eeliberto/ipa-download

Analysis updated 2026-07-03 · repo last pushed 2026-06-21

★ 1,469SwiftAudience · generalComplexity · 2/5ActiveSetup · easy

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Download old iOS app versions
      Search and pick version
      AirDrop IPA to devices
    Tech stack
      Swift and SwiftUI
      macOS Apple silicon only
      iCloud Keychain storage
    Use cases
      Roll back unwanted updates
      Test old app builds
      Grab special branding versions
    Audience
      General users
      Developers and testers
    Limitations
      No Windows version
      No paid app direct fetch
      Apple silicon Macs only

mindmap root((repo)) What it does Download old iOS app versions Search and pick version AirDrop IPA to devices Tech stack Swift and SwiftUI macOS Apple silicon only iCloud Keychain storage Use cases Roll back unwanted updates Test old app builds Grab special branding versions Audience General users Developers and testers Limitations No Windows version No paid app direct fetch Apple silicon Macs only

Click or tap to explore — scroll the page freely

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Roll back to a previous version of an iOS app after an update you don't like.

USE CASE 2

Download a specific older build of an app for developer or tester compatibility checks.

USE CASE 3

Grab a version of an app that had special holiday or promotional branding.

What is it built with?

SwiftSwiftUImacOSApple siliconiCloud Keychain

How does it compare?

	eeliberto/ipa-download	pixel-point/media-downloader	noopapp/noop
Stars	1,469	1,132	2,151
Language	Swift	Swift	Swift
Last pushed	2026-06-21	2026-05-07	2026-07-03
Maintenance	Active	Maintained	Active
Setup difficulty	easy	moderate	moderate
Complexity	2/5	2/5	3/5
Audience	general	general	general

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Requires a Mac with Apple silicon and your Apple account credentials including two-factor authentication.

In plain English

Pastel is a macOS app that lets you download older versions of iOS apps. Instead of being stuck with whatever version is currently on the App Store, you can search for an app, pick a specific historical version, and download it as an IPA file. Once downloaded, you can AirDrop the file straight to your iPhone or iPad to install and use. The app works by connecting to your Apple account and automatically detecting which regional App Store you belong to. Pastel handles the login process, including two-factor authentication, and stores your credentials securely in iCloud Keychain. To find the version you want, it pulls version information from several community sources, or it can fetch the version ID directly from your Apple account. You can also manually enter a version ID if you happen to know it. This tool is useful for a few different scenarios. If an app recently updated with changes you don't like, you could roll back to a previous version. It is also handy for developers or testers who need to install a specific older build of an app for compatibility checks. The download screen even shows you the app's icon, which helps if you are looking for a version that had special branding for holidays or promotions. There are some limitations to be aware of. It only runs on Macs with Apple silicon, and there are no plans for a Windows version. Paid apps are excluded from the direct Apple fetch feature, though you can still try to find those through the other available sources. The interface is built with SwiftUI and supports several Asian languages including simplified and traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

I want to download an older version of an iOS app using Pastel on my Mac. Walk me through the steps from logging in with my Apple ID to getting the IPA file onto my iPhone.

Prompt 2

Help me understand the difference between fetching a version ID directly from my Apple account versus using community sources in Pastel. When should I use each approach?

Prompt 3

I have a specific version ID for an iOS app. How do I manually enter it in Pastel to download that exact version as an IPA file?

Prompt 4

Pastel says it only runs on Apple silicon Macs. Can you explain what that means and how I can check if my Mac is compatible?

Frequently asked questions

What is ipa-download?

Pastel is a Mac app that lets you search for iOS apps, pick an older version, and download it as an IPA file to install on your iPhone or iPad via AirDrop.

What language is ipa-download written in?

Mainly Swift. The stack also includes Swift, SwiftUI, macOS.

Is ipa-download actively maintained?

Active — commit in last 30 days (last push 2026-06-21).

How hard is ipa-download to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is ipa-download for?

Mainly general.

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