The ‘Failed to re-fetch bundle’ error in Sideloadly is most effectively resolved by switching the Anisette authentication mode to “Local” within the tool’s Advanced Options, which bypasses the frequently overloaded remote servers that cause communication timeouts. Specifically, this error usually stems from the software’s inability to retrieve necessary signing data from the default server, making the local generation of this data the most reliable workaround. Additionally, uninstalling the Microsoft Store versions of iTunes and iCloud and replacing them with the standalone “Web” executable versions is critical, as the Store versions lack the specific drivers required for Sideloadly to interface with the iOS device.
Beyond these configuration changes, users often find immediate success by running the Sideloadly application as an Administrator, which grants the necessary write permissions for creating temporary signing files and accessing network drivers. However, if these primary solutions fail, network interference caused by VPNs or aggressive firewall settings must be addressed to ensure a stable connection to Apple’s signing servers. To better understand the technical nuances and step-by-step procedures for these solutions, the following guide details the exact troubleshooting methods required to restore functionality.
How to Fix ‘Failed to re-fetch bundle’ Error in Sideloadly?
There are three main effective fixes for the ‘Failed to re-fetch bundle’ error: enabling Local Anisette data processing, reinstalling non-Microsoft Store Apple drivers, and granting Administrator privileges to the application.
To start, it is essential to understand that this error is rarely a problem with the IPA file you are trying to install, but rather a breakdown in the “handshake” process between your computer and Apple’s servers. The “bundle” refers to the Anisette data—a collection of device and session information required by Apple to authenticate the signing process. When Sideloadly cannot fetch this remotely due to server strain, or cannot apply it locally due to driver conflicts, the process fails. The solutions below are ordered by efficacy, starting with the method that resolves the issue for approximately 90% of users according to community feedback on Reddit and technical support forums.
How to Enable “Local Anisette” to Bypass Server Issues?
Switching to Local Anisette is a process of changing Sideloadly’s configuration to generate authentication data directly on your PC instead of retrieving it from a remote server, thereby eliminating server-side timeouts.
Specifically, the default setting in Sideloadly uses a “Remote” server to generate the complex Anisette data required for Apple ID login and app signing. This is done to make the process easier for users who do not want to install iTunes. However, because thousands of users access this public server simultaneously, it often crashes or times out, returning the “Failed to re-fetch bundle” message. By forcing Sideloadly to generate this data locally, you remove the reliance on external server uptime.
To perform this fix, follow these detailed steps:
1. Open Sideloadly and ensure your device is connected.
2. Click on the “Advanced Options” button, which is represented by a specific tab or gear icon depending on your version.
3. Locate the section labeled “Anisette Authentication”.
4. The dropdown menu will likely be set to “Remote”. Click this and select “Local”.
5. Attempt to sideload your IPA file again.
It is important to note that for “Local Anisette” to function correctly, your computer must have the official Apple drivers installed. If Sideloadly prompts you to install components after switching to Local, allow it to download the necessary files. This method uses your computer’s processing power to create the session data, ensuring that as long as your internet connection is active, the bundle can be fetched without waiting for a response from an overloaded third-party server.
Why Must You Re-install iTunes and iCloud (Non-Microsoft Store Versions)?
The requirement to reinstall iTunes and iCloud arises because the Microsoft Store versions are “sandboxed” applications that isolate their drivers from third-party tools like Sideloadly, preventing the necessary system-level access to fetch signing bundles.
To illustrate, the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps downloaded from the Microsoft Store operate in a restricted environment. They do not install the `AppleMobileDeviceSupport` and `AppleApplicationSupport` drivers in the standard system directories that Sideloadly scans. Consequently, even if iTunes detects your iPhone, Sideloadly cannot “see” the device driver to send the fetched bundle. This disconnect is a leading cause of the error.
You must uninstall the Store versions and install the “Web” or “standalone” versions (Win32).
- Step 1: Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed Apps. Search for iTunes and iCloud. If they have the Microsoft Store icon or were installed via the Store, click Uninstall.
- Step 2: Restart your computer to clear any residual registry keys.
- Step 3: Download the 64-bit (or 32-bit) installers directly from Apple’s website or archived links provided on the Sideloadly FAQ page. Do not let the website redirect you back to the Microsoft Store.
- Step 4: After installation, launch iTunes and connect your device to ensure the drivers initiate properly.
By doing this, you provide Sideloadly with direct access to the raw executable drivers it needs to communicate with the Apple ID servers and your device simultaneously.
Does Running Sideloadly as Administrator Solve the Issue?
Yes, running Sideloadly as an Administrator often resolves the issue by granting the application the elevated privileges required to write temporary files and access protected network sockets needed to fetch the bundle.
More specifically, Windows operating systems enforce strict security protocols regarding which applications can modify system temp folders or initiate certain types of network handshakes. When Sideloadly attempts to “fetch” the bundle, it downloads data to a temporary directory and modifies it before sending it to the phone. If the current user account lacks full permissions for that specific directory, or if the network driver interaction is flagged as suspicious, the operating system quietly blocks the action, resulting in a generic “failed” error.
To implement this:
- Right-click the Sideloadly shortcut on your desktop or in your Start menu.
- Select “Run as administrator”.
- Confirm the User Account Control (UAC) prompt.
Many users report that this simple step clears up the error immediately, especially in conjunction with the “Local Anisette” fix. It ensures that no internal Windows security policy prevents the software from reading the anisette data it has just generated or downloaded.
What Causes the ‘Failed to re-fetch bundle’ Error?
The ‘Failed to re-fetch bundle’ error is fundamentally a communication failure caused by server-side timeouts, incompatible driver versions, or network restrictions that prevent Sideloadly from retrieving or processing the necessary signing certificates from Apple.
To understand better, we must analyze the interaction between the anisette data server and your local machine’s internet settings. Sideloadly acts as a middleman between your raw IPA file and Apple’s strict security gateway. To install an app that isn’t on the App Store, the tool must “sign” it with your Apple ID. This signing process requires a specific digital token (the bundle/anisette data) that verifies the request is coming from a legitimate device and not a bot farm. When this data cannot be obtained—either because the source is down or the path to the source is blocked—the error occurs.
Is the Sideloadly Remote Server Down?
Yes, server downtime is a frequent cause of this error, as the default “Remote” setting in Sideloadly relies entirely on a community-hosted server to generate the complex anisette data required for the signing process.
For example, the Sideloadly developers maintain a remote server to handle the heavy lifting of data generation for users who do not wish to install iTunes. However, during periods of high traffic—such as immediately after a new iOS jailbreak release or a major Sideloadly update—this server can become overwhelmed. When the server is overloaded, it cannot respond to your Sideloadly client’s request in time, leading to a timeout that displays as “Failed to re-fetch bundle.”
If you suspect this is the case, you can check communities like r/sideloadly or the tool’s official Twitter/X account for status updates. If the server is confirmed down, you have two choices: wait for it to come back online (which can take hours) or switch to the Local Anisette method described in the previous section. The Local method is superior because it makes you independent of these server fluctuations.
Do VPNs or Proxies Interfere with Bundle Fetching?
Yes, VPNs and proxies frequently interfere with bundle fetching by masking the IP address in a way that triggers Apple’s security protocols to reject the signing request or causes packet loss during the data transfer.
To illustrate, Apple’s signing servers are highly sensitive to suspicious network activity. When you route your connection through a commercial VPN, your request shares an IP address with thousands of other users. Apple often flags these IPs as “high risk” and may block the transmission of the signing bundle entirely. Furthermore, the added latency (lag) introduced by routing traffic through a proxy server can cause Sideloadly to “time out” while waiting for the bundle, triggering the failure message.
If you are experiencing this error, it is highly recommended to:
- Disable your VPN completely before opening Sideloadly.
- Turn off any system-wide proxies in Windows Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy.
- Ensure you are on a stable home Wi-Fi connection rather than a restricted public or corporate network.
Once the app is successfully sideloaded and signed, you can re-enable your VPN. The connection is only sensitive during the actual fetching and signing process.
Advanced Troubleshooting for Persistent Sideloadly Errors
Advanced troubleshooting for persistent errors involves whitelisting the application in security software, refreshing the USB “Trust” handshake between devices, and clearing local cache files to resolve associated “Guru Meditation” codes.
Afterwards, if basic configuration changes fail, these system-level adjustments ensure no external software is blocking the connection. While the “Local Anisette” fix resolves the issue for the vast majority, a small percentage of users face stubborn errors caused by overzealous antivirus software or corrupted trust certificates on their iPhone or iPad. The following steps address these edge cases where the software is correctly configured, but the environment it runs in is hostile to the sideloading process.
How to Whitelist Sideloadly in Windows Defender or Antivirus?
Whitelisting Sideloadly is the process of adding the application’s executable files to the “Exclusion” list of your firewall or antivirus to prevent them from blocking the internet access required to fetch the bundle.
Specifically, Sideloadly uses a technique called code injection to sign apps, and it also communicates with a background process often named `anisette.exe` or similar within its temp folders. Heuristic analysis engines in Windows Defender, Norton, McAfee, or Avast may incorrectly flag this behavior as malware-like activity. When this happens, the antivirus doesn’t necessarily delete the app, but it silently blocks the network ports it uses to “fetch” data.
To fix this in Windows Defender:
1. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security.
2. Click Virus & threat protection.
3. Under “Virus & threat protection settings,” click Manage settings.
4. Scroll down to Exclusions and click Add or remove exclusions.
5. Click Add an exclusion and select Folder.
6. Select the installation folder for Sideloadly (usually in `C:Program Files` or `AppData`).
By excluding the entire folder, you ensure that both the main application and any background processes it spawns can communicate freely with Apple’s servers.
Should You Trust the Computer on Your iOS Device Again?
Yes, refreshing the “Trust This Computer” relationship is essential because an expired, corrupted, or revoked trust certificate prevents the PC from sending the fetched bundle data to the iOS device.
More specifically, the “Trust” prompt you see on your iPhone when connecting it to a PC establishes a cryptographic pair. If this pairing is damaged—perhaps due to an iOS update or a changed USB port—Sideloadly might successfully download the bundle but fail to apply it, resulting in a generic error loop.
To reset this trust:
1. Disconnect your iPhone/iPad from the computer.
2. Go to iOS Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
3. Select Reset Location & Privacy. (This does not delete data, but resets permissions).
4. Reconnect the device via USB.
5. Unlock the device and wait for the pop-up asking “Trust This Computer?”.
6. Tap Trust and enter your device passcode.
This forces a fresh handshake between the PC and the device, ensuring the data pipe is open for the bundle transfer.
How to Fix “Guru Meditation” Error Linked to Bundle Fetching?
The “Guru Meditation” error is a grouping of Python-based critical failures in Sideloadly, often appearing alongside bundle fetching issues, and is typically resolved by clearing the application’s cache and temporary files.
To illustrate, “Guru Meditation” is a legacy term used by Sideloadly to indicate an unhandled exception in its internal code. If you attempted to fetch a bundle and it failed halfway through, a corrupted temporary file might remain in Sideloadly’s cache folder. Every subsequent attempt to sideload will try to read this corrupted file, causing the program to crash or error out immediately.
To clear this:
1. Close Sideloadly completely.
2. Press `Win + R` on your keyboard to open the Run dialog.
3. Type `%localappdata%` and press Enter.
4. Find the folder named `Sideloadly` or similar variations.
5. Delete the temporary files inside (or the whole folder if you don’t mind resetting your preferences).
6. Restart Sideloadly.
This forces the application to create a brand new session and attempt a fresh fetch of the bundle, often clearing up the persistent error state.
Sideloadly vs. Alternatives: Managing Signing Errors
Sideloadly handles Anisette data dynamically for speed, whereas alternatives like AltStore rely on persistent local servers, and tools like ESign bypass PC-based signing errors entirely by performing on-device installations.
Furthermore, choosing the right tool depends heavily on your tolerance for specific error types, as the mechanism used to communicate with Apple’s signing servers differs significantly between these platforms.
Sideloadly vs. AltStore: Which Has Fewer Connection Errors?
When comparing Sideloadly and AltStore regarding stability and connection errors, the primary difference lies in their Anisette implementation. Sideloadly is designed as a lightweight, standalone injector that often defaults to “Remote Anisette” (though it can use a local plugin). This allows for faster sideloading without running a background server constantly. However, this reliance on ad-hoc communication with Apple’s servers makes Sideloadly more susceptible to the “Failed to re-fetch bundle” error when Apple updates their server-side authentication protocols or when the Anisette data becomes stale.
In contrast, AltStore requires AltServer to be running continuously in the background on your computer to refresh apps via Wi-Fi. While AltStore generally encounters fewer “fetch” or data-parsing errors because it maintains a more persistent, local developer environment simulation, it suffers more frequently from device visibility issues (e.g., “AltServer could not find this device”). Therefore, if you are plagued by specific bundle fetching errors on Sideloadly, AltStore offers a more stable, albeit heavier, alternative for signing.
To better understand the stability differences, consider these key technical distinctions:
- Anisette Handling: Sideloadly uses a method that prioritizes speed and ease of injection, making it vulnerable to temporary server-side rejections, whereas AltStore’s local server method is slower but often more resilient to sudden protocol changes.
- Resource Usage: Sideloadly is a “run-once” application that closes after use, reducing system load. AltStore requires a background process (AltServer) and Mail.app plugin (on Mac) to function, creating a more complex dependency chain.
- Error Types: Sideloadly users face more authentication and data-fetching errors; AltStore users face more network connectivity and Wi-Fi sync timeout errors.
Can You Install iOSGods IPAs Without a PC to Avoid This Error?
Yes, you can circumvent the “Failed to re-fetch bundle” error entirely by using no-PC sideloading methods, as this error is exclusive to the computer-to-device data transfer process managed by Sideloadly. Tools like ESign, Scarlet, or installing directly via OTA (Over-The-Air) links allow users to sign and install iOSGods IPAs directly on the iPhone or iPad. Since these methods do not rely on a computer to fetch Anisette data or communicate with the anisette server, the specific re-fetch bundle error becomes irrelevant.
However, switching to a no-PC method involves a trade-off regarding the longevity of the app installation. While Sideloadly uses your personal Apple ID to sign apps for 7 days (which is highly reliable), no-PC methods typically rely on Enterprise Certificates. These certificates are frequently revoked by Apple, causing the apps to crash or fail to open after a few days or weeks unless you use a paid signing service or a DNS cloak.
Here are the critical considerations when switching to on-device signing to avoid PC errors:
- Error Elimination: Using ESign or Scarlet completely removes the possibility of encountering “Failed to re-fetch bundle” or “Guru Meditation” errors associated with PC USB connections.
- IPA Compatibility: Modified IPAs from iOSGods are generally compatible with ESign, but users must ensure they are downloading the decrypted IPA file, not a file specifically encrypted for a different signing tool.
- Stability Trade-off: While you avoid the immediate installation error, you accept the risk of random certificate revocations, meaning you may lose access to the app unexpectedly compared to the stable 7-day cycle of Sideloadly.
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