iTunes 12.7 app management using Content Caching

When Apple removed iOS app management from iTunes 12.7 it affected a great many users. This genuinely inconvenienced some, like those with limited internet access or strict cellular data limits. Since then, Apple released iTunes 12.6.3, which brought back app support and enabled Content Caching in High Sierra to ease support of multiple devices.

Why Content Caching?

Before High Sierra, Content Cashing was only available as part of macOS Server. Knowing that elimination of app support will have a negative impact on users supporting multiple iDevices, Apple made Content Caching available to all users.

What is Content Caching?

Content Caching it meant to reduce the need to download apps individually to each device. Once enabled, syncing any one iDevice will result in macOS downloading and storing all apps on that device on the Mac, so they can be synced onto other devices.

How to enable Content Caching?

In System Preferences > Sharing > add checkmark to Content Caching.

Maximum storage allocated for Content Caching can also be controlled via the Options button. Options is also where Caching folder location can be set.

Now what?

Once enabled, the cached apps can be dragged to install on multiple iDevices. See this link for how to manually manage your devices.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201593

Notes:

1. Note that this method will download Universal apps, which might be substantially larger and use up more storage space than when downloading apps directly to your iDevice.

App-Thinning: Why lack of app management in iTunes 12.7 is not all bad news: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-12291

2. Instruction and screenshots are accurate as of macOS 10.13.

References:

1. Changes in the new iTunes 12.7: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208075

2.iTunes 12.6.3 brings back App, Ringtone support: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-12172

3. About content caching: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/about-content-caching-mchleaf1e61d

4. Content types that macOS Server caching and macOS caching support: Content types that macOS Server caching and macOS caching support - Apple Support

5. Set up content caching: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-content-caching-mchl3b6c3720

6. How and Why to Set Up iCloud Content Caching: https://www.macobserver.com/tips/how-to/macos-high-sierra-set-icloud-content-cac hing/

7. Content Caching in macOS High Sierra: https://georgegarside.com/blog/macos/high-sierra-content-caching/