User:DesArch/Sideloading on Linux

Sideloading iOS apps on Linux means that conventional sideloading tools, such as Sideloadly, do not work. There are alternatives that are still potent at installing apps, but as a rule of thumb, if you see an option that you do not understand, it is best avoided. This guide is meant for accessing unsupported media and backing up save files and does not include instructions on getting pirated copies or hacking or modding games.

What is Sideloading and Jailbreaking?

As it appears there is confusion on what this guide is for, I will try clarifying what terms mean, and the scope of this guide.

• This guide covers Sideloading, Jailbreaking, and finding the directory of save files for backups. This guide does not cover editing game files in any way, piracy sources, further modifying a jailbroken device with tweaks, or cracking IPAs.
• Sideloading is the act of installing an application on an iOS or Android device through another device. Because of restrictions set by Apple, by default, iOS apps sideloaded will not open a week after installation, and save data is kept by either sideloading it again, or resigning it (re-validating an app through Apple's services.), without uninstalling the app previously. Only three iOS apps can be sideloaded per Apple ID each week.
• Jailbreaking is the act of disabling many restrictions normally active on iOS from Apple, and traditionally involved enabling root access for an iOS device, but newer Jailbreaks do not enable root access. By itself, jailbreaking a device does not guarantee that games can be modded, as it will not decrypt all files on its own.
• IPA files are renamed .zip files that contain an entire iOS application. They are the equivalent of Android's APK.
• Backups involves making a copy of an existing file and storing it somewhere else. As all relevant Ninja Kiwi games utilize encrypted save files, this guide does not give any instruction on bypassing this encryption.
• Cracking involves removing the DRM applied by the App Store within an IPA file so that said IPA can run when sideloaded or installed by any account, rather than just the original Apple ID that installed it.
• Legacy iOS is an umbrella term for any iOS below iOS 11, characterized by 32-bit support. Many apps, such as iOS version of Hot Air Bloon, are 32-bit and are classified as Legacy iOS, thus modern devices cannot run it.

Installing Legacy iOS Kit and Sideloading

• 1. Install Legacy iOS Kit from GitHub. Choose a directory you like and follow the instructions.
• 2. Connect the desired iOS device with the PC by using your charging cable. Make sure the iOS device trusts the PC if prompted.
• 3. Run Legacy iOS Kit, then when prompted with "Press Enter/Return to continue", follow the instruction, then select "Sideload IPA".
• 4. Select "Select IPA", then select "Install IPA". When it prompts for an Apple ID followed by your Apple Password, enter it. Create a new Apple ID for this use if concerned about privacy. If the ipa is cracked and compatible with the device, it should sideload properly.
• 5. Alternatvely, on iOS 13 and under even without a jailbreak, selecting App Management, then Install IPA (AppSync) will let the device install any uncracked IPAs, although only IPAs from the same account as the currently signed-in account on the App Store will launch without any prompts. An install with this method works just like a regular App Store install without requiring resigning every week, but jailbreaking and installing AppSync Unified will be necessary for installing any cracked IPA with this method.

Jailbreaking and further utilization afterwards

Please avoid using 3uTools! It does not distribute the original jailbreaks and may not work properly.

ios.cfw.guide has instructions for jailbreaks for a wide array of iOS versions, but note that the latest devices or iOS versions may be unsupported. Before using any method, if concerned about device safety, utilize a device that does not feature important data. As many jailbreaks utilize a sideloaded app, this means that the sideloading method above will work for such jailbreaks. For jailbreaks involving sideloading, install the relevant jailbreak IPA, follow the previous section, then run the app and press the Jailbreak button, repeating the process until Cydia, Sileo, or another similar package manager appears. For iOS versions that cannot be jailbroken with a sideloaded IPA, using Legacy iOS Kit's guide is not recommended because it requires specific uncommon hardware. As sideloading is only possible in iOS 7 and above, jailbreaking in Windows XP - Windows 7 is recommended instead for anything below iOS 7. In either case, once a package manager appears, the jailbreak is successful. Note that depending on the jailbreak used, resigning/sideloading the app used for the jailbreak again may be necessary upon powering off the device. If powering off the device normally, resigning the jailbreak is recommended.

Cydia, Sileo, Installer, and Zebra are package managers for Jailbroken devices that features apps and tweaks not allowed on the App Store, and are comparable with package managers on Linux such as APT or Pacman. Make sure the device time matches the current time, as it may cause errors with the package manager otherwise. On older devices, Installing Karen/あけみ's AppSync Unified from your package manager enables installing IPA files already on the device without requiring resigning. Next, either install iFile or Filza from your package manager or directly from the site, whichever one is supported for the device's OS. Both apps are file managers that provide access for browsing a variety of files, including app save files.

IPA files can also be directly installed through Legacy iOS Kit, by running it again, selecting App Management, selecting Install App (AppSync), then following step 4 of the installation section as usual.

Finding save files

In all cases, the save file is stored as a .save file, although the file name itself for older game is either the game name or its abbreviation, for newer games the file is profile.save. Note that accessing save files should require either installing the file manager with Trollstore or a jailbreak. Accessing local game files can be accessed through the directory /var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application, but note that any files related with the ipa itself, such as assets, cannot be accessed from this directory. If concerned about data loss, copy said save files elsewhere and make sure it does not get lost.