AltServer1.8.3

AltServer lets Mac users install AltStore on an iOS device, creating an alternative route for getting apps beyond Apple’s App Store. It is aimed at software that Apple may not permit in its own storefront, giving iOS enthusiasts and independent developers another way to share and use apps. As a Developer Tools utility, it is particularly suited to people exploring software from trusted or verified developers.

AltStore gives each app a generated page with detailed information, while its permissions view shows what access the app requests before it is sideloaded. Users can browse the available selection or add additional sources to expand it. Any developer can distribute apps through a source by hosting a text file containing basic information about them; after the source is entered in AltStore, its apps appear there automatically.

The current release is 1.8.3 and requires macOS 12 Monterey or later, running on both Intel and Apple Silicon hardware. AltServer is freeware and serves as the desktop component that works with AltStore for this sideloading process. Its combination of source-based discovery, store-style app pages, and visible permissions distinguishes it from a simple app-transfer utility.