Restore lost app

Good evening ladies and gents!


Here is my situation:


  1. I had purchased an app from app store once.
  2. I accidentally delete the app on my iphone.
  3. This app is no longer in app store but also... i cannot find it in my purchased history (strange!!)!
  4. This app is installed to another i-device (ipad) of my wife. I had installed the app to her ipad, using my apple id as secondary account to her ipad (so is not shown as purchased app to her account, when i try to reach her shared apps via family accounts services).


So... any ideas how can i restore this missing app from my account and reinstall it to my iphone? (XR ios16)


Thanks a lot, in advance!!

Posted on Sep 29, 2022 8:34 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 1, 2022 9:16 AM

Greetings Michael-GR,


To help troubleshot, check and see if the app is hidden in your Apple ID purchase history. Check out those steps here:


Hide purchases from the App Store - Apple Support


"Unhide apps on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch


If you've deleted an app from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, the app won't reappear automatically on your Home Screen when you unhide it. Instead, re-download the app from the App Store. You won't need to buy the app again.


  1. Open the App Store app.
  2. Tap the account button , or your photo or initials, at the top of the screen.
  3. Tap your name or Apple ID. You may be asked to sign in with your Apple ID.
  4. iPhone showing the Account menu with John Appleseed's Apple ID selected.
  5. Scroll down and tap Hidden Purchases.
  6. iPhone showing the Hidden Purchases menu item.
  7. Find the app that you want, then tap Unhide.
  8. To return to the App Store, tap Account Settings, then tap Done.
  9. Search for the app, then tap the download button ."


Let us know if that helps.


Kind regards.

5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 1, 2022 9:16 AM in response to Michael-GR

Greetings Michael-GR,


To help troubleshot, check and see if the app is hidden in your Apple ID purchase history. Check out those steps here:


Hide purchases from the App Store - Apple Support


"Unhide apps on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch


If you've deleted an app from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, the app won't reappear automatically on your Home Screen when you unhide it. Instead, re-download the app from the App Store. You won't need to buy the app again.


  1. Open the App Store app.
  2. Tap the account button , or your photo or initials, at the top of the screen.
  3. Tap your name or Apple ID. You may be asked to sign in with your Apple ID.
  4. iPhone showing the Account menu with John Appleseed's Apple ID selected.
  5. Scroll down and tap Hidden Purchases.
  6. iPhone showing the Hidden Purchases menu item.
  7. Find the app that you want, then tap Unhide.
  8. To return to the App Store, tap Account Settings, then tap Done.
  9. Search for the app, then tap the download button ."


Let us know if that helps.


Kind regards.

Oct 14, 2022 1:41 PM in response to Michael-GR

Hi Michael-GR,


Question. When you looked through your previous purchases, did you search through the older ones also? Since it was an older app, we want to make sure you've gotten through all app purchases. Here's how:

Find information about older purchases
If you can't find an item in your purchase history at reportaproblem.apple.com, check the purchase history in Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Or check the purchase history in Account Settings on your computer.
1. On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
2. Open the Settings app.
3. Tap your name, then tap Media & Purchases. 
4. Tap View Account. You might be asked to sign in.
5. Tap Purchase History.
iPhone showing the Purchase History menu option in Settings.

Your purchase history appears. Tap Last 90 Days, then select a different date range.

View your purchase history for the App Store, iTunes Store, and other Apple media services - Apple Support


If you've made it through all purchases, could you have used a different Apple ID? If you had a previous Apple ID, and made a new one instead of changing the email address used, that would explain why you can't find it. Purchases from separate Apple IDs can't be merged.


Normally we'd advise to contact the app developer. However, they may not be reachable, as the app was removed from the App Store.

How to contact an app developer - Apple Support


Take care!

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Restore lost app

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.