When you log into the App Store on your device and decide to install an app, there’s no option to download the IPA file directly. IPATool connects to iTunes and the App Store using your Apple ID, enabling you to download IPA files directly from the App Store. The latest version of IPATool for Desktop also supports downloading Apple Arcade games.
What is IPATool?
IPATool is a command-line tool that allows you to search for iOS apps on the App Store and download a copy of the app package, known as an IPA file. Once an app is found, the tool downloads the encrypted IPA file to your desktop. IPATool works on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Unlike appdb, Panda Helper Lite, or iOSGods App, IPATool can only download apps you’ve purchased from the App Store locally. The tool is not designed for piracy, and your account must have a license for the IPA file you’re attempting to download. IPATool requires your Apple ID credentials to log into the App Store for downloading IPAs.
IPATool includes four main commands: auth for authenticating with the App Store, search for finding available iOS apps on the App Store, purchase for obtaining a license for an app from the App Store, and download for retrieving encrypted iOS app packages from the App Store.
IPATool: How It Works and Its Best Features
IPATool’s authentication is used to log into the App Store or revoke your App Store credentials. The tool does not store your credentials on any remote servers and communicates directly with Apple’s servers. Additionally, IPATool interacts directly with iTunes and the App Store.
The search command not only allows searching for iOS app names but also offers additional features like setting the iTunes Store country code (default: US), displaying app versions, specifying device families to limit search queries, and restricting search result outputs.
Once you find the desired app, use the download command to save the IPA file. You must provide the app’s bundle identifier, which is displayed during the search. The purchase command can also be used to obtain a license for the app if needed.
Recently, IPATool’s command-line tool has been used to retrieve encrypted IPA packages that can be repackaged as placeholders for apps permanently installed on iOS 15.0 to iOS 15.5b5 for A12-A15 devices. For example, it’s one of the tools used to install TrollStore or Fugu15 on iOS 15.
The latest IPATool 2.0 release introduces numerous features, most notably long-awaited support for Windows and Linux. It can also run on iOS devices. Other changes include a new auth info command and overall software improvements.
IPATool is released as an open-source tool via its GitHub Repository under the MIT License. The source code is primarily written in Swift, with some parts in Shell and Makefile. The latest release, updated in December to version 2.0.0, is available on GitHub.
On jailbroken environments, you can decrypt App Store apps and create decrypted IPA files using tools like DumpDecrypter or CrackerXI+. These tools can decrypt iOS apps on your device. Decrypted IPA files can be shared or used to modify app code and inject dylibs.
IPA Ranger is a powerful mobile app for jailbroken devices based on IPATool’s IPA downloader. With IPA Ranger, you can log into the App Store and download IPA files directly from Apple’s servers on your iPhone, even if the app isn’t supported for your current iOS version.
IPATool Updates: Latest Improvements
Over the years, IPATool has remained in active development, continuously improving its features and expanding platform support. It has evolved beyond its original scope, now supporting not only native environments but also Windows and Linux. Additionally, it offers valuable features like support for downloading Apple Arcade games.
Recent updates include a new auth info command to provide users with enhanced credential information. In cases of outdated code signatures, IPATool seamlessly patches them as a fallback mechanism. A significant fix addresses keychain access issues on iOS, ensuring a smoother and more secure user experience.
To improve the user experience further, IPATool has enhanced its error notification system, particularly for issues related to expired tokens. This improvement provides clearer details about potential problems, facilitating more efficient troubleshooting.
Technical optimizations, such as disabling print buffering and redirecting error output to stderr, contribute to smoother and more robust operation. For iOS platforms, IPATool now builds system-compatible releases, which are uploaded to GitHub immediately, ensuring accessibility and transparency for users.
Recognizing the importance of backward compatibility, IPATool supports macOS 10.11 and later. This commitment ensures users with different system versions can integrate IPATool into their workflows without compatibility concerns.
In summary, IPATool continues to evolve, adopting new platforms, introducing valuable features, and refining existing functionalities to deliver an optimal user experience.
How to Use IPATool to Download IPA Files from the App Store
IPATool can be installed on macOS 10.11 or later using Homebrew. The installation process is straightforward. Before using the tool, you must provide your Apple ID credentials. Then, you can search for app packages or download encrypted IPA files for apps released through the App Store.
As an open-source application, IPATool has been ported to Python by @MiscMisty, enabling IPA file downloads from the App Store on Windows and Linux. The Python version of IPATool provides four commands: lookup, historyver, purchase, and download.
Additionally, the IPATool-Python script can download older IPA versions via the iTunes Server. This requires downloading an older version of iTunes for Windows and patching it with a script.
