a-Shell mini

a-Shell mini

*Local* Unix terminal (& ssh)

119 ratings
90 reviews
#49 in free Developer Tools
📚 Education
🛠️ Developer Tools
Free

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • December 9, 2020
  • September 12, 2026

Features

a-Shell mini screenshot #1 for iPhone
a-Shell mini screenshot #2 for iPhone
a-Shell mini screenshot #3 for iPhone
a-Shell mini screenshot #4 for iPhone
a-Shell mini screenshot #5 for iPhone
iphone
ipad
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About

Run Unix commands locally on your iOS device with a powerful terminal emulator. Supports file transfer, editing, scripting with Python and Lua, and network utilities. Integrates with Shortcuts and supports multiple windows for multitasking.

Local Unix terminal emulator
SSH client
File transfer (scp, curl)
Text editing (vim, ed)
Scripting (Python, Lua, JavaScript)
Network utilities (nslookup, ping)
Shortcuts integration
Multi-window support
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What users say

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+1

What's New in a

2.2.1

September 12, 2026

- multiple bug fixes: making sure we're not in bracketed paste mode, interactive input in WebAssembly commands. - more complete cleanup after "exit" on iPhones - added the new options in "man config" (they were already in config, but the man page was lagging behind)

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Charts

Top Free

📈 49+2

Developer Tools

This app rose +2 positions in Developer Tools chart.

Last updated on September 16, 2026.

User reviews

Shortcut Appとの相性がよい

a-shell単体では制限が多すぎて、一般的なコマンドしか通らないため、単体での使い道はほぼないが、Shortcut Appとa-shellを組み合わせて使うとiPhoneがスマホとは思えないほど便利になる。

詳細は控えるが、Web上のダウンロードなどもShortcut Appとa-shellを組み合わせることで上手く機能する。

Git

Can I use git on it?

Response from developer

git itself is not possible for licensing issues. We have lg2, a clone of git that does not have the licensing issues. With "pkg install git", you can add a shell script that calls lg2 when you type git.

Used to be good

This app used to be pretty great. Now it's much less great, at least on an iPhone. Controls I relied on for reliable/manageable keyboard input are gone, like there's no way to scrollback in the shell history. There used to be. Maybe this is now optimized for an iPad UI? I don't have an iPad, so I can't compare. I can't reliably see what a backspace is doing. Seems like maybe it deletes things but the deletes don't display. Etc. I'm considering switching to something else, maybe even paying the outrageous $20/year Blink wants. Really frustrating, since I was quite happy with this app until a few months ago when things took a turn.
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Response from developer

Use two-fingers scroll to scroll back in the shell history (this made text selection, with a single finger, more robust). I don't understand your issue with backspace (and could not reproduce it). Would you mind sending a more detailed description using one of the methods in the "help" command: e-mail (another_shell@icloud.com), Bluesky (@a-shell-ios.bsky.social), github (https://github.com/holzschu/a-shell/issues) or Discord (https://discord.gg/cvYnZm69Gy).

use "unset PKG_SERVER"

it will make pkg command work

字体

字体大小没法调节

Response from developer

Try "config -s " followed by the new size.

Developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

12 issues

Keyboard icons comically large

Bug

App deletes itself

Bug

Rotating iPhone/iPad scrambles display

Bug

Pasting text results in strange characters

Bug

App only uses half of the screen when editing files

Bug

Command not found errors for all commands

Bug

App crashes on launch after update

Bug

Cannot get own absolute path

Bug

Cannot execute own programs

Bug

App messes up .txt file association

Bug

Trouble selecting characters to copy and paste

Bug

No module named requests in shortcuts

Bug

Requested Features

8 requests

Option to use old keyboard buttons

Feature

Add openssl support

Feature

Add libx265 codec for ffmpeg

Feature

Support telnet command

Feature

Add possibility to compile from source

Feature

Make Ubuntu default

Feature

Add expansion of keys (e.g., echo {a..z})

Feature

Adjustable font size

Feature

FAQ

What is a-Shell mini?

a-Shell mini is a local terminal emulator for iOS devices that allows you to run most Unix commands directly on your device. It supports file transfers, text editing, scripting with languages like Python and Lua, and various network utilities.

What are the key features of a-Shell mini?

Key features include a local Unix terminal, SSH client, file transfer capabilities using scp and curl, text editing with vim and ed, scripting support for Python, Lua, and JavaScript, network utilities like nslookup and ping, integration with Shortcuts, and multi-window support for multitasking.

How much does a-Shell mini cost?

Based on the provided information, a-Shell mini is a paid application. It does not have in-app purchases or ads, indicating a one-time purchase model.

What are some common use cases for a-Shell mini?

Common use cases include running Unix commands for development or system administration tasks on the go, editing files locally, scripting automation with Python or Lua, transferring files securely via SSH, and utilizing network diagnostic tools directly from your iOS device.

What are the compatibility requirements for a-Shell mini?

a-Shell mini requires iPadOS 13 or later to utilize its multi-window capabilities. It is designed to run efficiently on iOS devices, with commands compiled for native Arm64 format.