Get the Files
There is exactly one legitimate source for the installation files: the project's official repository. This site does not host, mirror or redistribute any file, and offers no alternative download links.
Why this site does not host downloads
Three reasons, and all three concern you rather than us:
- File integrity. Once an installation file passes through a third party, it can be swapped, bundled with something else, or modified — and that is very hard for an ordinary user to detect. Pulling from the official repository is the only way to verify provenance.
- The right version. Different iOS versions need different files. Third-party sites tend to carry a single build, or mix several together, which is a common reason a procedure fails even when every step was followed.
- It stays current. Third-party mirrors usually go stale after an upstream release. The official channel is always the newest one.
Which file do I need?
The releases page carries a few different file types, and they are not interchangeable:
| File | What it is | When you use it |
|---|---|---|
.tar | Used from inside an existing installation to update the version | Already installed, and only want to upgrade |
.deb | The package-manager format, for jailbroken devices | Device is jailbroken and you are going through a package manager |
| Installer app | The graphical installer used on non-jailbroken devices | Stock device — pick the one matching your guide |
Which one applies depends entirely on your iOS version. Check the compatibility table first, then open the matching guide.
Two checks, one before and one after:
Before downloading, know which version you need — do not download everything and try them in turn. After downloading, compare the version number and release date against the releases page before going any further.
A note on third-party download sites
Search results will surface many download sites offering a "TrollStore" package. A fair number of them repackage desktop or Android files as a phone installer, and exist mainly to attract traffic. Their contents have nothing to do with the official project, and version information on them is frequently wrong.