It was only yesterday that we shared how iOS developer Duy Tran (@TranKha50277352) used the SparseRestore exploit to bypass the three-app limitation in the SideStore sideloading application for iPhones and iPads, but more recently, it seems the developer has managed something perhaps even more interesting.
In a post shared to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Duy Tran said they had successfully transformed iOS on their iPhone into iPadOS with a few modifications to MobileGestalt, which is again made possible with the SparseRestore exploit – the same exploit that made TrollStore installations possible on iOS & iPadOS 17.0 via TrollRestore.
In a short video demonstration attached to the post, we can see that the developer has successfully ported iPadOS-esque functionality to the iPhone, to include:
- Control Center moved to the right side of the screen
- More apps and rows on the Home Screen
- Floating Spotlight search
- Floating Home Screen Dock
- Stage Manager windowed multitasking
- Grid view App Switcher
- And more…
These modifications are now available in SparseBox, a tool by Duy Tran that lets users make changes to their device with the SparseRestore exploit. Since making modifications to MobileGestalt comes with risks of boot-looping with your device, the developer urges potential users not to try this on their main device.
What’s really neat about these kinds of modifications is that they don’t require a jailbreak, and instead work by using a TrollStore-installed or even sideloaded app. Moreover, this means that you aren’t restrained to jailbreakable firmware; SparseRestore works on all firmware up to and including iOS 18.1 beta 4.
If you’re interested in learning more about the changes that Duy Tran has made to SparseBox, then you can head over to the developer’s GitHub page to learn more. He shares regular updates on X and releases most of his work for free, asking only for generous donations if you should choose to provide them.
What are your thoughts about using the SparseRestore exploit to brign iPadOS features to non-jailbroken iPhones? Let us know in the comments section down below.
