Updating apps using iTunes 12.6.5.3

Thanks you ArthurBA, this should help a lot. I did not realize getting a new app thru this version 12.6.5.3 was also broken, hadn't tried. Nor do I use this version in my Win 10 Itunes. Doubt Apple intends driving us to Win version, but it would be a possibility since it works OK.

Re Annabelles post above, have filed a report on the link posted, and am working my way thru the 40 or so apps that wont update- posting her suggested script. Hope that will help as well to get them moving on this.

So far we seem to be getting no attention from Apple, any one else hear or see any progress? I am up to 40+ apps updates waiting to download in my iTunes 12.6.5.3

FYI, I just set up a new iPhone SE for my wife, and used iTunes to set it up. I saved a backup of her current 5s, then restored the new iPhone SE using that backup. I had to first start the SE as new, then update it to 13.4. Once SE was up to date, I then could restore it from last 5S backup. It restored properly, and after that iTunes installed all her current apps from memory in my Mac, which took about 15 minutes.

I then switched sim card to SE for phone connection, went smoothly, no issues. Once done, the SE then began downloading the updates that had not been done, that took about another 15 minutes.

So i estimate using the 12.6.5.3 version of iTunes saved about 5 hours or so of app download time, not to mention the data saved. So WHY Apple thinks we don't need this version to work is unclear to me. It is safer, quicker, easier to use than downloading everything from cloud as far as I can see.

BobW0904 wrote: So WHY Apple thinks we don't need this version to work is unclear to me.

Apple has decided to release macOS versions and apps on a schedule. This has resulted in the release of a lot of buggy, half-baked software with little thought to usability. End users are also responsible as they reflexively update software, whether warranted or not, just to get the latest shiny new trinket.

At one time Apple had great software, well thought out and indeed, "it just works". Those days are gone and now it's mass market driven; all about making a lot of money. As usual, whenever something becomes cool, it no longer is cool.

This is what I think too 😟

They don't care anymore just money money 🤑

Sad

I heard Bill Gates talking few days ago: I like him more than I did ..maybe because he's doing a great philanthropy job and is far from computers 😉

We need to hope that someone will come back to rescue the rotten apples as it happened in the past when Jobs rescued Apple from J.Sculley , sigh

Dreaming

I doubt here's anything wrong with anyone's system. I have exactly the same issue on both my iPhone SE and iPad Pro. I'm running OS 10.12.6 Sierra and iTunes 12.6.5.3 on a Mac Pro 5,1 and MacBook Air. My iPhone is running iOS 12.4.1 and the iPad 13.3. Both iOS's worked perfectly on Sierra managing my apps both in updates and holding copies of the apps so I could install or uninstall apps on my many iOS devices. In looking at other Apple blogs, it's become apparent this is Apple's way of forcing those who have refused to upgrade to the latest iTunes since there is no reason to stay with iTunes 12.6.5.3 and earlier.

I personally feel it's Apples doing and I doubt we'll ever see it come back. They are simply forcing people to upgrade their equipment by writing code and using their servers to frustrate people into upgrading, whether it's their software or hardware. A case in point is Mac Pro 3,1 (and others) not being able to load Sierra and above without some high end user/code writer showing how a cracked code they designed can allow these newer OS's to run perfectly on older gear. It's obvious they are trying to retire good equipment and force upgrades. I love my Apple stuff and I have plenty of it, but I hate these kind of decisions on their part. The interesting thing is this iTunes issue is not supposedly happening on the Windows side from what I've read. So maybe there's a glitch in Apples servers, as why would they do it on the Apple OS side and not the Windows versions if it's true?

Apple you have enough money in the bank to allow us users who have older gear (and can't afford to upgrade) to continue to use your later software or at least allow us the ability to use our current software and hardware in the manner it was designed.

Sorry for the rant in my love/hate relationship since my first purchase of a 9600 Tower running OS9. LOL Life goes on though and we will have to get used to their ways. I still love my Apple gear; it's dependable, works great and is paid for. I suspect it will give me many more years of trouble free use. Buying into the latest and greatest is part of the consumption problem in our rapid slide into industrial waste and pollution of the planet.

Shame on you Apple for being greedy.

One more annoying detail- all of a sudden, on all of my many playlists, the iCloud download column has reappeared,

even though none of the playlist previously had it displayed (I always disable that)- it’s like iTunes just ignores my settings, and does whatever it want to (or in the case of downloads, doesn’t want to).

Here is my problem summarized, is it the same as the other 125 people it says have this problem?

The Mac mini stores backup of the apps I use on 5 different iOS device that I support; I do this so I do not have to download for hour upon hour over the internet when I get a new device and need to fill it up with our Apps.

To do the updating of these stored apps, iTunes version 12.6.5.3 normally checks the stored app .ipa files in my Mac against the current updates being pushed out to iOS devices by Apple. If there is an update available, iTunes version 12.6.5.3 will indicate this in the part of the program called "updates" by showing the icon for any revised app. Currently there are about 40 of these waiting under "Updates" section.

Normally I can click on Update Apps button at bottom of the scree and all those updates are then downloaded, the .ipa file in storage is deleted and the new version .ipa replaced in storage on my Mac. The problem is that what was working to do the replacement and update of each .ipa is broken somehow and the .ipa is not downloading.

Following is a print-screen that show all the apps I have waiting now.

Just spent another couple hours on phone with different levels of iTunes and Mac support re 12.6.5.3 iTunes not updating or downloading iOS apps since March 18th. It seems the issue started around the time that iTunes moved to Music under Mac OS Catalina on March 19th, according to the last Senior tech I talked to. She can find no official statement that 12.6..5.3 is no longer supported however, just that the move to Music from iTunes happened at the same time. So there may still be hope.

She has filed a request to look into our "problem" with iTunes 12.6.5.3 with the iTunes/Music group. Will see what happens in next week or so, not holding my breath however!

As with all other techs, she suggests it would be best to update my Mac-mini to High Sierra and also iTunes 12.8 so I have the latest software my system can handle. For the 100th time I had to explain I don't WANT to update to High Sierra or iTunes 12.8 because I like what I have now. I just want them to fix 12.6.5.3 so it does what it used to.

Anyone else out there try calling in to Apple support lately?

I have the same issue. I didn’t realise there was already a post in this and started a post, as I thought it was just my Mac. I was advised to unplug computer and plug it in again, but having read previous comments, the fact that Apple have done something to their servers makes more sense. I am still able to download app updates on my iPad and iPhone, but my Mac (running Mavericks), is having none of it., am also unable to download new apps from iTunes App Store. It appears to download the apps, but the little download circle with the arrow never appears and so the apps aren’t updated.

Am hoping that Apple sort something out pretty soon, but I won’t hold my breath. I believe they won’t fix it, as they want people to buy new computers.

Same issue.

For now, I find that since I have a Windows VM I use for development its easier to use iTunes in Windows (because it 'Just Works'). All the apps are local, iOS upgrades, backup and restore work just fine - just like in the old days. It's a helluva lot more efficient and convenient not to have to download redundantly on individual devices and do OTA upgrades.

I'm certain Apple thought it was a brilliant idea to strip the Apps out of iTunes on Mac.

Why?

Because: Apple.

To be clear, I don't think the problem is iTunes.

I suspect Apple may have finally removed the iTunes app repository. That makes sense considering Apple's plan. I think it was a terrible decision. They've really been full of odoriferous organic matter lately.

If you read this post and the thread you will see that they were able to isolate the problem to Apple Servers

and confirmation came from Apple too, with the promise -Not Maintained Yet!

that they were going to fix it

Yes, you are not the only one 😉

But since two years ago they fixed it and

alas recently broke it again..

I guess now is more complicated not having the whole force working at Apple because of the Covid 😟

If it is a TLS issue, then another workaround would be to use a local proxy to upgrade the connection to TLS1.2 - if anyone wants to try it out there is a thread over on stackoverflow titled "Can I use Squid to upgrade client TLS connections?" (it's not possible to post links here I think, but a quick google search will find it).

The previous worarounds I posted using A.Configurator 2 are working for me, so I'm going to stick to that.

But if anyone does test out a client proxy and it works, please do add to the thread.

I can understand Apple wanting to kill iTunes 12.6.5.3 access to apps and updates, after all they took it out of all versions thereafter. I've come to think that Apple would simply be more direct and tell everyone what's happening instead of wasting our time troubleshooting and that of their their own tech support, all of whom seem baffled. I mean they own the SW abd can do what they want, why be so overt about it? It doesn't make sense or create good will.

When later OS's wouldn't load the newer OS's like Sierra and up on older equipment they told us so beforehand (even though it can run on older equipment) , but since they are in the business of selling hardware, I see why they did it. This situation with iTunes seems to be different, with it being more of a glitch with their servers rather than being intentional. From what I've read on a couple other posts, they are aware of it and will get it fixed once we are beyond this pandemic which is throwing everything off and behind schedule. Hang tight and update using your phone or iPad overnight. I recant my rant when I look at it from a more logical perspective.