How do I downgrade an app without losing my data or restarting my whole system?

You cannot rollback or reinstall an earlier version of an App. You can only (re)install, or upgrade to, the most recent version of an App that is supported by the iOS/iPadOS device.

Restoring from a backup does not work-around this limitation - as the backup only includes the App-data and not the App itself. When restoring a backup, Apps that correspond with restored App-data are automatically reinstalled from the App Store -subject to the App(s) remaining both available and compatible with the target device.

As such, erasing and restoring the iPad offers no benefit - as the App versions that you have now will simply be reinstalled. You should also note that restoring from an iCloud or iTunes backup is all-or-nothing; you cannot selectively restore individual elements of the backup.

JCW6 wrote:

If you feel there was something wrong about an update from the App Store, how can you "reinstall" the same version from the App Store?

If you think the update didn't work or the file got corrupted, delete the app from your device and download it again from the App Store. Just belt and suspenders, I might restart the phone after deleting and re-installing.

Do not be confused by the little cloud icon in the App Store. That does NOT mean that you're getting a version that was stored in iCloud or something. This is a not uncommon misconception. It just means you've downloaded the app before.

you can't just restore one app

JCW6 wrote:

Dear IdrisSeabright -- You seem to know what you're talking about. Have they ever responded anywhere to this question? Do you have any inkling of why?

All I can tell you is that Apple doesn't respond here in this forum. More generally, Apple has taken a strong stance on security on iPhones. That's why you can only load apps from the App Store (unless you do warranty-breaking things). And, Apple cannot force developers to continue to support older versions of apps. Those older versions of apps may no longer meet the requirements of the app store, may not work on newer versions of iOS or the developer may simply not want to deal with the support of older versions any more than they have. to.

P.S. -- Do you have any knowledge of why new threads sometimes get "removed" from this forum? I've had two so removed with no explanation except a reference to the Terms of Use and Etiquette Guidelines. I read these, and they don't appear at all relevant in my cases. Do the Monitors (or the algorithms that take their place) disallow any questions about the internal hardware of iPhones? -- JCW6 (sorry, I didn't mean for this to turn into a rant, but I would really like to know!)

If Apple removes one of your posts because it violates the terms of use, you will receive an email telling you that. It's been a while since I've gotten one so I don't remember exactly what they say. However, it's worth noting the final line of the TOU, "Apple reserves the right to delete any Submission, or take action against any account, at any time, for any reason."

I don't recall having seen any of your posts that were later removed, I couldn't say. Also, discussions about moderation decisions, also tend to be subject to removal. ;-)

iOS will always install the latest version of an app

that is available and supported by the iOS version

on your iPhone. Developers can only keep one

version for each iOS in the App Store so there

is no choice in what to install.

these are the ways to reach out to them

 Get Support (apple.com)

And or Contact - Official Apple Support

And or Contact - How to Contact Us - Apple

Or Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Never update.

Anything… EVER

Seems like the people who are building software these days, don’t actually use it.

You can't downgrade

Judging from all the "Me To's" on this post, it would see reasonable for Apple to at least give an explanation for this oddity.

At this point I'd count this a major advantage of the Android OS, for which there are numerous "mirror sites" for lots of Android apps. -- JCW6

JCW6 wrote:

Judging from all the "Me To's" on this post, it would see reasonable for Apple to at least give an explanation for this oddity.

Apple doesn't respond here in this user-to-user support forum.

Dear IdrisSeabright -- You seem to know what you're talking about. Have they ever responded anywhere to this question? Do you have any inkling of why?

P.S. -- Do you have any knowledge of why new threads sometimes get "removed" from this forum? I've had two so removed with no explanation except a reference to the Terms of Use and Etiquette Guidelines. I read these, and they don't appear at all relevant in my cases. Do the Monitors (or the algorithms that take their place) disallow any questions about the internal hardware of iPhones? -- JCW6 (sorry, I didn't mean for this to turn into a rant, but I would really like to know!)

>>I don't recall having seen any of your posts that were later removed...<<

Dear IdrisSeabright -- Thanks for your very considerate replies. Way more than I expected!

You wouldn't have seen them because they disappeared almost immediately -- what made me think an algorithm was doing it in response to a keyword or some such.

If one wanted an answer from Apple about a monitoring issue in the Community Discussions, where would one ask?

I promise I won't badger you any more. -- JCW6

LotusPilot said, "You can only (re)install, or upgrade to, the most recent version of an App that is supported by the iOS/iPadOS device."

If you feel there was something wrong about an update from the App Store, how can you "reinstall" the same version from the App Store?

I don't see any such option. Can somebody please explain? -- JCW6

Why not? -- JCW6

There was recently a huge change made in the way the forums work and it has made some things a bit wonky. More wonky than they were before. So, that could part of the problem.

One thing I might add is that everyone who had been active in these forums for more than five minutes has had a post removed for some reason. Sometimes for cause, sometimes because the post was a response to something that was removed for cause (then you won't get an email). Don't take it too personally.

The Terms of Use give this email address: communityaccounts@apple.com

And you're not badgering!