When a third-party Reddit client known as Apollo first hit the App Store’s shelves in 2017, it was an app I couldn’t wait to get my hands on. Unfortunately, project developer Christian Selig was forced to shut the app down on June 30th after Reddit implemented heavy-handed API changes that effectively made running third-party Reddit client infeasible for indie developers like Selig.
While the app can still be had from the App Store today, it won’t load any subreddits or content from the Reddit platform. On the other hand, many jailbreak developers have released jailbreak tweaks that let you continue using the Apollo Reddit app on your jailbroken device as long as you make use of your account’s own API key, which is a relatively straightforward process to do.
In today’s tutorial, we’ll be showing you everything you need to do to reinstall and continue using the Apollo app for Reddit by using one of the aforementioned jailbreak tweaks that let you use your account’s own API key. Not only is it easy to do, but it’ll give Apollo lovers a breath a fresh air after migrating to the frankly horrendous first-party Reddit app.
What you need to know
Before you get started, you should know that Reddit has told both app developers and ordinary Reddit users that they will not be allowed to use their API key to continue using third-party Reddit apps in a roundabout manner. It’s worth noting, however, that hundreds and possibly even thousands of people are currently doing this and there have been no reports of retaliation against those accounts by Reddit. Still, we muse warn that you do this at your own risk.
To make this work, you will need:
- A jailbroken device
- Apollo version 1.15.11
- A sideloading or perma-signing utility such as AltStore, Sideloadly, or TrollStore
- The AppStore++ utility
- One of several free jailbreak tweaks that let you enter your own Reddit API key
We will walk you through the steps to legitimately acquire version 1.15.11 of the Apollo app for Reddit in this tutorial, but please do not attempt to acquire the .ipa from third-party App Stores or sources, as this would be considered a form of piracy.
How to get Apollo working again
Getting Apollo up and running again requires jumping through a few hoops. Because of the number of steps this will take, we’ll split this tutorial up into sections to make it easier to follow. But don’t be fooled, while there are a lot of steps, anyone can do this and it’s easy.
For this tutorial, we’ll be using an iOS 15.1 device that is jailboken with the rootless Dopamine jailbreak and runs the TrollStore perma-signing utility. If you want, you can use a different jailbreak and a sideloading method instead, but TrollStore is the recommended method if it’s available to you.
Part 1: Installing Apollo
If you don’t already have Apollo installed on your iPhone or iPad, then you need to install it from the App Store. When you do this, you’ll be served with the latest version, which won’t work with our workaround, but we have a fix for that. To install Apollo if you don’t already have it, follow these steps:
1) Launch the App Store from the Home Screen:
2) Tap on the Search tab:
3) Tap on the search bar and type Apollo into it, then tap on the blue search key:
4) Tap on the download button next to Apollo for Reddit:
Note: When finished, Apollo will appear on your Home Screen:
Part 2: Installing AppStore++ and Downgrading Apollo
The next step in this process will be to install AppStore++, a utility that can be used to downgrade apps that you’ve already installed to older versions. To get and use it, follow the steps below:
1) Launch Safari from the Home Screen:
2) Tap on the search bar and enter the following URL, then tap the go key:
https://github.com/CokePokes/AppStorePlus-TrollStore/releases/download/v1.2-1/AppStore++_TrollStore_v1.0.3-2.ipa
Note: Wait for the download to complete, this may take a few moments depending on your internet speed.
3) Tap the Download button in the prompt:
4) When finished, tap the AA button in the search bar, then tap on the Downloads option:
5) Tap the App Store++ .ipa you just downloaded:
6) Tap the Share button:
7) Tap the TrollStore icon in the Share Sheet:
8) Tap the Install button:
Note: App Store++ should now be perma-signed on your device:
Part 3: Downgrading Apollo with AppStore++
In this section, we will use the AppStore++ utility we just installed to downgrade the Apollo app that we installed from the App Store in part 1. Simply follow the steps below to do this:
1) Launch the AppStore++ app you just installed:
2) Tap and hold on the Apollo app icon:
3) Tap the Upgrade/Downgrade button in the prompt:
4) Tap the option for Apollo version 1.15.11:
5) Tap the Install button in the prompt:
6) Sign in with your Apple ID password when prompted:
Note: The older version of Apollo will be installed on your Home Screen (notice the original app icon without the halo):
Part 4: Installing a jailbreak tweak
This section involves installing a jailbreak tweak that will let you use your own API key to run Apollo for Reddit. Our preference is ApolloPatcher by ichitaso, but you can use any alternative that you wish. Simply follow the steps below to get it:
1) Launch Sileo (or any other package manager app) from your Home Screen:
2) Tap the Sources tab:
3) Tap the + button.
4) Enter the following repository URL:
https://ichitaso.com/apt/
5) Tap the Add Source button.
6) When everything loads, tap the Search tab and then tap in the search bar:
7) Type ApolloPatcher in the search bar:
8) Tap the ApolloPatcher search result by ichitaso.
9) Tap the Get button:
10) Tap the Queue button:
11) Tap the Confirm button:
12) Once installed, tap the Restart SpringBoard button:
Note: You have now installed ApolloPatcher, which will let you sign into Apollo with your API key.
Part 5: Fetching your Reddit API key for Apollo
In this final section, we’ll fetch your Reddit API key from the Reddit website and use it to log into your freshly-downloaded Apollo app for Reddit on your iPhone or iPad to continue using it. Follow along:
1) Open a web browser on a desktop computer (or request desktop site on your iPhone or iPad) and enter the following URL and sign in to Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/prefs/apps
2) Tap the are you a developer? create an app… button:
3) Fill out the form as shown:
Note: Here are the details you can enter:
- Name: anything you want
- Installed App
- Description: anything you want
- About URL: anything you want
- Redirect URL: apollo://reddit-oauth
4) Complete the Captcha, then tap the create app button.
5) Take note of the API key shown to you in the next window, you’re going to need it:
6) Launch the Apollo app from your Home Screen:
7) Tap the Settings tab:
8) Tap the blue Custom API button.
9) Enter your Reddit API Key:
10) Tap the SetRedditClientID button.
Note: You’re all done! Enjoy using Apollo for Reddit again!
Conclusion
Congratulations on making it this far! Now that you’ve got Apollo up and running on your iPhone or iPad again, you can continue using your favorite way to browse Reddit.
Please keep in mind that this method is frowned upon by Reddit, so it’s possible that this could stop working in the future. So be sure to take advantage of it now while you still can, at your own risk, of course.
Are you back to using Apollo for Reddit? Let us know why or why not in the comments section down below.