Apps → hold on Debrify → Refresh

FAQ

Q: Why does the app expire after 7 days? A: Apple restricts free developer accounts to 7-day certificates. Only paid developer accounts ($99/year) can create apps that don't expire.

Q: Is sideloading safe? A: Yes, as long as you download the IPA directly from our GitHub releases. The app is the same as what would be on the App Store.

Q: Will my data be lost when I reinstall? A: No, your data is preserved when reinstalling/refreshing the same app.

Q: Can I use a secondary Apple ID? A: Yes, it's actually recommended to use a separate Apple ID for sideloading.