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HisHouse

Q: Do i need to keep copies of iOS apps in iTunes (on my computer)?

I have a Macbook Air, and would like to free up some space. I noticed there are copies of all my apps (and family's apps) in my iTunes library, and found the setting that was marked for automatic downloads of apps purchases from another device. Can I safely delete these iOS apps from my computer to free up space without affecting my ability to use/update/download them on inidvidual devices? Thanks!

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2011), iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Jan 23, 2014 7:26 AM

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Q: Do i need to keep copies of iOS apps in iTunes (on my computer)?

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  • by Michael Black,Solvedanswer

    Michael Black Michael Black Jan 23, 2014 7:33 AM in response to HisHouse
    Level 7 (24,590 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 7:33 AM in response to HisHouse

    Generally speaking yes you do not need to keep local copies of the installer files, as you can re-download purchased content from the iTunes or App stores anyway (an exception is audiobooks, which are not available for re-download).

     

    There is one reason to keep apps or some apps around though.  If the developer pulls a particular version of an app and replaces it with another version, the only version available for re-download will be the current one, regardless of which version you originally purchased or want on your device.

     

    So for older devices, like an iPad 1, this may be important.  An iPad 1 cannot be updated beyond iOS 5.1.1 and many apps in the stores have been updated and now require iOS 5, 6 or 7.  In that situation, an iPad 1's owner may have only their own saved copies of compatible apps for re-installation if necessary.

     

    Or, as the case with QuickOffice Pro, which was recently purchased by Google.  Google has removed many useful features in their modified version of QuickOffice, and if someone wants to continue to use the older, pre-Google version, then they need to keep the installer saved locally as it is no longer available.

     

    So there are a few circumstances where you may want to keep some app's installers saved locally for yourself.

  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw Jan 23, 2014 7:34 AM in response to HisHouse
    Level 10 (169,883 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 7:34 AM in response to HisHouse

    Note also that content can be completely and permanently removed by the content owner at any time without warning, not just replaced with a newer version, and that happens quite frequently, for music and movies as well, not just apps. So yes, making backups is at least highly recommended, and I consider it essential.

     

    Regards.

  • by King_Penguin,

    King_Penguin King_Penguin Jan 23, 2014 7:34 AM in response to HisHouse
    Level 10 (134,019 points)
    iTunes
    Jan 23, 2014 7:34 AM in response to HisHouse

    It would be adviseable to keep copies of them somewhere, there is no guarantee that any app (nor any other item) will remain in the store for redownloading in the future - so if you had a problem with a device and needed to restore to an iTunes backup then you'd need the apps in your Mac's iTunes library.

     

    You may also find that if you delete them from your Mac that when you next connect one of your devices then the apps will be copied back to your Mac from that device - though you can stop that happening by just deleting the actual app files from your Mac's iTunes, and not from your iTunes library (so you would still have their 'entries' in the Apps part of your library, just not their actual files).

     

    Are there any apps that you have in your library that aren't used by anybody that you could safely delete without affecting any devices or them being copied back from a device ?

     

    Do you have any old device backups (e.g. from prior to a device's last iOS update) on your Mac's iTunes that you could delete - the backups are listed in the Devices tab in iTunes > Preferences (command-comma).

  • by HisHouse,

    HisHouse HisHouse Jan 23, 2014 8:41 AM in response to HisHouse
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 8:41 AM in response to HisHouse

    P.S. I have my iOS devices set to automatically back up to iCloud.  thanks for the replies. I think I'm all set for now.

  • by Michael Black,Helpful

    Michael Black Michael Black Jan 23, 2014 8:49 AM in response to HisHouse
    Level 7 (24,590 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 8:49 AM in response to HisHouse

    HisHouse wrote:

     

    P.S. I have my iOS devices set to automatically back up to iCloud.  thanks for the replies. I think I'm all set for now.

     

    Just remember, your backup (to iCloud or in iTunes) does not keep copies of the actual apps themselves.  A backup only includes data associated with or stored by your apps, but not the apps.

     

    I generally do keep copies of apps I use regularly, or which I consider essential (e.g. Week Calendar, Goodreader, Awesome Notes, Beesy, iThoughtsHD, Notebook+, Pcalc, etc), but purge others I know for certain I will never come back to or have replaced with something better.  Everybody tends to accumulate a bunch of free apps that ultimately you know you are finished with for good (often after the first use ).