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June 18, 2025
At 2:26 p.m. UTC, June 15, 2025, popular sideloaded iOS app LiveContainer released version 3.5.0 with several additions, most notably features to run multiple apps simultaneously. Compatible apps can now be converted to “Shared App” format (and reverted if needed), allowing them to launch in “Multitask” mode.
This launches the app in LiveContainer’s new window manager, where all multitasked apps have their own windows that can be moved, resized, zoomed in-and-out, and closed. Windows can also be set to use iOS’s native picture-in-picture feature, though this prevents interaction with the window. Such shared apps automatically adapt to fill their window’s size but are unable to be inspected by LiveContainer’s file browser. On iPad, multitasked apps can open in separate, full native iOS windows that may utilize iPadOS’s native multitasking features.
iOS sideloading is the process of installing apps to iOS devices through installation files instead of Apple’s App Store. Currently, it makes use of tools Apple provides for developers to test their apps, each of which needs to be packaged as an IPA installation file through Apple’s tools. This practice was popularized by AltStore.
Without applying for the paid Apple Developer Program, one can only sideload up to three apps at a time, which expire after seven days if not refreshed. In practice, users often keep an app refresher installed, leaving only slots for two additional apps.
Originally developed for personal use in mid-2023, LiveContainer became a sideloading staple with its April 2024 pre-release version 2.0. After registering their IPA files within LiveContainer—which creates a separate, modifiable guest environment for each app—most apps can be launched and used without issues. No matter the amount of apps registered within LiveContainer, only one app slot is taken up: that of LiveContainer’s, effectively bypassing the three-app limit.
Sideloading was formerly instead done through iOS “jailbreaking”, which uses software exploits for iPhone users to bypass Apple’s software restrictions. Jailbreaking has faded in recent years as Apple’s security updates gradually patched the relevant exploits.
Other changes and fixes in LiveContainer 3.5.0 include new support for using paid Apple Developer Program certificates, searching within added apps, installation files with the “.tipa” file extension, and faster app launching.
