Sideloading
Sideloading describes the process of transferring files between two local devices, in particular between a computer and a mobile device such as a mobile phone, smartphone, PDA, tablet, portable media player or e-reader.

Sideloading typically refers to media file transfer to a mobile device via USB, Bluetooth, WiFi or by writing to a memory card for insertion into the mobile device, but also applies to the transfer of apps from web sources that are not vendor-approved.

When referring to Android apps, "sideloading" typically means installing an application package in APK format onto an Android device. Such packages are usually downloaded from websites other than the official app store Google Play. For Android users sideloading of apps is only possible if the user has allowed "Unknown Sources" in their Security Settings.

When referring to iOS apps, "sideloading" means installing an app in IPA format onto an Apple device, usually through the use of a computer program such as Cydia Impactor, Xcode, on the actual device using a jailbreak method or using a signing service instead of through Apple's App Store. On modern versions of iOS, the sources of the apps must be trusted by both Apple and the user in "profiles and device management" in settings; except when using jailbreak methods of sideloading apps.
Q534400
transferring files
Concept
Q17517
mobile phone
Concept
Q22645
smartphone
Concept
Q162768
PDA
Concept
Q155972
tablet
Concept
Q10872571
portable media player
Concept
Q726235
e-reader
Concept
Q5082128
mobile device
Concept
Q42378
USB
MISC
Q39531
Bluetooth
MEDIA
Q29643
WiFi
Concept
Q183731
memory card
Concept
Q94
Android
MISC
Q620615
apps
Concept
Q596391
APK format
Concept
Q79576
Google Play
MEDIA
Q48493
iOS
MEDIA
Q7805629
Apple device
UNK
Q502129
Cydia
MEDIA
Q250328
Xcode
MISC
Q305918
jailbreak
Concept
Q368215
App Store
EVE
Q3960140
Sideloading
UNK
Q3960140
Sideloading
UNK
subclass of
operating system
operating system