Alex Ruben
How To Wirelessly Sideload iOS Apps Using Sideloadly📱
Sideloading iOS apps, especially without jailbreaking, can feel like walking a tightrope sometimes. The whole wireless thing sounds great, but man, the setup can get a little convoluted. Anyway, here’s a rundown that’s helped get apps onto an iPhone or iPad over Wi-Fi, with minimal fuss.
Prerequisites
Before diving in, make sure you’ve got these lined up:
- A Windows PC with decent internet because, of course, Windows has to make it harder than it should.
- The iPhone or iPad you actually wanna put stuff on—running iOS 16 or later. Earlier versions might be a different story.
- Sideloadly (64-bit version for Windows). Because the 32-bit version is dead, anyway.
- iTunes (64-bit). Not the *Microsoft Store* version—those are cursed and can be a pain to set up.
- iCloud (64-bit). Needed for some authentication magic.
Step 1: Grab All the Stuff
Hit up the official Sideloadly site and grab everything. Skip the Microsoft Store iTunes if you have it—they’re both flaky sometimes. Download the Windows 64-bit versions, and don’t forget iCloud. Trust me, it’s not fun trying to troubleshoot later.
On some setups, just installing iTunes and iCloud in the right order or as ADMIN makes weird issues go away. Because Windows, of course, has to complicate things.
Step 2: Install and Sign In
Double-click the iTunes installer, follow the steps, and launch it. Once it’s running, sign into your Apple ID. Under Account, click Sign In, punch in your credentials, then go back to Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer. Re-enter your Apple ID if prompted. It’ll confirm once that’s done. Why? Because iTunes needs to know it’s legit before you can sync wirelessly.
Step 3: Enable Wi-Fi Sync
Connect your iPhone or iPad *once* with a cable—that initial step is crucial. Open iTunes, click the device icon at the top, then in the Summary tab, check Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi. Hit Apply. Now, after the sync finishes, you can toss the cable and just use Wi-Fi for messaging. That’s how you get Sideloadly talking to your device over the air later.
Note: On some iOS versions or setups, this step might need a restart or a fresh reconnect for everything to stick. Keep that in mind.
Step 4: Set Up iCloud and Developer Mode
Install iCloud from the file you downloaded. Launch it, sign in with your Apple ID. Then, if your iOS device is running iOS 16 or newer, you’ll need to turn on Developer Mode. Head over to Settings > Privacy & Security. Scroll down and toggle on Developer Mode. Your device will restart—because of course, iOS has to make everything a little more complicated. After reboot, it’ll ask you to confirm the switch to Developer Mode again. Do it.
Trust that the extra step is necessary for wireless sideloading, even if it feels like an extra hassle at the moment.
Step 5: Install Sideloadly & Connect
Install Sideloadly just like any other software. Launch it and look at the device dropdown. If all went smoothly, your iPhone will show up as connected over Wi-Fi. If not, check that your network is stable and that your PC and device are on the same network. No, Bluetooth doesn’t count here—Wi-Fi only.
Some folks report that on the first try, the device pops up and then disappears from Sideloadly. Usually, a restart of the app or device helps.
Step 6: Load the IPA & Sideload
Click the IPA icon to browse to your app file. Select it, then click Open. Hit Start and watch the magic happen. Sideloadly signs the package and pushes it onto your device over Wi-Fi. It might take a few moments, especially if your network isn’t perfect. Patience is key here.
This part is kinda weird sometimes—initial attempts might fail or stall. If it does, restart Sideloadly, reconnect, or reboot your device. Don’t worry; it’s usually fixable.
Step 7: Trust the App & Launch
Once installed, go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. Tap your Apple ID under Developer App, then hit Trust. Confirm. If you forget, the app won’t run — super annoying, but that’s Apple’s way.
Finally, find your app on the home screen and give it a tap. It should open without drama if everything was done correctly.
Extra Tips & Common Quirks
- Make sure both your PC and device are on the same Wi-Fi network. Seems obvious, but missed that a lot.
- If the app refuses to open, double-check the trust settings. Sometimes it needs a reboot or a re-trust after updating.
- Storage space? Check that your iPhone has enough room for the app. Rescue missions often start here.
Odds and Ends
For some peeps, this whole wireless method is hit or miss, especially if certain updates or settings are off. In some cases, toggling airplane mode, restarting Wi-Fi, or even reinstalling iTunes fixes connection hiccups. Because Apple, naturally, likes to keep us on our toes.
Summary
- Get all the software setup right – iTunes, iCloud, Sideloadly.
- Authorize your computer in iTunes with your Apple ID.
- Enable Wi-Fi sync on your device.
- Connect via cable just once, then disconnect.
- Enable Developer Mode if needed.
- Use Sideloadly over Wi-Fi, load your IPA, start sideloading.
- Trust the app on your device and launch.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. It’s a bit of a dance, but once it clicks, wireless app sideloading isn’t that bad.