diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7c42b833..a84f4b3b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ made in Norway 🇳🇴
     * [copyparty.exe](#copypartyexe) - download [copyparty.exe](https://github.com/9001/copyparty/releases/latest/download/copyparty.exe) (win8+) or [copyparty32.exe](https://github.com/9001/copyparty/releases/latest/download/copyparty32.exe) (win7+)
     * [zipapp](#zipapp) - another emergency alternative, [copyparty.pyz](https://github.com/9001/copyparty/releases/latest/download/copyparty.pyz)
 * [install on android](#install-on-android)
+* [install on iOS](#install-on-iOS)
 * [reporting bugs](#reporting-bugs) - ideas for context to include, and where to submit them
 * [devnotes](#devnotes) - for build instructions etc, see [./docs/devnotes.md](./docs/devnotes.md)
 
@@ -155,6 +156,7 @@ just run **[copyparty-sfx.py](https://github.com/9001/copyparty/releases/latest/
 * or if you cannot install python, you can use [copyparty.exe](#copypartyexe) instead
 * or install [on arch](#arch-package) ╱ [on NixOS](#nixos-module) ╱ [through nix](#nix-package)
 * or if you are on android, [install copyparty in termux](#install-on-android)
+* or maybe an iPhone or iPad? [install in a-Shell on iOS](#install-on-iOS)
 * or maybe you have a [synology nas / dsm](./docs/synology-dsm.md)
 * or if you have [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/) installed, run `uv tool run copyparty`
 * or if your computer is messed up and nothing else works, [try the pyz](#zipapp)
@@ -241,7 +243,7 @@ also see [comparison to similar software](./docs/versus.md)
   * ☑ [upnp / zeroconf / mdns / ssdp](#zeroconf)
   * ☑ [event hooks](#event-hooks) / script runner
   * ☑ [reverse-proxy support](https://github.com/9001/copyparty#reverse-proxy)
-  * ☑ cross-platform (Windows, Linux, Macos, Android, FreeBSD, arm32/arm64, ppc64le, s390x, risc-v/riscv64)
+  * ☑ cross-platform (Windows, Linux, Macos, Android, iOS, FreeBSD, arm32/arm64, ppc64le, s390x, risc-v/riscv64)
 * upload
   * ☑ basic: plain multipart, ie6 support
   * ☑ [up2k](#uploading): js, resumable, multithreaded
@@ -2632,6 +2634,8 @@ there is no iPhone app, but  the following shortcuts are almost as good:
   * can download links and rehost the target file on copyparty (see first comment inside the shortcut)
   * pics become lowres if you share from gallery to shortcut, so better to launch the shortcut and pick stuff from there
 
+if you want to run the copyparty server on your iPhone or iPad, see [install on iOS](#install-on-iOS)
+
 
 # performance
 
@@ -2965,6 +2969,27 @@ if you want thumbnails (photos+videos) and you're okay with spending another 132
 * or if you want to use `vips` for photo-thumbs instead, `pkg install libvips && python -m pip install --user -U wheel && python -m pip install --user -U pyvips && (cd /data/data/com.termux/files/usr/lib/; ln -s libgobject-2.0.so{,.0}; ln -s libvips.so{,.42})`
 
 
+# install on iOS
+
+first install one of the following:
+* [a-Shell mini](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/a-shell-mini/id1543537943) gives you the essential features
+* [a-Shell](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/a-shell/id1473805438) also enables audio transcoding and better thubmnails
+
+and then copypaste the following command into `a-Shell`:
+
+```sh
+curl https://github.com/9001/copyparty/raw/refs/heads/hovudstraum/contrib/setup-ashell.sh | sh
+```
+
+what this does:
+* creates a basic [config file](#accounts-and-volumes) named `cpc` which you can edit with `vim cpc`
+* adds the command `cpp` to launch copyparty with that config file
+
+known issues:
+* cannot run in the background; it needs to be on-screen to accept connections / uploads / downloads
+* the best way to exit copyparty is to swipe away the app
+
+
 # reporting bugs
 
 ideas for context to include, and where to submit them
diff --git a/contrib/setup-ashell.sh b/contrib/setup-ashell.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..006da444
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contrib/setup-ashell.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+#
+# this script will install copyparty onto an iOS device (iPhone/iPad)
+#
+# step 1: install a-Shell:
+#   https://apps.apple.com/us/app/a-shell/id1473805438
+#
+# step 2: copypaste the following command into a-Shell:
+#   curl https://github.com/9001/copyparty/raw/refs/heads/hovudstraum/contrib/setup-ashell.sh
+#
+# step 3: launch copyparty with this command: cpp
+#
+# if you ever want to upgrade copyparty, just repeat step 2
+
+
+
+cd "$HOME/Documents"
+curl -Locopyparty https://github.com/9001/copyparty/releases/latest/download/copyparty-sfx.py
+
+
+
+# create the config file? (cannot use heredoc because body too large)
+[ -e cpc ] || {
+echo '[global]' >cpc
+echo '  p: 80, 443, 3923  # enable http and https on these ports' >>cpc
+echo '  e2dsa      # enable file indexing and filesystem scanning' >>cpc
+echo '  e2ts       # and enable multimedia indexing' >>cpc
+echo '  ver        # show copyparty version in the controlpanel' >>cpc
+echo '  qrz: 2     # enable qr-code and make it big' >>cpc
+echo '  qrp: 1     # reduce qr-code padding' >>cpc
+echo '  qr-fg: -1  # optimize for basic/simple terminals' >>cpc
+echo '  qr-wait: 0.3  # less chance of getting scrolled away' >>cpc
+echo '' >>cpc
+echo '  # enable these by uncommenting them:' >>cpc
+echo '  # ftp: 21    # enable ftp server on port 21' >>cpc
+echo '  # tftp: 69   # enable tftp server on port 69' >>cpc
+echo '' >>cpc
+echo '[/]' >>cpc
+echo '  ~/Documents' >>cpc
+echo '  accs:' >>cpc
+echo '    A: *' >>cpc
+}
+
+
+
+# create the launcher?
+[ -e cpp ] || {
+echo '#!/bin/sh' >cpp
+echo '' >>cpp
+echo '# change the font so the qr-code draws correctly:' >>cpp
+echo 'config -n "Menlo"  # name' >>cpp
+echo 'config -s 8  # size' >>cpp
+echo '' >>cpp
+echo '# launch copyparty' >>cpp
+echo 'exec copyparty -c cpc "$@"' >>cpp
+}
+
+
+
+chmod 755 copyparty cpp
+echo
+echo =================================
+echo
+echo 'okay, all done!'
+echo
+echo 'you can edit your config'
+echo 'with this command: vim cpc'
+echo
+echo 'you can run copyparty'
+echo 'with this command: cpp'
+echo
diff --git a/copyparty/__main__.py b/copyparty/__main__.py
index 1a0ed743..e14f0573 100644
--- a/copyparty/__main__.py
+++ b/copyparty/__main__.py
@@ -1114,6 +1114,7 @@ def add_qr(ap, tty):
     ap2.add_argument("--qrp", metavar="CELLS", type=int, default=4, help="padding (spec says 4 or more, but 1 is usually fine)")
     ap2.add_argument("--qrz", metavar="N", type=int, default=0, help="[\033[32m1\033[0m]=1x, [\033[32m2\033[0m]=2x, [\033[32m0\033[0m]=auto (try [\033[32m2\033[0m] on broken fonts)")
     ap2.add_argument("--qr-pin", metavar="N", type=int, default=0, help="sticky/pin the qr-code to always stay on-screen; [\033[32m0\033[0m]=disabled, [\033[32m1\033[0m]=with-url, [\033[32m2\033[0m]=just-qr")
+    ap2.add_argument("--qr-wait", metavar="SEC", type=float, default=0, help="wait \033[33mSEC\033[0m before printing the qr-code to the log")
 
 
 def add_fs(ap):
diff --git a/copyparty/svchub.py b/copyparty/svchub.py
index 92a797d4..39ac5093 100644
--- a/copyparty/svchub.py
+++ b/copyparty/svchub.py
@@ -819,6 +819,10 @@ class SvcHub(object):
         t = "%s\033[s\033[1;%dr\033[%dH%s%s\033[u" % (t, sh - 1, sh, qr, url)
         self.pr(t, file=sys.stderr)
 
+    def sleepy_qr(self):
+        time.sleep(self.args.qr_wait)
+        self.log("qr-code", self.tcpsrv.qr)
+
     def cb_httpsrv_up(self) -> None:
         self.httpsrv_up += 1
         if self.httpsrv_up != self.broker.num_workers:
@@ -834,7 +838,10 @@ class SvcHub(object):
             if self.args.qr_pin:
                 self.sticky_qr()
             else:
-                self.log("qr-code", self.tcpsrv.qr)
+                if self.args.qr_wait:
+                    Daemon(self.sleepy_qr, "qr_w8")
+                else:
+                    self.log("qr-code", self.tcpsrv.qr)
         else:
             self.log("root", "workers OK\n")
 
diff --git a/docs/versus.md b/docs/versus.md
index 70b3c21d..d505a51a 100644
--- a/docs/versus.md
+++ b/docs/versus.md
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ symbol legend,
 * `zero setup` = you can get a mostly working setup by just launching the app, without having to install any software or configure whatever
 * `a`/copyparty remarks:
   * no gui for server settings; only for client-side stuff
-  * can theoretically run on iOS / iPads using [iSH](https://ish.app/), but only the iPad will offer sufficient multitasking i think
+  * runs on iOS / iPads using [a-Shell](https://holzschu.github.io/a-Shell_iOS/) (pretty good) or [iSH](https://ish.app/) (very slow) but cannot run in the background and is not able to share all of your phone storage (just a separate dedicated folder)
   * [android app](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/me.ocv.partyup/) is for uploading only
   * no iOS app but has [shortcuts](https://github.com/9001/copyparty#ios-shortcuts) for easy uploading
 * `b`/hfs2 runs on linux through wine
diff --git a/scripts/toc.sh b/scripts/toc.sh
index 8c3e22e9..611e092a 100755
--- a/scripts/toc.sh
+++ b/scripts/toc.sh
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ cat $f | awk '
     o{next}
     /^#/{s=1;rs=0;pr()}
     /^#* *(nix package)/{rs=1}
-    /^#* *(themes|install on android|dev env setup|just the sfx|complete release|optional gpl stuff|nixos module|reverse-proxy perf)|```/{s=rs}
+    /^#* *(themes|install on android|install on iOS|dev env setup|just the sfx|complete release|optional gpl stuff|nixos module|reverse-proxy perf)|```/{s=rs}
     /^#/{
         lv=length($1);
         sub(/[^ ]+ /,"");
diff --git a/tests/util.py b/tests/util.py
index 546851b4..897bc108 100644
--- a/tests/util.py
+++ b/tests/util.py
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ class Cfg(Namespace):
         ex = "ac_convt au_vol dl_list mtab_age reg_cap s_thead s_tbody tail_tmax tail_who th_convt ups_who zip_who"
         ka.update(**{k: 9 for k in ex.split()})
 
-        ex = "ctl_re db_act forget_ip idp_cookie idp_store k304 loris no304 nosubtle qr_pin re_maxage rproxy rsp_jtr rsp_slp s_wr_slp snap_wri theme themes turbo u2ow zipmaxn zipmaxs"
+        ex = "ctl_re db_act forget_ip idp_cookie idp_store k304 loris no304 nosubtle qr_pin qr_wait re_maxage rproxy rsp_jtr rsp_slp s_wr_slp snap_wri theme themes turbo u2ow zipmaxn zipmaxs"
         ka.update(**{k: 0 for k in ex.split()})
 
         ex = "ah_alg bname chmod_f chpw_db doctitle df exit favico ipa html_head lg_sba lg_sbf log_fk md_sba md_sbf name og_desc og_site og_th og_title og_title_a og_title_v og_title_i shr tcolor textfiles txt_eol unlist vname xff_src zipmaxt R RS SR"