Install Focus

Updated October 2, 2026 · iPhone with iOS 26 or later · free Apple Account

Before you start

  • Focus isn’t on the App Store. You install it yourself (“sideloading”) with a free Apple Account.
  • Free installs expire after 7 days. Re-install with iloader, or let SideStore refresh it for you.
  • Your iPhone needs a passcode, and you need a USB cable for the first setup.
  • Download the latest Focus IPA: GitHub Releases → latest (the file named FocusTimer-<version>-<build>.ipa).

Pick your way

[A] · 10 stepsiloader · WindowsSimplest. Install from your PC; redo it every 7 days and for each update. [B] · 9 stepsiloader · MacSame as A, on a Mac. Nothing extra to install. [C] · 9 stepsSideStoreA bit more setup once, then updates and refreshes happen on your phone.

[A] iloader on Windows

  1. on your pc

    Check your PC

    iloader needs 64-bit Windows on an Intel or AMD processor (Windows on Arm isn’t supported).

  2. on your pc

    Install iTunes

    So Windows can talk to your iPhone: download it from apple.com (recommended) or the Microsoft Store. Open it once and check it sees your iPhone.

    If it doesn’t, uninstall iTunes and “Apple Mobile Device Support”, then install the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store instead.

  3. on your pc

    Download iloader

    Only from github.com/nab138/iloader/releases or iloader.app. Pick iloader-windows-x64.msi and run the installer.

  4. pc + iphone

    Plug in your iPhone

    Unlock it. Tap Trust on the “Trust This Computer?” pop-up and enter your passcode.

  5. in iloader

    Sign in

    Open iloader. In the Apple ID panel enter your Apple Account email and password and click Login. Type the 6-digit code from your other Apple device and click Submit.

    A different Apple Account than the one on your phone is fine. Security-key sign-in isn’t supported.

  6. in iloader

    Select your iPhone

    Pick it in the iDevice panel. Not there? Click Refresh Devices.

  7. in iloader

    Install Focus

    Under Installers click Import IPA and choose the Focus .ipa you downloaded. Wait for “Sign & Install App” to finish.

    If iloader says “Maximum certificates reached”, let it revoke the old one and click Continue.

  8. on your iphone

    Trust the developer

    Open Settings → General → VPN & Device Management, tap your Apple Account under “Developer App”, tap Trust (then Allow & Restart if asked) and enter your passcode.

  9. on your iphone

    Turn on Developer Mode

    Open Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll to the bottom, turn on Developer Mode and tap Restart. After the restart, confirm with Turn On and enter your passcode.

  10. done

    Open Focus

    Start a focus block to see the timer in the Dynamic Island.

    Want updates without a computer? Set up SideStore.

[B] iloader on Mac

  1. on your mac

    Download iloader

    Nothing extra to install — macOS already includes what’s needed to talk to your iPhone.

    Get iloader from github.com/nab138/iloader/releases or iloader.app: pick iloader-darwin-universal.dmg (works on Apple silicon and Intel Macs). Open it and drag iloader to Applications.

  2. on your mac

    Allow it to open

    If macOS blocks it, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway.

  3. mac + iphone

    Plug in your iPhone

    Unlock it and tap Trust on the phone (and on the Mac if asked). No prompt? Open Finder, then unplug and re-plug the phone.

  4. in iloader

    Sign in

    Open iloader. In the Apple ID panel enter your Apple Account email and password and click Login. Type the 6-digit code from your other Apple device and click Submit.

    A different Apple Account than the one on your phone is fine. Security-key sign-in isn’t supported.

  5. in iloader

    Select your iPhone

    Pick it in the iDevice panel. Not there? Click Refresh Devices.

  6. in iloader

    Install Focus

    Under Installers click Import IPA and choose the Focus .ipa you downloaded. Wait for “Sign & Install App” to finish.

    If iloader says “Maximum certificates reached”, let it revoke the old one and click Continue.

  7. on your iphone

    Trust the developer

    Open Settings → General → VPN & Device Management, tap your Apple Account under “Developer App”, tap Trust (then Allow & Restart if asked) and enter your passcode.

  8. on your iphone

    Turn on Developer Mode

    Open Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll to the bottom, turn on Developer Mode and tap Restart. After the restart, confirm with Turn On and enter your passcode.

  9. done

    Open Focus

    Start a focus block to see the timer in the Dynamic Island.

    Want updates without a computer? Set up SideStore.

[C] SideStore: one-tap updates on the phone

  1. on your iphone

    Install LocalDevVPN

    Get it from the App Store. Open it, tap connect and allow the VPN configuration.

    SideStore needs it (and Wi-Fi) switched on whenever it installs, updates or refreshes apps.

  2. on your computer

    Set up iloader

    Do steps 1–6 of path A (Windows) or 1–5 of path B (Mac): install iloader, plug in your phone, sign in and select your iPhone. Then come back here.

  3. in iloader

    Install SideStore

    Under Installers choose SideStore (Stable). iloader downloads SideStore, installs it and places the pairing file for you.

  4. on your iphone

    Trust it & turn on Developer Mode

    Settings → General → VPN & Device Management: tap your Apple Account, tap Trust.

    Settings → Privacy & Security → Developer Mode: turn it on, restart, then confirm with Turn On.

  5. on your iphone

    Open SideStore

    Connect LocalDevVPN, open SideStore and sign in with the same Apple Account.

  6. in sidestore

    Refresh SideStore once

    Go to My Apps and tap the 7 DAYS button next to SideStore (tap Yes or Refresh Now if asked). SideStore may jump to the Home Screen — that’s normal.

  7. in sidestore

    Add the Focus source

    Open the Sources tab, tap +, paste this URL and tap Done:

    https://github.com/notanlee/focus-timer/releases/latest/download/source.json

    Already have Focus installed? Open Focus → Settings → updates → add to sidestore instead.

  8. in sidestore

    Install Focus

    Open the Focus source and install it. When SideStore asks about App Extensions, choose Keep App Extensions (Register App ID for Each Extension) so the Dynamic Island and widgets keep working.

  9. done

    That’s it

    SideStore now refreshes Focus in the background and shows an Update button when a new build is out.

Updating Focus

Troubleshooting

iloader can’t find my iPhone
Make sure iTunes (or Apple Devices) sees it, try another cable or USB port, unlock the phone and tap Trust.
“Untrusted Developer” when opening Focus
Settings → General → VPN & Device Management, tap your Apple Account and tap Trust.
“Unable to Verify App”
Connect to the internet, then in VPN & Device Management tap your Apple Account and Verify App.
Focus stopped opening after a week
The free 7-day signature expired. Re-install with iloader, or refresh it in SideStore.
“Maximum number of apps” / not enough App IDs
A free account can have 3 sideloaded apps active at once (SideStore counts as one; expired apps still count) and register 10 App IDs per 7 days. Remove an app you don’t use, or wait for old App IDs to expire.
No timer in the Dynamic Island / no widget
The widget extension wasn’t signed. Re-install with iloader, or in SideStore pick “Register App ID for Each Extension”. Focus → Settings → island shows whether the extension is signed.
SideStore errors about the VPN, Wi-Fi or pairing file
Turn on Wi-Fi and LocalDevVPN, turn off DNS or ad blockers, and restart SideStore. Still failing? In iloader click Delete Stored Pairing, re-select your phone and tap Trust, then Manage Pairing File → Place next to SideStore. See the SideStore error codes.

Need help?

iloader and SideStore are independent open-source projects and aren’t affiliated with Focus or Apple.