Why You May Need an Older App Version
Sometimes, app updates break functionality, add unwanted features, or slow down your device. If you’ve ever wished you could roll back to an older version, this guide on how to downgrade iOS apps without jailbreak is for you.
With the help of a tool called ipatool, you can now downgrade any app — safely and easily — even on the latest iOS 26, and without jailbreak or TrollStore.
What is IPAtool?
IPAtool is a free, open-source command-line tool built by a respected iOS developer, Majd. Uses a command line tool that allows you to search for iOS apps on the App Store and download a copy of the app package, known as an ipa file.
Key Features:
- Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- No jailbreak or TrollStore required
- Works on any iOS version, including iOS 26
- Secure and verified (open-source)
What You’ll Need to Begin
Before starting, make sure you have the following:
- A Windows PC (this guide uses Windows)
- IPAtool binary (from GitHub)
- Your Apple ID credentials
- The Bundle ID of the app
- The specific Build Number (also called External Version ID)
- iMazing tool from its Official Website
How to Find the Right Build Number
To downgrade iOS Apps without jailbreak or Trollstore, you’ll need its build number. Here are the best ways to find it:
Online Build Libraries
Use these public databases:
Search your app, and you’ll see the version numbers and their corresponding External Version IDs.
Step-by-Step Guide: Downgrade ios apps without jailbreak using IPAtool
Let’s walk through how to use ipatool to download a specific version of an iOS app — in this example, Brave Browser with the bundle ID com.brave.ios.browser
Step 1: Download and Extract ipatool
- Visit the official ipatool GitHub Releases
- Download the file named:
ipatool-windows-amd64.tar.gz(for most Windows systems)or
ipatool-windows-arm64.tar.gz(for ARM-based PCs)
- Extract the archive using 7-Zip or WinRAR
Step 2: Log in With Your Apple ID
Open Command Prompt (search cmd in Start Menu) or PowerShell.
Drag & drop the extracted ipatool.exe file into the window and type:
/path/to/ipatool.exe auth login --email [email protected]
- Enter your Apple ID password and the 2FA code when prompted.
(Your password won’t be displayed — just type it normally.) - When asked:
Enter passphrase to unlock...
👉 Just skip it by pressing Enter.
- Enter your Apple ID password and the 2FA code when prompted.
If you see this response (below), then You’re successfully logged in!
INF [email protected] name="Your Name" success=trueStep 3: Get the App’s Bundle ID
You can search for the app like this:
/path/to/ipatool.exe search Yourappname
Example — To get the Bundle ID of Brave Browser
/path/to/ipatool.exe search brave
The result will display the Bundle ID of the target app. In case of brave Browser, its com.brave.ios.browser
Step 4: Download the Older App Version
Once you have the Build Number (External Version ID) and the Bundle ID, run the following command:
/path/to/ipatool.exe download -b [app's bundle ID] --external-version-id [Build Number]
Example — To download Brave version 874149063:
ipatool.exe download -b com.brave.ios.browser --external-version-id 874149063
The IPA file will be saved in your Home folder (usually C:\Users\YourName).
License is required Error
If you encounter this error, you need to own a license for the app you are attempting to download. If the app is free, you can obtain a license using ipatool by using the purchase command or setting the –purchase flag when using the download command. Type the following command :
/path/to/ipatool.exe download -b [app's bundle ID] --external-version-id [Build Number] --purchase
Installing the IPA File on Your Device
Once you’ve completed downloading older versions of iOS apps using ipatool, it’s time to install the .IPA file on your iPhone or iPad. Here’s how you can do it using a trusted tool — iMazing — with no jailbreak or TrollStore required.
Step-by-Step: Install IPA Using iMazing (No Jailbreak)
- Download iMazing
Get iMazing from the official website. - Connect Your iPhone or iPad
Plug in your device using a USB cable and wait for iMazing to recognize it. - Navigate to Your Device Section
On iMazing’s home screen, tap your connected device name
- Download iMazing
- Go to “Manage Apps”
Under the Overview section, click “Manage Apps.” - Install Your Downloaded IPA
- Click the three-dot icon (⋮) at the bottom-right corner
- Select “Install .IPA” from the menu
- Browse to the IPA file you downloaded via ipatool
(Location is usually:C:\Users\YourName\)
- Go to “Manage Apps”
- That’s It! 🎉
iMazing will install the app on your iPhone or iPad. The app will now appear with the older version you selected earlier using ipatool.
- That’s It! 🎉
This method works without any jailbreak and is tested on iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. It’s one of the safest ways to get control over which version of your favorite app runs on your device.
