leminlimez/Nugget

Overview

Nugget is a Python/PySide6 desktop application that lets you apply system-level customizations to an iPhone or iPad from Windows, Linux, or macOS. It writes files outside the normal restore location by abusing restore-based exploits, so the possible tweaks depend on the iOS version: animated PosterBoard wallpapers, status bar text and icons, SpringBoard and internal options, disabled daemons, Mobile Gestalt flags, feature flags, and AI or device-spoofing options on newer releases.

This is intended for users comfortable with Apple device internals who understand that modifying system files can cause data loss. The project warns that the partial restore method is patched on iOS 27 and that Mobile Gestalt and AI Enabler tweaks are unsupported on iOS 26.2 and later source:24.

Quick start

On Windows, install either Apple Devices from the Microsoft Store or iTunes from Apple's website so the device can be detected source:12. On Linux, install usbmuxd and libimobiledevice source:13.

Run the Python app from the repository root:

python3 -m venv .env
source .env/bin/activate   # macOS/Linux
# Windows: .env/Scripts/activate.bat
pip3 install -r requirements.txt
python3 main_app.py

On some system configurations, use python/pip instead of python3/pip3 source:15.

For tweaks that need a device-specific mobilegestalt file on iOS 26.1 and below, install the iOS Shortcuts app, run the "Save MobileGestalt" shortcut, transfer the saved file to the computer, and place it next to the Python file or point the program at its path source:19. Back up the device before applying anything.

Compatibility and constraints

Exploit support is version-bound: Sparserestore works on iOS 17.0 through 18.1.1, while BookRestore works on iOS 18.2 through 26.1 source:24. The README separately marks Mobile Gestalt and AI Enabler as unsupported on iOS 26.2+, and warns against using the tool on iOS 27 because of likely data loss. Python 3.9 or newer, pymobiledevice3, and PySide6 are required when running from source source:14.

Several options carry explicit risk, including enabling iPadOS on iPhones, showing internal storage, and always-on display, which may cause burn-in. The project is licensed under AGPL-3.0.

HotRepo's take

HotRepo has no daily-rank snapshots, star-curve samples, or Hacker News discussion recorded for this repository in the supplied data. What stands out from the project material itself is how tightly the available features are coupled to iOS versions and exploit families, and how the README separates working ranges, patched ranges, and explicitly unsupported tweaks rather than presenting one universal capability. That version matrix, not any trending signal, is the main thing to check before attempting a tweak.