diff --git a/helpers/apps b/helpers/apps
index 85b74de15..4b253ff90 100644
--- a/helpers/apps
+++ b/helpers/apps
@@ -111,3 +111,95 @@ ynh_remove_apps() {
 		done
 	fi
 }
+
+# Spawn a Bash shell with the app environment loaded
+#
+# usage: ynh_spawn_app_shell --app="app"
+#     | arg: -a, --app=     - the app ID
+#
+# examples:
+#   ynh_spawn_app_shell --app="APP" <<< 'echo "$USER"'
+#   ynh_spawn_app_shell --app="APP" < /tmp/some_script.bash
+#
+# Requires YunoHost version 11.0.* or higher, and that the app relies on packaging v2 or higher.
+# The spawned shell will have environment variables loaded and environment files sourced
+# from the app's service configuration file (defaults to $app.service, overridable by the packager with `service` setting).
+# If the app relies on a specific PHP version, then `php` will be aliased that version.
+ynh_spawn_app_shell() {
+        # Declare an array to define the options of this helper.
+        local legacy_args=a
+        local -A args_array=([a]=app=)
+        local app
+        # Manage arguments with getopts
+        ynh_handle_getopts_args "$@"
+
+        # Force Bash to be used to run this helper
+        if [[ ! $0 =~ \/?bash$ ]]
+        then
+            ynh_print_err --message="Please use Bash as shell"
+            exit 1
+        fi
+
+        # Make sure the app is installed
+        local installed_apps_list=($(yunohost app list --output-as json --quiet | jq -r .apps[].id))
+        if [[ " ${installed_apps_list[*]} " != *" ${app} "* ]]
+        then
+            ynh_print_err --message="$app is not in the apps list"
+            exit 1
+        fi
+
+        # Make sure the app has its own user
+        if ! id -u "$app" &>/dev/null; then
+            ynh_print_err --message="There is no \"$app\" system user"
+            exit 1
+        fi
+
+        # Make sure the app has an install_dir setting
+        local install_dir=$(ynh_app_setting_get --app=$app --key=install_dir)
+        if [ -z "$install_dir" ]
+        then
+            ynh_print_err --message="$app has no install_dir setting (does it use packaging format >=2?)"
+            exit 1
+        fi
+
+        # Load the app's service name, or default to $app
+        local service=$(ynh_app_setting_get --app=$app --key=service)
+        [ -z "$service" ] && service=$app;
+
+        # Export HOME variable
+        export HOME=$install_dir;
+
+        # Load the Environment variables from the app's service
+        local env_var=$(systemctl show $service.service -p "Environment" --value)
+        [ -n "$env_var" ] && export $env_var;
+
+        # Force `php` to its intended version
+        # We use `eval`+`export` since `alias` is not propagated to subshells, even with `export`
+        local phpversion=$(ynh_app_setting_get --app=$app --key=phpversion)
+        if [ -n "$phpversion" ]
+        then
+            eval "php() { php${phpversion} \"\$@\"; }"
+            export -f php
+        fi
+
+        # Source the EnvironmentFiles from the app's service
+        local env_files=($(systemctl show $service.service -p "EnvironmentFiles" --value))
+        if [ ${#env_files[*]} -gt 0 ]
+        then
+            # set -/+a enables and disables new variables being automatically exported. Needed when using `source`.
+            set -a
+            for file in ${env_files[*]}
+            do
+                [[ $file = /* ]] && source $file
+            done
+            set +a
+        fi
+
+        # cd into the WorkingDirectory set in the service, or default to the install_dir
+        local env_dir=$(systemctl show $service.service -p "WorkingDirectory" --value)
+        [ -z $env_dir ] && env_dir=$install_dir;
+        cd $env_dir
+
+        # Spawn the app shell
+        su -s /bin/bash $app
+}
diff --git a/share/actionsmap.yml b/share/actionsmap.yml
index 58787790c..e1de66bc8 100644
--- a/share/actionsmap.yml
+++ b/share/actionsmap.yml
@@ -954,6 +954,12 @@ app:
                     help: Delete the key
                     action: store_true
 
+        ### app_shell()
+        shell:
+            action_help: Open an interactive shell with the app environment already loaded
+            arguments:
+                app:
+                    help: App ID
 
         ### app_register_url()
         register-url:
diff --git a/src/app.py b/src/app.py
index 2eb201a81..04340b1ba 100644
--- a/src/app.py
+++ b/src/app.py
@@ -1645,6 +1645,16 @@ def app_setting(app, key, value=None, delete=False):
     _set_app_settings(app, app_settings)
 
 
+def app_shell(app):
+    """
+    Open an interactive shell with the app environment already loaded
+
+    Keyword argument:
+        app -- App ID
+
+    """
+    subprocess.run(['/bin/bash', '-c', 'source /usr/share/yunohost/helpers && ynh_spawn_app_shell '+app])
+
 def app_register_url(app, domain, path):
     """
     Book/register a web path for a given app