Installer.app (aka AppTapp) downloads packages over WiFi (wireless networking) or EDGE for installing, updating and uninstalling 3rd party native applications on your iPhone. Warning! use at your own risk. There are both a version for Mac with OSX and one for Windows. There is currently also a catalogue of available apps available maintained by a couple of repository and listings websites. Read the install instructions here and a tutorial is posted here and here as well.
Hint: Once you have installed Installer.app be sure to install the app called “Community Sources”. This app adds a few of the popular 3rd party application lists (Conceited Software and Ste Packaging) to your sources section, which has the affect of dramatically increasing the number of apps you can install. Here is a full list of all Installer.app sources.
Update: A brand new version of Installer has been released under the name Installer 4.0 which now supports the new 2.0 iPhone software and 3G iPhones. The 4.0 version delivers a brand new user interface and added functionality similar to that of Cydia. This verion of installer is in beta mode but you can install it manually at this time using these steps. ![]()
1. Jailbreak your iPhone 2.0 software if you have not already using either QuickPwn for Windows or PwnageTool for Mac.
2. Download Installer 4.0 here and unzip it
3. SCP the Installer.app folder into your /Applications folder.
4. Change Permissions by running these 2 commands:
chmod -R 777 /Applications/Installer.app
chmod a+srx /Applications/Installer.app/Installer
5. Turn off your iPhone or iPod Touch and turn it back on and should now see the new Installer 4.0 app on your home screen. There is a video demo of this process here:
Once you have Installer 4.0 installed, you can add some new apps using the following Installer 4.0 source URLs.
More details on Installer 4.0 to come.
The fastest and easiest way to install Installer on your iPhone is using QuickPwn. Here is a great video tutorial on installing and using Installer.app with WinPwn
Also take a look at this entertaining video by by David Pogue from the The New York Times. He takes you on a tour of using Installer.app to get third-party programs running on the iPhone.
There is another similar Mac OSX software called independence which can also be used to jailbreak your iPhone. The Windows PC equivalent of Installer.app is iBrickr.
Note: As of now Installer.app does not work on iPod touch, or iPhone updated with 1.1.1.
Update: To jailbreak your iPod touch you can use iJailBreak (Mac) or touchFree (Win).
Update:
Installer.app version 3.1 has been released which includes a fully redesigned user interface to match the iPhone look and feel, collapsible groups, and firmware auto-sensing. Now you can also add/remove sources easily and easily install all available updates. This version still does not work if you have already upgraded to iPhone v1.1.1. before jail breaking. Also this version requires that you upgrade to 1.1.1 after you get it installed on your 1.0.2, for it to work smoothly.
Update: If you have a virgin iPhone with the 1.1.1 updates you can use iNdependence (Mac) or iDemocracy (Win).
Have you installed 3rd party apps on your iPhone?
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Browse the full list of all iPhone and iPod touch native 3rd party apps filed under the software category. Please use these iPhone mods and hacks at your own risk!
on the 21 of January i update the installer app on my iphone 1.1.1 and it stop working, can anyone help me.
i cannot see my installer icon anymore. How do I access the installer again?!
I have a work around for those with Macs who get the bootstrap error message when trying to install Installer.app for ver. 1.0.2 where you have to download the installer package. It’s brutally simple. First, you need to download iNdependence http://code.google.com/p/independence/ . Plug your iPhone into your computer. I’m assuming your phone is jailbroken and has SSH installed. (If not iNdependence is the best kept secret on how to go about doing this). Go to Customize, Applications, User. Next find and right click the Installer.app and click on Show Package Contents. Go into the Resources folder and find the actual Installer.app. Drag it to the Applications/User window of iNdependence and drop it in. You’re done. Installer.app is now on your iPhone.
I installed it the other week but now want it off my touch, is there any way of deleting without restoring it and will restoring it or getting the latest update(1.1.3)”brick” it???
same thing does independence work for the 1.0.2 firware?
but does independence work for version 1.0.2 ? actually i m very new with this phone so explain me how to do this i mean the installing and which apps i should use
@drayton :
you need to extend your springboard. Delete the game by using independence and install summerboard to extend the springboard. than you can add so many apps you want.
I uninstalled the installer by miskate but the icon is still showing, but when I press on it, it doesn’t load and goes back to my home screen
what should I do….please help
I am also unable to see the installer . Email me please at draytonwilliams@hotmail.com
i downloaded a game off apps installer on my iphone but when i exited the installer the apps installer icon dissapeared and was replaced by the game, how do i get the installer icon back ? :S
anyways i tried hisham way i couldnot do it i am very confused about how i can unnstall these app :S
could somone answer joe’s question?
my ipod locked up…so i had to restore it and version 1. 1.2 came with it…the games and other apps were sweet and i want them back…
for gba roms
does it work with iPod touch version 1.1.2 and where is the download link?
Everyone, I thought that I was f***** just like you guys when that bootstrap thing came up but then I restored my iPhone using iTunes and then followed the instructions at lifehacker and everything is okay now. Do it.
what… ok i just did this… is my iphone going to like crash or break? because im going to flip out.
Hi, I’m almost in the last part of apptapp installer but i have an error message that saids Bootstrap failed, see Console log!
could you help me please
angel
Hey bro thank so much I’m going to try that and I let u know
Sounds like its running in the background to me stopping your installs maybe remove it with ibrickr if you can find it !
u know when I was installing perl I saw a error message and is not on my list of programs so I can not uninstall , it is on my iphone but I guess is not runing !!!
do you need perl ? Not sure what it is ? Try removing it via installer uninstall then try another download let me know