Sideloading iOS Apps No Longer Possible on M1 Macs - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Sideloading iOS Apps No Longer Possible on M1 Macs

Apple this week implemented a server side blocking mechanism to prevent M1 Mac owners from sideloading iOS apps that have not been made available on the Mac by iOS app developers.

m1 mac sideload disabled

Image via 9to5Mac

As noted by 9to5Mac, it is no longer possible to use third-party apps like iMazing to obtain an app .ipa file to install it on an ‌M1‌ Mac, a workaround that has been available since M1 Macs launched.

Attempting to sideload an app using the previously working method now results in an error that says "This application cannot be installed because the developer did not intend for it to run on this platform."

App developers have the option to make their iPhone and iPad apps available on ‌M1‌ Macs, but they can also choose not to do so. Popular apps like Netflix, Hulu, Instagram, and others have opted not to make their iOS apps available on ‌M1‌ Macs and it was previously possible to install and use them with apps like iMazing or Apple Configurator 2, but that has ended.

The only iPhone and ‌iPad‌ apps that can be installed on ‌M1‌ Macs are those that developers have expressly flagged and greenlit for use on Macs. Sideloaded apps already up and running can still be used, as this only affects new app installations. The same goes for previously downloaded .ipa files.

Apple has disabled the sideloading app feature on ‌M1‌ Macs running macOS Big Sur 11.1 and the macOS Big Sur 11.2 beta.

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 Adds Two New Features to CarPlay

Tuesday March 24, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps. To update your iPhone 11 or newer to iOS 26.4, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. CarPlay will automatically offer the new features so long as the iPhone connected to your vehicle is running iOS 26.4 or later....
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Tuesday March 24, 2026 12:31 pm PDT by
Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods 4. The firmware has a version number of 8B39, up from 8B34 on the AirPods Pro 3, 8B28 on the AirPods Pro 2, and 8B21 on the AirPods 4. There is no word on what's included in the firmware, but Apple has a support document with limited notes. Most updates are limited to bug fixes and performance...
apple tv 4k new orange

tvOS 26.4 Adds These New Features to Your Apple TV

Wednesday March 25, 2026 3:33 pm PDT by
Apple this week released tvOS 26.4, and the software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the Apple TV. tvOS 26.4 is compatible with all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models released since 2015. To update your Apple TV, open the Settings app on the device, navigate to System → Software Updates, and select Update Software. Below, we have recapped what is new in tvOS...

Top Rated Comments

Protocol41 Avatar
68 months ago
Did you really think you owned your Apple hardware?
Score: 85 Votes (Like | Disagree)
68 months ago

Apple being Apple. All of a sudden old macs become gems.
Good luck sideloading iPad apps on those 👍
Score: 52 Votes (Like | Disagree)
68 months ago

Haha. That’s so Apple. That’s the way isn’t heading isn’t it? Apple will decide what you can and cannot run.
Nope you have it wrong. It is the developer of the app that has decided that they don't want it to run on M1 Macs. Apple is just enforcing what the developer wants.
Score: 48 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArPe Avatar
68 months ago

Did you really think you owned your Apple hardware?
You own your hardware. But software since the 70s has always had a license agreement that you agree not to pirate or use software that hasn’t been distributed according to official agreements. That goes for whether you buy software in a physical store or online.
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
68 months ago
Haha. That’s so Apple. That’s the way isn’t heading isn’t it? Apple will decide what you can and cannot run.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
68 months ago
Cultured Code will be sighing relief.

Now there's no choice but to spend £50 on their Mac App Things, which conveniently is identical to their £10 iOS app.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)