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Level 1

5 points

why sync applications every time?

In iTunes, under the application tab, there is a list of the apps I have downloaded. I assume these reside on my iPhone? Yet if I unmark "sync apps" it tells me that all apps and data will be removed from the iPhone. This seems illogical to me. Why sync everything again and again?
I am obviously missing something here. Please explain.

PB G4

Posted on Dec 30, 2008 5:35 PM

Best reply

Allan Sampson

Level 10

123,677 points

Posted on Dec 30, 2008 5:42 PM

The applications you have downloaded with iTunes on your computer are stored in your iTunes library. Any applications downloaded and installed with your iPhone should be transferred to your iTunes library when syncing your iPhone afterwards.

Your selections under the Applications tab is no different that your selections for music and iTunes content that is transferred to your iPhone. If you have selected an iTunes playlist or playlists to be transferred to your iPhone, if you deselect a playlist under the music tab for your iPhone sync preferences that you previously selected to be transferred to your iPhone, the playlist will be removed from your iPhone when syncing.

Applications are no different. If you don't deselect any applications under the Applications tab for your iPhone sync preferences, no applications will be removed from your iPhone, and all selected applications that are already installed on your iPhone will not be transferred again when syncing - just as music that you have selected to be transferred to your iPhone and is already available on your iPhone is not transferred again when syncing.

This provides the ability to remove a selected application from your iPhone if wanted or needed as part of the iTunes sync process.

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17 replies

Mar 11, 2009 12:35 PM in response to Sregdor

Yeah, that's it.
I was on with AppleCare for a while this morning and we figured out how to get around the bug, but not what exactly the cause is.
It's simple enough to get around though. You just have to download the app on BOTH your iPhone/iTouch AND you computer separately.
For some reason, the two are not communicating correctly during the sync.
Oh, and don't worry about the apps you had to pay for. So long as you use the same account, it will let you re-download them without charge.

JackJNYC

Level 1

0 points

Apr 30, 2009 5:19 AM in response to WMederski

I had the same problem. The issue in my case was permissions. I went to the "Mobile Applications" folder in "iTunes Music" and hit command-I to "get info." I clicked the lock at the bottom right-hand corner, added me as someone with read-write permissions. Then I did one more sync (during which all apps transferred from the iPhone). After that one sync, I never had the problem again.

why sync applications every time?