why sync applications every time?

Question

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

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

Allan Sampson

Level 10

123,677 points

Dec 30, 2008 5:42 PM in response to John Vasko

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.

Reply

Answer 2

roaminggnome

Level 10

106,365 points

Dec 30, 2008 5:43 PM in response to John Vasko

Itunes keeps the iphone in sync with whatever you have checked. If you want it on there keep it checked. Otherwise, how would you remove it from iphone while leaving it on itunes?

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 30, 2008 5:45 PM in response to John Vasko

It doesn't sync over and over. Checking "sync apps" tells iTunes to compare it library of apps with those on your phone and sync any changes. If there are no unsynced changes, nothing happens. Unchecking "sync apps" tells iTunes you don't want apps on your phone anymore.

The progress bar above the main iTunes window shows you what is being synced.

This article may explain it for you: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1386

Reply

Answer 4

Jan 3, 2009 12:33 PM in response to Allan Sampson

You said: Your selections under the Applications tab is no different that your selections for music and iTunes content that is transferred to your iPhone.

Apparently it is: If I sync a playlist of music itunes/sync/phone whatever check the list for updates and removes or adds songs that I have added or removed but it doesn't resync the entire playlist every time I sync my phone. That seems to be what it is doing with the applications. Unless sync is just really slow. because what it says is that it is copying each application on the phone to the itunes lib. Why do this every-time i sync? a waste of time if there are no updates to the app software.
Annoying.

Reply

Answer 5

Jan 3, 2009 12:44 PM in response to Matthew and Julie Hippely

It shouldn't do this every time you sync, it is not supposed to do this every time you sync, it does not do this every time I sync my iPhone. If this occurs with your iPhone, you obviously have a problem.

Any applications downloaded and installed with your iPhone should be transferred to your iTunes library from your iPhone during the next sync after doing so, but this should occur once, not for all applications everytime you sync.

Reply

Answer 6

Jan 3, 2009 2:32 PM in response to Allan Sampson

ok, thanks for the info. any tips for troubleshooting why it is doing that?

Reply

Answer 7

nardori

Level 1

0 points

Jan 13, 2009 11:17 AM in response to Jim VanLeeuwen

I have the same exact problem! Everytime I sync my iPhone with iTunes, ALL of my applications are synced. In other words, apps I've had for months and that have also been in my iTunes app library for months keep syncing and getting recopied to my iPhone. This is a problem.

Reply

Answer 8

Jan 14, 2009 11:54 AM in response to nardori

You can sync apps from only one computer. If you connect to another computer and sync apps from there, you get the "delete everything first and then sync" routine.

Reply

Answer 9

Jan 19, 2009 8:40 AM in response to Gerald Edgar

No, there IS a problem. Every time I hook up my iPhone to my computer, it wants to "sync" all the apps. ITunes says it is downloading an app, but the app never gets downloaded. I only have three of my 10 or so apps in iTunes, even though I have "sync all" checked on the Apps tab.

Reply

Answer 10

Jan 19, 2009 9:14 AM in response to John Vasko

i have the same problem. it is very annoying when you have a few big apps!
is there an solution for this?

Reply

Answer 11

ckang777

Level 1

4 points

Jan 19, 2009 9:46 PM in response to John Vasko

This is really annoying me. I looking for another application to use with my iphone beacuse of this problem. Everytime I press sync it tries to sync ALL my applications. I even have my applicantion sync option off. I'm just want to sync my playlist!!!!!! I have to wait 10 mins just to sync one song in my playlist???????? FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW APPLE!!!!!!!!!!

Reply

Answer 12

Jan 27, 2009 12:34 PM in response to John Vasko

I was wondering this too. I just pluged my phone in to get the update and sync a couple of new apps, but it just starts syncing and backing up everything. It just stoped saying the phone disconnected (not sure why), but it's a pain.

Reply

Answer 13

Feb 25, 2009 7:07 PM in response to John Vasko

Sorry i can't be of any help. Just wanted to say this is happening to me as well. At the moment iTunes say's "Transferring Purchases from "xxx's" iPhone. Copying Monopoly."
When you add beatmaker and monkey ball to name just 2 to that list, syncing my iphone takes up to an hour every time. I have only ever used my iphone with one computer as well.
This used to take about 30 seconds tops to sync (unless of course i had new applications). I have no idea why this started happening.

Reply

Answer 14

Mar 7, 2009 5:57 AM in response to LazyDaveOK

Yup, same problem here.
Everyone was always complaining about "Backups" taking for ever... those just whiz by compared to the 5-8 minutes it takes to "Copying [Application]".
Looks like I'll be making a call to AppleCare...

Reply

Answer 15

Sregdor

Level 1

4 points

Mar 11, 2009 1:01 AM in response to WMederski

I figured it out! I was having the same problem as everyone else here, until I re-downloaded on my computer all the applications that I had purchased on my iPhone itself. So now my "Applications" tab in my iTunes Library has all of my applications represented, and the sync only transfers applications that need updating! Success!

Reply