Windows8 min read

Installing Nugget on Windows

Step-by-step guide to set up Nugget on Windows 10 or Windows 11.

1. Prerequisites

Before installing Nugget, make sure your system meets these requirements:

System Requirements

  • ✓Windows 10 (version 1809 or later) or Windows 11
  • ✓64-bit operating system
  • ✓4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)
  • ✓500MB free disk space
  • ✓iTunes installed (for Apple drivers)
  • ✓USB cable (Lightning or USB-C depending on your device)

2. Install iTunes

iTunes is required for the Apple Mobile Device drivers that Nugget uses to communicate with your iPhone or iPad.

⚠️ Important

Download iTunes from the Apple website, NOT from the Microsoft Store. The Microsoft Store version may cause compatibility issues.

  1. Go to Apple's iTunes download page
  2. Click "Download iTunes for Windows (64-bit)"
  3. Run the downloaded installer (iTunes64Setup.exe)
  4. Follow the installation wizard, accepting the default options
  5. Restart your computer after installation completes

Already have iTunes from Microsoft Store? Uninstall it first, then install the version from Apple's website for best compatibility.

3. Download Nugget

  1. Visit the official Nugget releases page
  2. Find the latest release (it will be at the top)
  3. Under "Assets", click on Nugget_Windows.zip to download
  4. Save the file to a location you'll remember (like your Downloads folder)

🛡️ Security Warning

Only download Nugget from the official GitHub repository. Third-party websites may distribute modified or malicious versions.

4. Extract and Run

  1. Locate the downloaded Nugget_Windows.zip file
  2. Right-click the ZIP file and select "Extract All..."
  3. Choose a destination folder (e.g., Desktop or Documents)
  4. Open the extracted folder
  5. Double-click Nugget.exe to launch the application

Windows SmartScreen Warning

You may see a "Windows protected your PC" message. This is because Nugget is not signed with a Microsoft certificate.

  1. Click "More info"
  2. Click "Run anyway"

5. Connect Your Device

  1. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your PC using a USB cable
  2. If prompted on your device, tap "Trust" and enter your passcode
  3. iTunes may open automatically - you can close it
  4. In Nugget, your device should appear automatically
  5. You'll see your device name, iOS version, and UDID displayed

✓ Ready to Go!

Once your device is detected, you can start customizing. Check out the Getting Started guide for your first customization.

6. Troubleshooting

Device Not Detected

  • Make sure iTunes is installed from Apple's website (not Microsoft Store)
  • Try a different USB port (preferably USB 2.0)
  • Use an official Apple cable or certified MFi cable
  • Restart both your PC and iOS device
  • Check Device Manager for any driver issues

Trust Prompt Not Appearing

  • Disconnect and reconnect your device
  • On your iOS device, go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Reset Location & Privacy
  • Reconnect and the trust prompt should appear

Nugget Crashes on Launch

  • Make sure you extracted the entire ZIP file, not just the .exe
  • Run Nugget as Administrator (right-click → Run as administrator)
  • Temporarily disable antivirus software
  • Install the latest Visual C++ Redistributable from Microsoft

Apply Fails or Takes Too Long

  • Disable "Find My iPhone" temporarily in Settings → [Your Name] → Find My
  • Make sure your device has at least 20% battery
  • Close all other applications that might use the USB connection
  • Try using a USB 2.0 port instead of USB 3.0