Guide · Open source

How to use ipatool: search, download and manage App Store apps

Updated 2026-10-29 · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

ipatool is a command-line tool that searches Apple's App Store for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, visionOS and macOS apps and downloads their .ipa or macOS .pkg packages. This guide is for people comfortable in a terminal who want to script App Store lookups or fetch a specific app package. By the end you will know what you need before starting, how to install it, and which commands cover the main tasks.

ipatoolmajd/ipatool · ★ 12.1k · MIT Install options & downloads

Quick start

1Check the requirements. Confirm you have a supported operating system and an Apple Account already set up for the App Store.
2Install ipatool. On macOS, run brew install ipatool. On Linux or Windows, get the latest release from the GitHub releases page.
3Confirm the install. Run ipatool --help to see the available commands and flags.
4Sign in. Run ipatool auth login and complete the authentication prompts.
5Search for an app. Use the search command to find an app on the App Store.
6Download a package. Use the download command to fetch the .ipa or macOS .pkg file.

What you need before you start

ipatool works with an Apple Account that is already set up to use the App Store. The README lists macOS, Linux, Windows or iOS as supported operating systems.

If you do not have an Apple Account configured for the App Store, ipatool will not be usable for downloads, so set that up first.

A supported operating system: macOS, Linux, Windows or iOS
An Apple Account already configured to use the App Store

Install ipatool on macOS, Linux or Windows

On macOS, install ipatool with Homebrew, which is a prerequisite for this method.

On Linux and Windows, the README points you to the latest release on the GitHub releases page rather than a package-manager command.

macOS: install with Homebrew
Linux and Windows: download the latest version from the GitHub releases page

$ brew install ipatool

Build ipatool from source

If you want to compile the tool yourself, the README says it can be built with the Go toolchain. Run the build command from the project directory.

The README also lists unit tests you can run after generating code.

$ go build -o ipatool
$ go generate ./...
$ go test -v ./...

Authenticate and check available commands

Run ipatool with --help to see every command and flag. Sign in with the auth command before using commands that need your account.

The tool is interactive by default. Add --non-interactive when running it in an automated environment.

auth: authenticate with the App Store
search: find iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, visionOS and macOS apps
download: download app packages
list-purchases: list apps owned by the authenticated account
list-versions: list available versions of an app
get-version-metadata: retrieve metadata for a specific version
purchase: obtain a license for an app
--format: output as text or json
--verbose: enable verbose logs

$ ipatool --help
$ ipatool auth login

Use ipatool with an AI assistant through MCP

ipatool includes an mcp command that serves App Store tools over MCP using stdio. First run ipatool auth login in a terminal, then point your MCP client at the ipatool command with the mcp argument.

The README gives this client configuration as an example.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ipatool": {
      "command": "ipatool",
      "args": ["mcp"]
    }
  }
}

What people use it for

Scripting App Store searches from the terminal for a developer workflow
Examining app packages as part of security research
Fetching a specific app version using list-versions and download
Giving an AI assistant App Store tools through the built-in MCP server

Frequently asked questions

How do I install ipatool?

On macOS, run brew install ipatool using Homebrew. On Linux and Windows, the README directs you to download the latest version from the GitHub releases page. You can also build it from source with the Go toolchain using go build -o ipatool.

Do I need an Apple Account to use ipatool?

Yes. The README lists an Apple Account already configured to use the App Store as a requirement. Without it, you cannot use the tool for App Store access.

Is ipatool free and open source?

ipatool is released under the MIT license, and its source code is on GitHub. The README does not list any paid tier.

What file types can ipatool download?

It downloads .ipa packages for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS and visionOS apps, and macOS .pkg app packages.

Can I use ipatool in scripts?

Yes. Use the --non-interactive flag in automated environments, and --format json for machine-readable output.

What if ipatool is not working?

The source material does not include a troubleshooting section. Run the command with --verbose to enable verbose logs, and check that your Apple Account is set up for the App Store.

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Our verdict

ipatool suits developers, security researchers and people who want to script App Store searches or fetch a specific app version from a terminal. If you only want to install apps on your own device, or you prefer a graphical interface, the App Store app is the better choice.

Install options & downloads