idevicepair

Pair a device with the host

$ idevicepair pair

$ idevicepair list

idevicepair [options] command

pair
    Initiates the pairing process with a connected device. This command creates the cryptographic keys and exchanges them between the computer and the device.

unpair
    Removes the pairing record for the connected device from the computer. This effectively breaks the trusted relationship between the two.

list
    Lists all devices that are paired to the host.

-u
    Specifies the UDID of the device to pair with. The UDID is a unique identifier for each iOS device.

-d
    Enable debug mode.

-h
    Displays help information about the command.

idevicepair is a command-line utility used for pairing a computer with an iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch) without needing iTunes. This process creates a trusted relationship between the computer and the device, allowing access to the device's data and services through other libimobiledevice tools and related applications. Pairing is essential for interacting with the device beyond basic connection and charging. It involves exchanging cryptographic keys and storing them on both the computer and the device. Think of it as providing credentials for accessing restricted information. Without a proper pairing, many functionalities, such as accessing files, debugging, or installing applications, will be limited. The command provides options for pairing, unpairing, and listing paired devices. It uses the underlying libimobiledevice library to perform these tasks. idevicepair simplifies the process of establishing a secure connection for development and management purposes.
This command works best when the device is in trust this computer mode

The iOS device needs to be unlocked and prompt the user with a trust dialog when pairing. Pairing issues can sometimes be resolved by resetting the device's network settings or restarting the device.

idevicepair typically returns 0 on success and a non-zero value on failure. Common errors include device not found, pairing failure, or permission issues. The specific error code can be used for debugging.

idevicepair is part of the libimobiledevice project, an open-source library and set of tools for communicating with iOS devices. It has been developed and maintained by a community of contributors to provide an alternative to using Apple's proprietary tools for managing and interacting with iOS devices. The command has evolved alongside the libimobiledevice library, with updates and improvements to support new iOS versions and features. Its primary goal is to enable developers and users to access and manage iOS devices from Linux and other platforms.

ideviceinfo(1), idevicedebug(1), ideviceinstaller(1)