> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://faq.altstore.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://faq.altstore.io/altstore-classic/activating-apps.md).

# Activating Apps

You can sideload as many apps as you want with AltStore, but due to Apple's restrictions **only 3 sideloaded apps can be active at a time**. If you try to activate more than 3 apps, you will be prompted to "deactivate" a sideloaded app first. Deactivating an app will make AltStore back up all its data before removing it from your iPhone or iPad, freeing up a slot for you to then sideload another app. Alternatively, you can manually deactivate an app at any time by long-pressing it in the My Apps tab and pressing "Deactivate".

Deactivated apps will appear in a separate "Inactive" section on the My Apps tab. Once deactivated, an app can later be "activated" by pressing `ACTIVATE`, which will cause AltStore to re-install the app and restore all its data.

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