how to setup livecontainer & sidestore, with automatic refreshing

17 Sep, 2025

why sidestore and livecontainer?

livecontainer bypasses the 3 app limit and 10 app ID limit for free developer accounts
sidestore keeps your apps refreshed even without any computer, and with a shortcut automation you never have to worry about the 7 day refresh
computer is only needed for initial setup but after that, sidestore, installing IPAs, and app refreshing is completely on-device
drawbacks: no notifications and missing entitlements like VPN and healthkit (that's just a limitation of free dev accounts). can only run 2 apps at a time (but can enable experimental multitasking in LiveContainer to run as many as you want simultaneously)
if you really need notifications, you can install the stock version of the app then use Shortcuts to redirect notification opening to the tweaked app.
apps you sideload with SideStore/ LiveContainer cannot get revoked. this is a good temporary solution if you're waiting for a new KravaSign certificate or you're stuck in a blacklist.

first part: installing required software

On Mac:

Download the latest sidestore IPA
Download AltServer and run it, ensuring you can see it in the Menu bar (the icon looks like a Diamond)
Download Jitterbug.

On Windows:

Download the latest sidestore IPA to your Downloads folder for later
Download AltServer and run it, ensuring you can see it in the system tray (the icon looks like a Diamond)
Download Jitterbugpair
Download iTunes and iCloud for Windows. If you already have them, but you got it from the Microsoft Store, delete those and install these links instead. You do not need to sign in with your Apple Account once you install them, you just need them installed.

second part: installing stosvpn & sidestore

Plug in your iPhone via USB and Trust device

On your iPhone, follow these steps:

Download the StosVPN app
Open StosVPN and enable it, so it prompts you to add the VPN configuration. Then, once the configuration is added, go back to StosVPN then disconnect.
Download the latest LiveContainer IPA to your phone and keep it in your Downloads folder for later

Next, follow these steps:

On Mac:

Click the AltServer icon in the menu bar, then hold option.
Whilst holding Option key, hover over "Sideload .ipa" and select your iPhone
Select the SideStore.ipa you downloaded earlier, authenticate apple ID, and wait for it to install.

If you do not see the Apple verification code alert, please check the end of this guide.

On Windows

Launch AltServer as administrator
Holding shift, click the AltServer icon in the system tray, select "sideload .ipa"
Select the SideStore.ipa you downloaded earlier, authenticate apple ID, and wait for it to install.

If you do not see the Apple verification code alert, please check the end of this guide.

Now go back to your iPhone

Open the Settings app
Tap “Privacy & Security”
Scroll to the bottom and toggle Developer Mode on
Then, in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, approve of the Developer App linked to your Apple ID's email.

third part: pairing file setup for sidestore

Ensure your iPhone is plugged in.

On Mac:

Open Jitterbug
Select your device in the sidebar (it will probably autoselect)
In the app's toolbar, press the Share button. AirDrop the file to your iPhone (or use another means of transferring the file, i.e. iMessage to yourself or use Mail)
Open SideStore on iPhone and import that .mobiledevicepairing file in

On Windows

Open the JitterbugPair program which should open a command prompt window
In the same place the JitterbugPair program is located, it should save a file ending in ".mobiledevicepair"
Rename the file it saved so it ends with .mobiledevicepairing instead of .mobiledevicepair
Use email or some other means to send that .mobiledevicepairing file to yourself (maybe use https://limewire.com to upload it then download it to your phone) then select that file in SideStore when it shows the file picker.

fourth part: refreshing SideStore

Enable StosVPN. On your iPhone, go to SideStore settings and login to your Apple Account.

If you do not see the Apple verification code alert, please check the end of this guide.

If it asks you to revoke "AltStore" then select yes. If you get an error, just do it again and it should work on the second try.

When you are prompted to refresh SideStore, do it, and select "Keep app extensions (use main profile)" when prompted.

fifth part: installing live container

You may unplug your iPhone now (and you can even switch off your computer, it's no longer needed).

Make sure you are connected to any Wi-Fi network and open StosVPN and connect.
In SideStore try refreshing Sidestore from the apps page, and check if it works.
if it works, press the + button and Sideload the LiveContainer.ipa file you downloaded earlier.

sixth part: importing sidestore certificate into livecontainer

Open Settings in LiveContainer
Tap "Import Certificate from SideStore"
When SideStore opens with an export prompt, tap "Export"
Go back to LiveContainer
Tap "JIT-Less Mode Diagnose" then "Test JIT-Less Mode"
If you see "JIT-Less Mode Test Passed" it's all good

seventh part: installing second livecontainer for multitasking

Open settings in LiveContainer
Tap 'setup another livecontainer"
Save that new LiveContainer2 IPA then go to sidestore and sideload it as well via SideStore

eighth part: setting up daily auto-refresh automation

Open the Shortcuts app
Create a new shortcut called "Refresh Apps"
Build your shortcut following these actions Note the "Show when run" is disabled for the Refresh apps SideStore action, this is important
Save your shortcut
Open the Automations tab, and create a new Automation
Select "Time Of Day" then select 3:00AM or something whilst you're asleep, Repeat "Daily" and change from "Run after confirmation" to "Run Immediately", keep "Notify when run" turned off
On the next step, search for your "Refresh apps" shortcut then select it
Finally, go back to the Library tab in shortcuts then run your "Refresh apps" shortcut once then grant any permissions that it asks for, to ensure it runs for the automation.

You're done! LiveContainer and SideStore are now setup with automatic daily refreshing.

sideloading apps with LiveContainer

Congratulations on installing LiveContainer. Follow these steps when you want to install a new app and add it to your Home Screen.

Open LiveContainer, then tap + on the top left, select your IPA file via Files or paste link to IPA file. After importing, long press on the app and select "Settings" then tap "Convert to shared app". Run your apps by pressing "Run" in LiveContainer. To return to LiveContainer main menu, swipe away the app in App Switcher then open it again
Long press on an app then tap "Add to home screen" then "Copy launch URL", go to Shortcuts and create a new shortcut with the "Open URLs" action then paste the Launch URL. add that shortcut to your home screen which gives you direct access to any app. You can use the "Save app icon" in the long press menu too so you can put the correct app icon on your shortcut
To delete an app from LiveContainer, go to the app's settings then convert back to Private app, then you can delete it by long pressing it
For multitasking It's a little bit janky right now but it works, but there is a huge multitasking update coming to LiveContainer soon. Go to LiveContainer settings and enable "Launch in multitask mode by default". Change the Dock Width to 60px so it's more compact. Now open as many apps as you want (use full screen to immerse) and use the built in switcher or the home screen icons to switch apps.

keeping LiveContainer up to date

On iPhone, click here to add the LiveContainer Nightly repo to sidestore. Make sure to check and update LiveContainer Nightly when a new release comes out. This will make sure you can see available updates for LiveContainer in the SideStore app and easily install it.

i can't see the apple verification code

Turn on airplane mode
Go to settings, tap your name, tap login & security, tap Get verification code
Remember the code, turn off airplane mode, return to sidestore and put the code