[bgia]

This system resigns app with your developer signature, and to work around the expiration leaves a server running on your computer that periodically resigns apps and updates them over the air on your iPhone.

I think this is simple yet genius. I wonder if it works on AppleTV as well?

[harikb]

Doesn’t the user also need their own Apple Developer account?

[latchkey]

https://altstore.io/faq/

Why do you need my Apple ID?

Apple allows anyone with an Apple ID to install apps they’ve built themselves onto their devices for testing. AltStore uses your Apple ID to communicate with Apple's servers on your behalf and perform the necessary steps to prepare your account for installing apps onto your device.

Why does it say my apps will expire in 7 days?

Unfortunately, apps that have been installed using non-developer Apple IDs (in other words, Apple IDs not tied to a $99/year Apple developer account) are only valid for 7 days, at which point they will no longer open. To compensate for this, AltStore will periodically attempt to refresh your apps in the background, and you can always manually refresh your apps from within AltStore.

[throw03172019]

Interesting. I have no idea this free account rule existed. I have been under the impression you NEED the $99 account to do this.

[morpheuskafka]

Yeah, in fact, if you have the $99 account you don't even really need AltStore, you can just download the IPA files you want and sign them manually (with Xcode or if you want a less clunkly solution, iOSAppSigner or AltDeploy or a tool like that) and they will last for a year, which is certainly not too much of a hassle to have to resign.

[judge2020]

Also http://www.cydiaimpactor.com/

[chrisshroba]

That was the case until a few years ago, so fair mistake!

[rstupek]

Do you have any insight into how AltStore copies apps in the background over WiFi? Anything you could point me at would be most helpful

[saurik]

There is a program AltServer running on your desktop computer that is acting like Xcode and occasionally doing this work.

[rstupek]

Thanks do you have any idea how it accomplishes it. I wanted to do something similar for a build process

[saagarjha]

Perhaps this might help? https://github.com/rileytestut/AltStore/tree/master/AltServe...

[intricatedetail]

I can imagine this will lead to having your dev account blocked as likely it will violate the T&C and if it doesn't, then Apple could easily update it.

[grishka]

No, you don't need a paid account for this kind of certificate. You do need one if you want to get rid of the 7-day limit.