diff --git a/Info.plist b/Info.plist
index f82ec6a6a..14c1b198d 100644
--- a/Info.plist
+++ b/Info.plist
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@
 		<key>NSAllowsArbitraryLoads</key>
 		<true/>
 	</dict>
+	<key>UIBackgroundModes</key>
+	<array>
+		<string>audio</string>
+	</array>
 	<key>UIDeviceFamily</key>
 	<array>
 		<integer>1</integer>
diff --git a/client/CMakeLists.txt b/client/CMakeLists.txt
index cf8efef1a..20b19af97 100644
--- a/client/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/client/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -177,9 +177,7 @@ if(WIN32)
 	target_compile_definitions(vcmiclient PRIVATE WINDOWS_IGNORE_PACKING_MISMATCH)
 elseif(APPLE_IOS)
 	target_link_libraries(vcmiclient PRIVATE
-		vcmiserver
-		# SDL2_image:
-		"-framework Foundation -framework UIKit -framework QuartzCore -framework CoreGraphics -framework CoreServices -framework ImageIO"
+		"-framework Foundation -framework UIKit -framework QuartzCore -framework CoreGraphics -framework CoreServices -framework ImageIO" # SDL2_image
 	)
 
 	target_sources(vcmiclient PRIVATE ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/client/LaunchScreen.storyboard)
diff --git a/client/CServerHandler.cpp b/client/CServerHandler.cpp
index 39024dc1b..93d44cefa 100644
--- a/client/CServerHandler.cpp
+++ b/client/CServerHandler.cpp
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@
 #ifdef VCMI_ANDROID
 #include "../lib/CAndroidVMHelper.h"
 #elif defined(VCMI_IOS)
-#include "../server/CVCMIServer.h"
-// todo ios
+//TODO
 #else
 #include "../lib/Interprocess.h"
 #endif
@@ -185,18 +184,7 @@ void CServerHandler::startLocalServerAndConnect()
 		envHelper.callStaticVoidMethod(CAndroidVMHelper::NATIVE_METHODS_DEFAULT_CLASS, "startServer", true);
 	}
 #elif defined(VCMI_IOS)
-    // todo ios: hide keyboard
-    logNetwork->info("[ios] create server thread");
-    boost::condition_variable cond;
-    threadRunLocalServer = std::make_shared<boost::thread>([&cond, this] {
-        setThreadName("CVCMIServer");
-        CVCMIServer::create(&cond);
-        // todo ios copypaste
-        threadRunLocalServer.reset();
-        CSH->campaignServerRestartLock.setn(false);
-    });
-//    threadRunLocalServer->detach();
-    logNetwork->info("[ios] detach server thread");
+	// TODO
 #else
 	threadRunLocalServer = std::make_shared<boost::thread>(&CServerHandler::threadRunServer, this); //runs server executable;
 #endif
@@ -214,14 +202,7 @@ void CServerHandler::startLocalServerAndConnect()
 	logNetwork->info("waiting for server finished...");
 	androidTestServerReadyFlag = false;
 #elif defined(VCMI_IOS)
-    // todo ios
-    {
-        boost::mutex m;
-        boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> lock{m};
-        logNetwork->info("[ios] wait for server");
-        cond.wait(lock);
-        logNetwork->info("[ios] server ready");
-    }
+	//TODO
 #else
 	if(shm)
 		shm->sr->waitTillReady();
diff --git a/lib/VCMIDirs.cpp b/lib/VCMIDirs.cpp
index c8c523fb8..5a59ff03e 100644
--- a/lib/VCMIDirs.cpp
+++ b/lib/VCMIDirs.cpp
@@ -391,7 +391,6 @@ class VCMIDirsIOS final : public VCMIDirsApple
 		bfs::path libraryPath() const override;
         boost::filesystem::path fullLibraryPath(const std::string & desiredFolder, const std::string & baseLibName) const override;
 		bfs::path binaryPath() const override;
-        bfs::path serverPath() const override;
 
 		bool developmentMode() const override;
 };
@@ -431,7 +430,6 @@ boost::filesystem::path VCMIDirsIOS::fullLibraryPath(const std::string & desired
 #endif
 }
 bfs::path VCMIDirsIOS::binaryPath() const { return {ios_bundlePath()}; }
-bfs::path VCMIDirsIOS::serverPath() const { return clientPath(); }
 
 bool VCMIDirsIOS::developmentMode() const { return false; }
 #elif defined(VCMI_MAC)
diff --git a/package_ios.sh b/package_ios.sh
index 849d4dc3a..5240b74a1 100755
--- a/package_ios.sh
+++ b/package_ios.sh
@@ -2,18 +2,20 @@
 
 pushd bin/Debug
 mkdir -p vcmiclient.app/Frameworks
-cp *.dylib AI/*.dylib vcmiclient.app
-badInstallNamePrefix=$(pwd)
-cd vcmiclient.app
 
+productsDir=$(pwd)
 sdl2Path=~/dev/ios/vcmi-ios-deps/SDL2-lib/lib
-cp "$sdl2Path/libSDL2.dylib" .
-install_name_tool -rpath "$sdl2Path" '@executable_path/Frameworks' vcmiclient
+for app in vcmiclient vcmiserver; do
+  install_name_tool -rpath "$sdl2Path" '@executable_path/Frameworks' "$productsDir/$app.app/$app"
+done
+
+cp *.dylib AI/*.dylib "$sdl2Path/libSDL2.dylib" vcmiclient.app
+cd vcmiclient.app
 
 for b in vcmiclient *.dylib; do
   for l in minizip vcmi; do
     libName="lib${l}.dylib"
-    install_name_tool -change "$badInstallNamePrefix/$libName" "@rpath/$libName" "$b"
+    install_name_tool -change "$productsDir/$libName" "@rpath/$libName" "$b"
   done
   if [ "$b" != vcmiclient ]; then
     install_name_tool -id "@rpath/$b" "$b"
@@ -23,5 +25,15 @@ done
 mv -f *.dylib Frameworks
 popd
 
-cp -f ../vcmi/Info.plist "$badInstallNamePrefix/vcmiclient.app"
-cp -R bin/Debug-iphoneos/* "$badInstallNamePrefix/vcmiclient.app"
+for app in vcmiclient vcmiserver; do
+  cp -f ../vcmi/Info.plist "$productsDir/$app.app"
+done
+sed -i '' -e 's/client/server/g' -e 's/>VCMI</>VCMI server</' "$productsDir/vcmiserver.app/Info.plist"
+
+cp -R bin/Debug-iphoneos/* "$productsDir/vcmiclient.app"
+cp -fR "$productsDir/vcmiclient.app/Frameworks" "$productsDir/vcmiserver.app"
+
+for l in minizip vcmi; do
+  libName="lib${l}.dylib"
+  install_name_tool -change "$productsDir/$libName" "@rpath/$libName" "$productsDir/vcmiserver.app/vcmiserver"
+done
diff --git a/server/CMakeLists.txt b/server/CMakeLists.txt
index 8fae51ed1..61d06ded4 100644
--- a/server/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/server/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,21 +16,23 @@ set(server_HEADERS
 		CVCMIServer.h
 )
 
+if(APPLE_IOS)
+	set(server_SRCS ${server_SRCS} main_ios.mm)
+endif(APPLE_IOS)
+
 assign_source_group(${server_SRCS} ${server_HEADERS})
 
 if(ANDROID) # android needs client/server to be libraries, not executables, so we can't reuse the build part of this script
 	return()
 endif()
 
-if(APPLE_IOS)
-	add_library(vcmiserver STATIC ${server_SRCS} ${server_HEADERS})
-else()
-	add_executable(vcmiserver ${server_SRCS} ${server_HEADERS})
-endif()
+add_executable(vcmiserver ${server_SRCS} ${server_HEADERS})
 
 set(server_LIBS vcmi)
 if(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME MATCHES FreeBSD)
 	set(server_LIBS execinfo ${server_LIBS})
+elseif(APPLE_IOS)
+	set(server_LIBS ${server_LIBS} "-framework UIKit -framework AVFoundation")
 endif()
 target_link_libraries(vcmiserver PRIVATE ${server_LIBS} minizip::minizip)
 
@@ -44,6 +46,10 @@ if(WIN32)
 			OUTPUT_NAME "VCMI_server"
 			PROJECT_LABEL "VCMI_server"
 	)
+elseif(APPLE_IOS)
+	# TODO: move to a common dir / add macro?
+	target_sources(vcmiclient PRIVATE ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/client/LaunchScreen.storyboard)
+	set_source_files_properties(${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/client/LaunchScreen.storyboard PROPERTIES MACOSX_PACKAGE_LOCATION "Resources")
 endif()
 
 vcmi_set_output_dir(vcmiserver "")
diff --git a/server/CVCMIServer.cpp b/server/CVCMIServer.cpp
index 902d1a8e2..aa6f5ed82 100644
--- a/server/CVCMIServer.cpp
+++ b/server/CVCMIServer.cpp
@@ -114,8 +114,8 @@ public:
 	}
 };
 
-std::string SERVER_NAME_AFFIX = "server";
-std::string SERVER_NAME = GameConstants::VCMI_VERSION + std::string(" (") + SERVER_NAME_AFFIX + ')';
+std::string NAME_AFFIX = "server";
+std::string NAME = GameConstants::VCMI_VERSION + std::string(" (") + NAME_AFFIX + ')';
 
 CVCMIServer::CVCMIServer(boost::program_options::variables_map & opts)
 	: port(3030), io(std::make_shared<boost::asio::io_service>()), state(EServerState::LOBBY), cmdLineOptions(opts), currentClientId(1), currentPlayerId(1), restartGameplay(false)
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ void CVCMIServer::connectionAccepted(const boost::system::error_code & ec)
 	try
 	{
 		logNetwork->info("We got a new connection! :)");
-		auto c = std::make_shared<CConnection>(upcomingConnection, SERVER_NAME, uuid);
+		auto c = std::make_shared<CConnection>(upcomingConnection, NAME, uuid);
 		upcomingConnection.reset();
 		connections.insert(c);
 		c->handler = std::make_shared<boost::thread>(&CVCMIServer::threadHandleClient, this, c);
@@ -920,14 +920,9 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv[])
 	console = new CConsoleHandler();
 	CBasicLogConfigurator logConfig(VCMIDirs::get().userLogsPath() / "VCMI_Server_log.txt", console);
 	logConfig.configureDefault();
-	logGlobal->info(SERVER_NAME);
+	logGlobal->info(NAME);
 
-    boost::program_options::variables_map opts;
-#ifdef VCMI_IOS
-    argc = 1;
-    boost::condition_variable * cond = reinterpret_cast<boost::condition_variable *>(argv[1]);
-    cond->notify_one();
-#else
+	boost::program_options::variables_map opts;
 	handleCommandOptions(argc, argv, opts);
 	preinitDLL(console);
 	settings.init();
@@ -935,7 +930,6 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv[])
 
 	loadDLLClasses();
 	srand((ui32)time(nullptr));
-#endif
 	try
 	{
 		boost::asio::io_service io_service;
@@ -975,17 +969,10 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv[])
 	return 0;
 }
 
-#ifdef VCMI_ANDROID
+#if defined(VCMI_ANDROID) || defined(VCMI_IOS)
 void CVCMIServer::create()
 {
 	const char * foo[1] = {"android-server"};
 	main(1, const_cast<char **>(foo));
 }
-#elif defined(VCMI_IOS)
-void CVCMIServer::create(boost::condition_variable * cond)
-{
-    const auto executablePath = VCMIDirs::get().serverPath();
-    void *argv[] = {const_cast<char *>(executablePath.c_str()), cond};
-    main(2, reinterpret_cast<char **>(argv));
-}
 #endif
diff --git a/server/CVCMIServer.h b/server/CVCMIServer.h
index 5e68c62eb..7cd84eb46 100644
--- a/server/CVCMIServer.h
+++ b/server/CVCMIServer.h
@@ -101,9 +101,7 @@ public:
 
 	ui8 getIdOfFirstUnallocatedPlayer() const;
 
-#ifdef VCMI_ANDROID
+#if defined(VCMI_ANDROID) || defined(VCMI_IOS)
 	static void create();
-#elif defined(VCMI_IOS)
-    static void create(boost::condition_variable * cond);
 #endif
 };
diff --git a/server/main_ios.mm b/server/main_ios.mm
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ec28d8c64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/main_ios.mm
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+/*
+ * main_ios.mm, part of VCMI engine
+ *
+ * Authors: listed in file AUTHORS in main folder
+ *
+ * License: GNU General Public License v2.0 or later
+ * Full text of license available in license.txt file, in main folder
+ *
+ */
+#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>
+#import <AVFoundation/AVFoundation.h>
+
+//#include "StdInc.h"
+#include "../Global.h"
+#include "CVCMIServer.h"
+
+@interface ViewController : UIViewController
+@end
+
+@implementation ViewController
+@end
+
+
+@interface AppDelegate : UIResponder <UIApplicationDelegate>
+@property (nonatomic, strong) UIWindow *window;
+@property (nonatomic, strong) AVPlayerLooper *looper;
+@end
+
+@implementation AppDelegate
+
+- (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(NSDictionary *)launchOptions
+{
+	self.window = [[UIWindow alloc] initWithFrame:UIScreen.mainScreen.bounds];
+	self.window.rootViewController = [ViewController new];
+	[self.window makeKeyAndVisible];
+
+    [AVAudioSession.sharedInstance setCategory:AVAudioSessionCategoryPlayback mode:AVAudioSessionModeDefault options:AVAudioSessionCategoryOptionMixWithOthers error:nullptr];
+
+    auto item = [AVPlayerItem playerItemWithURL:[NSBundle.mainBundle URLForResource:@"silence" withExtension:@"wav"]];
+    auto player = [AVQueuePlayer new];
+    player.allowsExternalPlayback = NO;
+    [player play];
+    self.looper = [AVPlayerLooper playerLooperWithPlayer:player templateItem:item];
+
+    [NSThread detachNewThreadWithBlock:^
+    {
+        NSThread.currentThread.name = @"CVCMIServer";
+        NSLog(@"starting server from thread %@", NSThread.currentThread);
+        CVCMIServer::create();
+    }];
+	return YES;
+}
+
+@end
+
+
+int main(int argc, char * argv[])
+{
+	@autoreleasepool
+	{
+		return UIApplicationMain(argc, argv, nil, NSStringFromClass([AppDelegate class]));
+	}
+}