Hello everyone, today let's talk about software installation through signing and how to recover chat records after certificate expiration.
To prevent confusion for many beginners, we need to explain in detail. If you understand everything, you can just skip to the second half.
Choosing a Signing Tool#
First of all, whether you use your own Apple ID for signing or commonly used software such as AltStore, Sideloadly, or iTools.
You can also use Scarlet with its built-in certificate, or find free certificates or purchase paid certificates. Commonly used software includes Magic Sign, Meow Sign, and Gbox.
I have introduced these options to everyone before, but in the end, even though I understand everything, I still choose to purchase certificates. The main reason is that it is simple, convenient, and worry-free.
You don't have to go through the hassle of signing software every 7 days like with self-signing software, or worry about free certificates like Scarlet or the ones that are occasionally circulated on the streets, which are easily detected and invalidated due to high demand. In the end, you still have to reinstall the software, wasting time, energy, and life.
Reliability of Certificates#
Some friends may say that even the certificates purchased with money can expire. This is true, and it can only be said that it depends on luck. You can either go to a certain online marketplace or the official website of signing tools to purchase certificates. I personally recommend the latter because no matter what promises the former makes, they can easily close their shop. On the other hand, signing tool websites are different. They provide free tools and sell certificates on the side, and they won't ruin their reputation because of your after-sales issues. In any case, I have purchased four or five certificates, including Meow Sign, Magic Sign, and Gbox, and they all expired after one year. I cannot guarantee the reliability of these certificates, I can only give you a suggestion.
The Most Concerning Issue#
Many people are worried not about whether the certificates will be replaced if they expire, but about the fact that once their certificates expire, the software won't open and their chat records will be lost. There used to be a circulating plugin called WDB that could revoke blacklisted certificates, but it also restricted the system. I haven't researched it myself.
Backup Chat Record Folder with File Manager#
But today I discovered that you only need a file manager to solve this problem. That famous file manager is ES File Explorer. The principle is simple: when your software cannot open due to certificate expiration, don't rush to delete it. You can use ES File Explorer to copy or move the chat record folder out of the software. Then, when the certificate is usable again, you can re-sign and install the software, and then use ES File Explorer to overwrite and paste the chat record folder back.
Let me guide you through the process. Open ES File Explorer, select "Files" in the lower-left corner, choose "My iPhone" at the top, and then click the plus sign in the lower-right corner. It will enter the Files app. Go back, select "My iPhone" again, and find the folder of the software you installed, for example, the "SomeApp1" folder installed by me for easy distinction. Click "Open" in the upper-right corner and authorize it. Then go inside, and that folder that looks like garbled characters is your chat record. After selecting it, you can copy or move it to another folder that you can remember. For example, we can copy it to a newly created folder in "My iPhone". This process is very fast, faster than the official built-in file manager or iTools.
For example, if we reinstall another software called "SomeApp2", we can use ES File Explorer to find its folder, click "Open" in the upper-right corner to authorize it, and then overwrite and paste the previously backed up chat record folder. After you finish the operation, you can delete it as you like. It only deletes the authorization, not the files. After that, restart "SomeApp2", and your chat records will be restored to this newly installed "SomeApp2".
Notes#
However, please note that this method does not support voice messages and the fonts from the "Old Cat Assistant". For non-jailbroken phones, if you want to backup and transfer at night, you need to use iTools to access the resource library because the phone does not have permission. However, I haven't figured out the specific steps yet. I will provide a tutorial provided by an expert, and you can test it yourself if you need it. My suggestion is to focus on recovering text chat records. Otherwise, you will waste a lot of time on this.
Advantages of ES File Explorer#
Of course, even if you don't need this feature, ES File Explorer is still an excellent system utility software. It can be used to manage local files and supports LAN sharing, remote FTP, Bluetooth devices, and cloud storage. For example, if you encounter problems such as being unable to export compressed files from Baidu Cloud or needing a membership for faster speed, you can mount Baidu Cloud with ES File Explorer and directly paste it into the target folder through copying. You can also watch videos at a faster speed without a membership. The same applies to other cloud storage services!
Furthermore, ES File Explorer can be used for free, although it has advertisements. The membership function is not necessary. In conclusion, if you have the ability, you can directly purchase the official version. If you don't have the ability, don't waste your time and just use the free version. Otherwise, you will waste a lot of time. I will provide a tutorial, and whether you can handle it depends on yourselves.
https://pan.quark.cn/s/53840b1d017a
PS: I collaborated with an expert. If you need a 3TB annual membership for Dropbox, contact me on WeChat at wuzhibianshizui5.