Updating apps using iTunes 12.6.5.3

As suggested by others, using iTunes 12.6.5.3 on Windows to download the latest versions of apps locally, and then copying the new .ipa files across to the Mac works a treat. Drag and drop them into Mac iTunes 12.6.5.3 and iTunes updates the App library. Clunky but fine.

I tried installing iTunes 12.6.5.3 on my Windows 10 computer, and it does not work. It has an error because the newer version iTunes that comes with Win 10 leaves behind file structure that is not compatible with it.

Has anyone else figured how to get this version to work on an up to date Win 10 setup? I am currently on Win 10 version 1909, Build 18363.778 and with iTunes 12.10.7.3 as downloaded from the Microsoft store.

I also have an old MAC that does have iTunes 12.6.5.3 on it, but it of course has not worked right since March and I have over 60 apps waiting there to be saved.

Apparently if one has loaded the iTunes direct from Microsoft Store as I did after moving machine to Win 10 from Win 7, there is no going back or deleting the existing installation, at least that I could find. Programs do not all show in the Control Panel "Programs & Features" if it comes from Microsoft Store, so can't remove it completely.

Another wonderful Win 10 "improvement" for users apparently, tied to the Microsoft Store for apps. I think I am stuck unless I reinstall Win 10, which is not likely since it took several nights work to get it updated.

I just got a new PC, with Win 10. It didn't come with iTunes. Yesterday I installed iTunes v 12.6.5.3 onto to my new Win 10 PC. So far, it seems to work fine.

I can update apps from the App Store and I can sync them to at least one of our iDevices.

What I did find, was that even if I told iTunes NOT to sync an update, it sometimes did; not for all apps but I didn't see a pattern.

iTunes 12.6.5.3 backed up the phone I did yesterday. Looks no different from when it was on the Win 7 machine.

Is there no way for you to UNinstall the iTunes?

I did try removing any reference to Apple software via Control Panel "Programs & Features" first before installing the iTunes 12.6.5.3 from the link. After install I get error that says iTunes can't work because a newer edition is already installed. There is no option to uninstall via the Microsoft Store either, so I am stuck.

When a deinstaller is not available, one must remove the components of the install manually. In Mac OS this is fairly easy to do, since most components are located in just a few locations. My old experience of Windows 7 was not the case. There seems like files all over the place. Maybe just because I didn't know the Windows system well enough being a Apple guy for years, all the way back to OS9. Also they may have simplified the structure later on in W8 & 10. You could do a system search for "iTunes" and throw out everything that shows up. Then try a fresh install of Windows iTunes 12.6.5.3. There must be at least one old component in your files that is triggering the failed install due to a newer version.

I have successfully removed newer versions of Mac iTunes in this manner.

Really ****** us loyal Mac users off that Apple has removed control of apps in 12.6.5.3 on the Mac side, but not Windows. It's not some kind of glitch either as this has been going on for several months and no fix. Most of us Mac users now realize there's not one coming. Many people have been polite and screaming on deft ears at Apple.

For those families and institutions or IT people, this is a real drag and inconvenient. It's the reason iTunes 12.6.5.3 was created in the first place to accommodate institutions. Otherwise for single users it's pretty easy just to install, remove and update on the phone. While I don't like it, and miss the convenience of the prior app control, I'm not losing any sleep over it.

Still love all my Apple products.

Cheers and Good luck

M

Thank you fritzmom, using that link and following all of the directions ALMOST did the trick. I did all the steps (after backing up my iTunes to disk) and got the iTunes 12.6.5.3 installed. It would not start up, saying that the file iTunes Library.itl was made with a newer version of iTunes and so could not start up at all. So I deleted that file from iTunes directory, shut down and restarted. That did the trick, and am now up and running on my Win 10 machine. I will have to go back and rebuild my Audiobooks which got lost in the shuffle, but no problem, all backed up elsewhere

I have now downloaded all my iPhone and iPad "Purchased" app .ipas into this version satisfactorily, with 3 exceptions - all Apple apps which say I have to download to an iOs device, can't be downloaded in Win 10. They are Find My friends, Apple Podcasts and Apple Books, no real loss there.

Also tried out the Updates Tab and it works!!! Finally can keep up again.

Just one further question: How do I transfer the updated .ipas to my Mac iTunes - previous post says to drag and drop to iTunes, but what folder? Mobile Apps is where the old ones are, i think.

Thanks again, and also big RASPBERRY to Apple for making us Mac users have to bend over backward like this to use Apps backup and Update functions that should be freely available to any Mac user who wants it!!

You're Welcome BobW0904, glad I was able to point you in the right direction. Came across that while looking to see what would happen if a downloaded iTunes didn't work for me. I'm now using 2 PCs, a Win 7 and this new Win 10. iTunes 12.6.5.3 worked on the Win 7 and now works on Win 10. So I'm thinking that maybe I'll just upgrade iTunes on the Win 7 to the latest version so I can update all our iDevices to iOS 13+, everything is still iOS 12.xx. But keep the Enterprise version on Win 10 for app management.

Sorry but I can't help you with Mac stuff, except for iDevices, I'm Windows.

Interesting about those Apple apps you couldn't download, I just downloaded 3 Apple Essentials (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) via iTunes 12.6.5.3 update. Don't use the 3 you mentioned at all, so I agree with 'no loss there'.

Actually a huge 'raspberry' to Apple for treating all their customers the way they are.

Have a Good One and I hope you find the Mac answer you need!

Just in case anyone from Apple is reading this, here is why we all want the update function back on the Mac. I am now downloading backup copies on my Win 10 for 334 apps, which my family uses on 5 iOs devices. So far after 4 hours of download time, only 150 have copied.

So if I don't maintain these files as backup for my devices, and I need to wipe and rebuild any device, I am looking at minimum 4-6 hours to restore the apps, AFTER I restore the device itself from iTunes or the cloud. Have had to do this several times in the past, so it is likely to happen again.

So I need the on computer backup of all my apps, do you understand?I don't want to wait 4-6 hours, from a direct connect to backup takes maybe 15 minutes.

Please fix the Mac iTunes 12.6.5.3 so I can do it the way it should be.......

BobW0904 wrote:

Just one further question: How do I transfer the updated .ipas to my Mac iTunes - previous post says to drag and drop to iTunes, but what folder? Mobile Apps is where the old ones are, i think.

The updated .ipa files are not dropped into a folder. The procedure to copy the updated .ipa files into iTunes is as follows:

Open iTunes, select "Apps" from the listbox in the upper left corner and then click the "Library" tab in the menu bar. Drag and drop the new .ipa file(s) into this iTunes window.

Has there been any conclusion to this problem?

I am over 4 months without app updates and some apps are now refusing to work until updated. I very much want to keep my updates on the mac via iTunes but my old hardware will not support versions newer than MacOS 10.11.6 and iTunes 12.6.0.1.

I have tried ideas suggested in this tread including sending many messages to apple feedback. Yet 4 months on, I have heard no comment from apple if this will or will not be fixed. Has anyone developed a hack to make it work properly or found other solutions? Thank you.

Alas no! I've been writing to Apple , leaving feedbacks but no one seems to care. 😟

One solution is to use Apple Configurator , just for one of your devices

Just follow these instructions from this thread

#363

Then you can sync all your other devices without the need to download it multiple times.

Other than using my Win 10 with iTunes 12.6.5.3 installed to collect the latest updates, and then transfer them to myMac mini, no. Once on the Mac, all you do is drag the files (.ipa) and drop on your Apps>Library and they update just as in the past.

I have just about given up myself, and have been manually updating apps on the phone as necessary. I am hesitant to totally throw in the towel with iTunes and just let App store update at will (individually on each and every iOS device), as I have had updates to some apps log me out, or lose my info, so that if I am out and about, and need to be to use an app, I may not have the info handy to be able to log in, or don't want to have to re-enter all my credit card info when I am trying purchase transportation tickets, or use other services on the spot...

Wasn't magic, alas , happened because so many of us complained !

Please send a feedback , more we send more chances we'll have to see it fixed

Why Windows work and not Apple?!?