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🖥️ ipatool GUI Guide for Windows Users

The graphical user interface (GUI) for ipatool enables any user without technical or command-line skills to effortlessly search, license, and download iOS/iPadOS .ipa packages directly from the Apple App Store on Windows.

🚀 1-Click Launch

  1. Extract the archive to any folder on your computer.
  2. Double-click:
    • ipatool-gui.bat (or ipatool.exe).
  3. The modern GUI opens automatically in your browser or desktop application window.

🌟 Key Features

  1. Apple ID Authentication with 2FA Support:

    • Simple visual login dialog.
    • Interactive modal prompt for 6-digit two-factor verification codes.
    • Safe and direct communication with Apple servers over SRP-6a / GSA protocol.
    • The GUI automatically creates and reuses ipatool's local keychain passphrase, so no terminal prompt is needed; this is separate from your Apple ID password. An existing session encrypted with a different, manually entered passphrase may require one new Apple ID login.

  2. App Store Search & Discovery:

    • Search by app name or paste an App Store URL.
    • Filter by iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV.
    • View app icons, prices, versions, and bundle IDs.
    • 1-click Download, 1-click License acquisition, and Version history.

  3. Direct Download:

    • Download by Bundle Identifier or numeric App ID.
    • Optional version ID targeting.
    • Automatic free license acquisition (--purchase).

  4. Version History & Archive Downloader:

    • Look up all historic version IDs from Apple servers.
    • Download any previously released build with one click.

  5. Download Manager & Windows Explorer Integration:

    • Live download percentage, speed, and status.
    • "Show in Explorer" button opens the downloaded .ipa location immediately.
    • Automatically named files use the app name, version, minimum OS and Apple ID name before @ from the downloaded IPA/session (for example Pinterest_14.39_iOS16.0_spdx15.ipa). A filename entered explicitly is preserved.

  6. Install .IPA on a connected iOS device:

    • Automatically detects connected iPhone/iPad devices with libimobiledevice.
    • Upload (or reuse) a downloaded .IPA and install it with ideviceinstaller.
    • Requires ideviceinstaller (macOS: brew install libimobiledevice, Windows: install a libimobiledevice / iDevice Suite build and put its bin on PATH, or extract the build and copy its .exe/.dll files into the tools\ folder next to ipatool.exe — the GUI detects them automatically). You can also set IPATOOL_IDEVICEINSTALLER, IPATOOL_IDEVICE_ID and IPATOOL_IDEVICEDEVICEINFO to the exact paths.

📲 Installing Downloaded .IPA files on iOS

  • Built-in "Install to device" tab (fastest): open the Install to device tab, click Refresh, choose the connected device, pick a downloaded .ipa, and press Install on device. This uses ideviceinstaller from libimobiledevice; if it is missing, install it as described in the feature list above.
  • Sideloadly (Recommended for Windows): Drag & drop the .ipa into Sideloadly, connect iPhone via USB, click Start.
  • AltStore: Sideload wirelessly over local Wi-Fi.
  • TrollStore: Permanent install for supported iOS versions without 7-day expiration.