It's against the rules, but not a criminal offense. At worst, you risk a YouTube account suspension.
The YouTube IPA is simply a copy of the YouTube application (official or modified) packaged so you can manually install it outside of Apple’s App Store.
User flows
Modified IPAs are hosted on third-party repositories. Malicious actors can inject keyloggers or malware into the package to steal personal data, Apple IDs, or Google credentials. Youtube Ipa File
Community-driven technology automatically skips sponsored segments, intros, outros, and subscription reminders inside videos.
Many custom IPAs integrate SponsorBlock, a crowdsourced tool that automatically skips non-music sections, intro/outro animations, and subscription reminders. Popular Modified YouTube IPAs
Creating or distributing modified YouTube IPA files violates multiple laws: It's against the rules, but not a criminal offense
Even if a user avoids malware, using modified IPAs harms:
Method 1: Using AltStore or SideStore (No Jailbreak Required)
Apple and third-party libraries required for the app to function. User flows Modified IPAs are hosted on third-party
Integration with services like "Return YouTube Dislike" brings back the public dislike count. Popular Modified YouTube IPA Versions
A is an iOS application archive that allows users to install modified versions of the YouTube app on iPhones and iPads. While the official app is available on the Apple App Store, many users seek out these "modded" IPA files to unlock premium-like features—such as ad-blocking, background playback, and video downloading—without a paid subscription. What is a YouTube IPA?
If you watch YouTube for 3+ hours daily, the cost of Premium is often worth the sanity of never dealing with a "App Expired" popup on a Monday morning. However, if you are a student or live in a region where Premium is expensive, the IPA route remains popular.