This article explains how to install NeoFreeBird on an iPhone using SideStore.

NeoFreeBird is a modified IPA for X/Twitter. It can bring back a more Twitter-like feel and reduce ads or unnecessary UI. An IPA is the app file itself on iPhone.

This is not an official app. It may stop working suddenly.

What Is NeoFreeBird?

NeoFreeBird is a modified version of the X/Twitter app with extra features.

Its main purpose is to reduce clutter and make the app feel closer to the older Twitter experience.

For example, it can hide ads, hide Grok buttons, restore tweet source labels, and change theme colors.

Test Environment

I wrote this guide based on the following setup.

Item	Details
PC OS	Windows 11
Device	iPhone 16
iOS Version	iOS 26.2 beta 1
NeoFreeBird	v6.0.4

The general flow should be similar on other setups, but labels and error causes may differ depending on iOS and SideStore.

Install SideStore

NeoFreeBird is an IPA file, so you need a way to install IPA files on your iPhone first.

This guide assumes you are using SideStore. If you do not have it yet, install SideStore with iLoader first.

How to Install SideStore in 2026 https://necco.tech/blog/sidestore-iloader/

After installing SideStore, make sure SideStore itself can refresh successfully.

Download NeoFreeBird

First, open the NeoFreeBird Releases page.

At the time of checking, the latest release was v6.0.4 - theacrat-NFB.

The v6.0.4 notes mention added icons for the Twitter rebrand version, a timeline refresh sound option, and a fix for custom fonts not applying.

theacrat/NeoFreeBird Releases https://github.com/theacrat/NeoFreeBird/releases

The release assets include several different file types.

For SideStore, choose the .ipa file.

Choose the Twitter IPA if you want a Twitter-like look. Choose the X IPA if you prefer the X-style look.

.deb is for jailbreak setups. .tipa is for TrollStore. For non-jailbroken SideStore use, choose .ipa.

Check SideStore First

Before installing NeoFreeBird, make sure SideStore itself works correctly.

If SideStore is unstable, it becomes hard to tell whether the problem is NeoFreeBird or SideStore.

If something fails here, fix SideStore before installing NeoFreeBird.

Install NeoFreeBird

Once SideStore works, installing NeoFreeBird is fairly simple.

After installation finishes, NeoFreeBird should appear on your Home Screen.

At this point, SideStore signing and app installation have succeeded.

Log In To X/Twitter

After opening NeoFreeBird, log in to your X/Twitter account first.

In some older versions, people reported that Google login was required or worked more reliably. With NeoFreeBird v6.0.4, email or username plus password login now works.

If external login gets stuck, check whether you can log in to X/Twitter from a browser, then make sure normal password login is available before trying again.

Open Settings

NeoFreeBird settings are opened from inside the X/Twitter app settings.

The usual flow is below.

1. Swipe from left to right
2. Open Settings and privacy
3. Open the NeoFreeBird item

The label may differ slightly depending on the IPA and version.

Recommended Settings

After installing NeoFreeBird, these are the settings I would check first.

Hide Ads

This hides ads and promoted posts in timelines and search results.

For many people, this is one of the main reasons to use a modified client, so it is the first setting worth checking.

It may stop working if X/Twitter changes something server-side.

Always Show Scrollbar

This keeps the scrollbar visible while scrolling the timeline.

It helps you understand your position in long timelines, search results, and profile pages.

Change Theme Color

This changes the accent color used inside the app.

It affects links, buttons, and selected tabs. It can also make controls easier to find in dark mode.

Show Tweet Source Labels

This shows labels such as Twitter for iPhone or Twitter Web App under posts.

It is useful when you want to identify bots, scheduled posts, or third-party clients.

Use External Browser

This opens links in Safari or your default browser instead of the in-app browser.

Turn it on if you want to use your normal browser login state, ad blocker, and password manager.

Change App Icon

This changes the app icon shown on the Home Screen.

If you also keep the official X app installed, changing the icon helps avoid opening the wrong app.

There are also older Twitter-style icons.

I tried the greenish icon. It fits nicely with my wallpaper.

Hide Who to Follow and Other Prompts

This setting reduces Who to Follow, recommended users, timeline prompts, boost-related buttons, and similar interruptions in the timeline or search results.

The official app often inserts recommendation and promotion blocks while you are reading. If you simply want to read posts in order, those blocks can get in the way.

The NeoFreeBird v6 series added options to hide timeline prompts and the boost button, and v6.0.3 included a fix for cases where Who to Follow still appeared. If it does not disappear, toggle the setting off and on, restart the app, then reinstall the latest IPA if needed.

Adjust Tab Bar UI

This is for cleaning up the bottom tab bar, Premium-related items, and subscribe button-related UI.

Depending on the X/Twitter version, the bottom tabs and side menu items can change over time. When unused items pile up, it becomes harder to focus on the buttons you actually use, such as notifications or search.

NeoFreeBird’s tab bar-related controls help keep the app closer to the workflow you want. This is worth checking especially if you want to reduce Premium, subscribe, or Grok-related entry points.

Hide Grok Buttons

The v6 series includes controls for Grok-related UI.

It can hide the Grok compose button, sidebar Grok button, and profile analysis buttons.

If you do not use Grok, turning this on makes the app cleaner.

Changes In v6.0.4

v6.0.4 is more of a small improvement and bug-fix release than a major feature release.

The confirmed changes are below.

• Added the same icon set to the Twitter rebrand version
• Added a refresh sound option to Timelines
• Fixed custom fonts not applying

The v6 series also includes Grok controls, share-domain changes, Undo Tweet timing, auto-translation disabling, video scroll controls, screenshot detection disabling, timeline prompt and boost button hiding, and tab bar-related adjustments.

Common Issues

IPA Does Not Install

Make sure you did not choose .deb or .tipa. SideStore needs the .ipa file.

Signing Fails In SideStore

Check that LocalDevVPN is connected.

Then check whether SideStore itself can refresh. If SideStore cannot refresh, fix that before blaming NeoFreeBird.

Cannot Log In

First, try the normal email or username plus password flow described in the login section above.

If that still fails, confirm that you can log in through a browser. If browser login also fails, the problem may be account verification or account restrictions rather than NeoFreeBird itself.

Custom Fonts Do Not Apply

v6.0.4 includes a fix for custom fonts not applying.

If you are using an older IPA, you need to reinstall v6.0.4.

Summary

This article introduced how to install the X modified app NeoFreeBird on an iPhone.

Older versions had fewer app icons and some lag, but those parts feel much better now.

Whether you choose the X app style or the Twitter app style is completely up to you. If you want to show it off, try the Twitter-style app.

After installation, I recommend checking ad hiding, external browser, source labels, and Grok button hiding first.