install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install ipatool

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install ipatool

MacPorts ports tree · sysutils/ipatool/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#ipatool

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ip/ipatool/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Windows

Scoopverified · 92%

scoop install main/ipatool

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/ipatool.json · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

CLI tool for searching and downloading app packages from the iOS App Store

Project links

Commands and aliases

ipatool

history

Project history and usage

ipatool is Majd Alfhaily's command-line tool for searching the iOS App Store and downloading IPA app packages. It became a prominent package-manager item because it exposes App Store package retrieval as scriptable CLI commands instead of a GUI-only workflow.

Project history

The project reached a v1.0.0 release in May 2021 as a CLI for searching and downloading iOS App Store packages. Its README defines the core workflow around App Store authentication, search, purchase/license acquisition, and download commands.

The 2.x line broadened the tool's practical scope. Release notes show fixes for Apple-side authentication changes, support for downloading by app ID, restoration of purchase behavior, older-version download support through external version IDs, and dynamic auth endpoint handling.

Adoption history

ipatool's adoption is unusually high for this batch: the GitHub repository has thousands of stars and packaging across Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, and Scoop in the supplied package metadata. The project also ships binaries for several operating systems through GitHub releases.

Its popularity tracks a real gap in Apple's ecosystem: developers, archivists, testers, and power users often need reproducible IPA acquisition for apps their Apple ID can access, while Apple's official tooling is tied to graphical or platform-specific flows.

How it is used

Users authenticate with `ipatool auth`, search App Store listings with `ipatool search`, obtain a license with `ipatool purchase`, and download packages with `ipatool download`. The README documents text and JSON output modes, non-interactive operation, and platform selection for search.

The wiki FAQ documents an important limitation for Apple Silicon Mac sideloading: Apple stopped serving macOS-compatible sinf data for app packages, so users may still retrieve an iOS app package but need other device-side or signing steps for some workflows.

Why package nerds care

ipatool is package-nerd catnip because it packages a cloudy, account-bound store protocol behind a familiar CLI surface. Its value is not just the binary: it encodes App Store endpoint behavior, storefront metadata, authentication, and download workflows that can break when Apple changes server behavior.

The formula's significance is also operational. A one-command install makes ipatool usable in scripts, CI experiments, archival workflows, and repeatable troubleshooting without asking each user to build a Go project.

Timeline

2021-05-22: v1.0.0 marked the initial public release.
2021-06-08: v1.0.4 added iTunes Store region selection.
2022-12-08: The GitHub wiki home page was edited with FAQ navigation.
2025-01-21: v2.1.5 added downloading by app ID and fixed authentication affecting search and download.
2025-02-10: v2.1.6 fixed the purchase command after Apple-side API changes.
2025-06-10: v2.2.0 added older-version download support with external version IDs.
2026-02-16: v2.3.0 resolved auth endpoint selection dynamically and added resumable incomplete downloads.

Related projects

Related workflows include Apple's App Store services, IPA signing and sideloading tools, device-management tooling, and package archives. ipatool is distinct from patchers such as ipapatch because it obtains app packages rather than modifying them.
Its package ecosystem spans Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, and Scoop, which makes it a cross-platform CLI rather than a macOS-only helper.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: blue

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.

Risk classifier

blue risk · medium confidence · tool

Why

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal

Signals

text:download

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Build metadata lists 1 build dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`ipatool`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-08

manager version2.3.1

manager updated2026-07-05

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv2.3.1

https://github.com/majd/ipatool

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:ipatool
Version	2.3.1
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/ipatool
Homepage	https://github.com/majd/ipatool
Repository	https://github.com/majd/ipatool
Upstream docs	https://github.com/majd/ipatool#readme
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/majd/ipatool/archive/refs/tags/v2.3.1.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-07-05T23:53:13Z
Pulse	updated
Build dependencies	go
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	ipatool
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Head Version	HEAD
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	head stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Nix95%

ipatool

nix profile install nixpkgs#ipatool

normalized package name match
Matched by: Ipatool

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ip/ipatool/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

MacPorts95%

ipatool

sudo port install ipatool

normalized package name match
Matched by: Ipatool

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/ipatool/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Scoop95%

main/ipatool

scoop install main/ipatool

normalized package name match
Matched by: Ipatool

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · api.github.com · Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/ipatool.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/ipatool.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install ipatool with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, scoop