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mach

Sideloading (Free Apple ID)

iOS Sideloading — Free Developer Account Setup

How to install mach.brief (or any app in this repo) on your own iPhone without paying $99/yr.

What you need

  • A Mac with Xcode installed
  • A free Apple ID (your existing one works)
  • An iPhone or iPad connected via USB (first time only)

One-time setup

1. Add your Apple ID to Xcode

Xcode → Settings → Accounts → + → Apple ID

Sign in with your Apple ID. Xcode creates a free “Personal Team” automatically.

2. Trust the developer on your iPhone

After first install, iOS will block the app:
Settings → General → VPN & Device Management → [your Apple ID] → Trust

Do this once. Subsequent installs from the same Apple ID don’t require it again.

Installing / updating

  1. Open mach-mono.xcworkspace in Xcode
  2. Select the machBrief scheme
  3. Plug in your iPhone (or select it wirelessly after first pairing)
  4. Hit Run (▶)

Xcode builds, signs, and installs in ~30 seconds.

The 7-day expiry problem

Free Apple ID certificates expire after 7 days. The app will refuse to launch until re-signed.

Fix: Plug in, hit Run in Xcode again. Takes 30 seconds.

Automate it with AltStore (recommended):

AltStore installs a small server on your Mac and refreshes your apps over WiFi automatically, so you never think about the 7-day limit.

Setup:

  1. Download AltServer (Mac app) from altstore.io
  2. Install AltStore onto your iPhone via AltServer
  3. Open AltStore on your iPhone → My Apps → refresh machBrief
  4. (Optional) Enable background refresh so AltStore does this automatically

SideStore is an alternative that works without a Mac running — it self-refreshes over a VPN loopback. More complex to set up, but fully autonomous.

Adding widgets

After installing:

  1. Long-press home screen → + (top left)
  2. Search “mach.brief”
  3. Add lock screen widget: swipe to lock screen → long-press → Customize → add widget
  4. Add home screen widget: same + flow, choose medium size

Widgets populate automatically at the next scheduled word slot (6am, 12pm, 6pm, 12am).

When you want to share with others

You’ll need a paid Apple Developer account ($99/yr) to use TestFlight. With that:

  1. Archive the app in Xcode (Product → Archive)
  2. Upload to App Store Connect
  3. Create a TestFlight build
  4. Share the public TestFlight link — anyone can install, no device registration needed

Troubleshooting

ProblemFix
”Untrusted Developer” on iPhoneSettings → General → VPN & Device Management → Trust
App won’t launch after 7 daysRun from Xcode to re-sign
Xcode can’t find deviceTrust computer prompt on iPhone, unplug/replug
Build fails — signing errorXcode → project settings → Signing → select your Personal Team