If an app has been removed from the App Store entirely, you must use an IPA file and a computer.
If you are holding an iPhone 4s, iPad 2, or the original iPad mini, you are likely familiar with the infamous iOS 9.3.5 update. For these devices, this is the "end of the line"—the final software update they can receive. With the App Store evolving rapidly, many modern apps no longer support this firmware.
However, by using IPA files (iOS App Store Packages), you can manually install applications that are no longer available or supported through the official App Store. This guide covers how to find these files and install them safely. ipa apps ios 935
If you sideload IPAs onto a 9.3.5 device today, what is the experience like?
If you are running iOS 9.3.5 today, the native App Store is largely broken for the user experience. If an app has been removed from the
Enter IPA Apps: The IPA (iOS App Store Package) ecosystem became the savior for these devices. By sideloading IPAs, users can install retro gaming emulators (Delta, Provenance), older versions of apps that still work, or customized "tweaked" apps (like YouTube++ or Spotify++).
Based on community archives and testing, here are proven IPA apps for iOS 9.3.5 that still function reasonably well in 2024: Enter IPA Apps: The IPA (iOS App Store
| App Name | Last Working Version | Purpose | Notes | |----------|---------------------|---------|-------| | Tubex (YouTube client) | 2.1.1 | YouTube playback | Modern API workaround; may buffer on old devices | | Spotify | 8.4.2 (2017) | Music streaming | Offline playback works; UI is dated but functional | | Google Maps | 4.24 | Navigation | Turn-by-turn works; live traffic is spotty | | Alien Blue (Reddit) | 2.9.2 | Reddit browsing | Still loads old Reddit; not for modern Reddit APIs | | VLC Media Player | 2.8.2 | Local video playback | Perfect for offline media on iPad 2/3 |
For games, classics like Angry Birds (original), Infinity Blade II, Plants vs. Zombies, and Cut the Rope run flawlessly.