How to Side-Load App into iPhone/iPad with Cydia Impactor (for iOS10 to iOS12)
iOS13 and onwards update render this method obsolete. I am keeping this page here for archive purpose.
Side-load is an alternate way to load an unsigned App into iPhone/iPad without jailbreaking. One tool to do this is Cydia Impactor.
App file format for iOS is .ipa, .apk is for Android.
There is risk to do this because ipa from unknown sources might contain malicious code from hackers. So please know what you are putting into your iPhone/iPad.
What do you need to have?
A Mac or a Windows PC
Connection to Internet for your computer and iPhone/iPad
An iPhone/iPad
The USB cable to connect your iPhone/iPad to your computer
Cydia Impactor download in Computer (not in Phone/Tablet)
iTunes installed in your Mac or PC download in Computer (not in Phone/Tablet)
The App package file in .ipa in Computer (not in Phone/Tablet)
We will use the computer to transfer the App (ipa) into iPhone/iPad via a USB cable.
ipa is for iOS; apk is for Android. You can either use a PC or a Mac to side-load an ipa into iPhone/iPad. You cannot side-load apk into iPhone/iPad.
Cydia Impactor made easy
This guide uses screenshots from Windows PC, Mac and iPhone.
Download and Unzip/Extract ZIP file
Windows users - Unzip the impactor_0.9.XX.zip file into a folder.
Mac users - Double click on the downloaded impactor_0.9.XX.dmg and it will mount a disk image on your desktop. Drag-n-drop the Cydia Impactor App into Application folder.
Skip this and go to next step if you have already gotten this done.
Install iTunes
You need drivers from iTunes to connect your iPhone/iPad to your computer. You can install iTunes from HERE
Go to next step if you have already gotten this done.
Run Cydia Impactor
Double click on the Application icon to run Cydia Impactor. Click RUN if asked to confirm.
Connect Phone to Computer via USB
iTunes should pop up automatically.
a. However, Cydia Impactor does not recognize your device ID at this point. iTunes makes it recognize.
b. in iTunes - Click Continue to allow access.
c. on iPhone - Tap on Trust to trust this computer.
You will know it is successfully connected when you see your phone name appear in the Cydia Impactor menu.
DO NOT CLICK on START button. That is for installing Cydia Extender. That is not what we are doing this for.
Now we are ready to impact.
Drag and Drop the IPA/APK file onto Cydia Impactor Window
*Must Drag-n-drop the file, and NOT clicking on that Start button.
Key in Apple Developer ID & Password
Your iTunes email login and password. If you don't have one just go SIGN UP one.
Wait for Cydia Impactor to finish loading.
This could take a minute or more.
Tap on the App Icon on Your Phone.
You might get this a pop up.
a. Click Cancel
b. Go to Settings
c. Go to General, then scroll down until you find Device Management and your Apple ID.
d. Click Trust.
e. Click Trust again.
Run your App.
You should be able to run your App now.
App signing with free Apple ID only last 7 days. You have to reimpact every 7 days in order to run the App. However, a paid Apple Developer ID last a year before needing to reimpact.
