ideviceinstaller
Install, uninstall, and manage iOS applications
SYNOPSIS
ideviceinstaller [options] command
PARAMETERS
-u, --udid UDID
Target specific device by its UDID
-i, --install FILE
Install application package specified by FILE (.ipa)
-U, --uninstall APPID
Uninstall application specified by APPID (bundle identifier)
-l, --list-apps
List installed applications
-a, --archive APPID
Archive application specified by APPID
-o, --options OPTIONS
Pass options to the install command (e.g., allow downgrade)
-v, --verbose
Enable verbose output
-d, --debug
Enable debug output
-h, --help
Show help message and exit
-V, --version
Show version number and exit
DESCRIPTION
ideviceinstaller is a command-line tool for Linux used to install, uninstall, list, and archive applications on iOS devices (iPhones, iPads, etc.) without requiring iTunes.
It utilizes the libimobiledevice library to communicate with the device. It's particularly useful for developers and users who prefer a command-line interface for managing iOS apps. The tool is commonly used in scripting and automation tasks. It allows interaction with an attached device, facilitating installation of *.ipa files, listing installed applications with their bundle IDs, uninstalling applications by bundle ID, and archiving applications for backup purposes. It depends on several other packages for operation, particularly those related to USB and mobile device handling.
ideviceinstaller provides a lightweight and efficient alternative to iTunes for basic app management tasks on Linux systems.
CAVEATS
Requires a properly configured libimobiledevice environment. Device trust may be required. Uninstall functionality relies on bundle identifiers. Incorrect APPIDs will not work. The device needs to be unlocked and connected to the computer for the tool to work.
EXAMPLES
Install an app: ideviceinstaller -i MyApp.ipa
List installed apps: ideviceinstaller -l
Uninstall an app: ideviceinstaller -U com.example.myapp
Specify device by UDID: ideviceinstaller -u 1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef -i MyApp.ipa
HISTORY
ideviceinstaller is part of the libimobiledevice project, which aims to provide an open-source alternative to iTunes for managing iOS devices. It has evolved over time to support various iOS versions and devices. Development and usage have increased as more users seek to manage their iOS devices on Linux systems.
SEE ALSO
idevice_id(1), ideviceinfo(1), idevicedebug(1)