Deleted Apps keep re-installing

Not entirely sure I understand each individual problem of everyone that posted to this thread but I also had an App that just wouldn't "go away"...

I found that my situation was caused by an "interrupted" download somewhere along the line which created an App ".tmp" folder along with a "list.plist" file with info about any pending downloads including the problem App. This data is kept in your iTunes Library "../Downloads" directory.

And as such, I solved my problem by allowing the App to fully complete download and processing. Then I re-deleted the App from iTunes, confirming "Delete Files" as well. After this was completed the App ".tmp" folder was gone as was the file containing the pending file download info.

Alternatively, I'm *guessing* that you could simply delete via Windows Explorer the suspect App related ".tmp" folders and the "list.plist" data file. The caveat with this approach is to make sure all the App updates/downloads that are valid and you actually want are complete before removing the "list.plist" file.

I deleted an app several days ago and for the first time since iTunes 11, this behaviour (or mockingly "feature") seems to be added in iTunes 11? Really annoying, i thought they are trolling me, because i hated it when they resync music that i deleted from my iPhone, but now this... Apps? seriously? What do they expect, people won't delete Apps anymore because it is so frustrating that we have to use iTunes every single time we need to organise our phones.

Hi this is the first time im writing to this board i just figured out how to do this after I deleted a bunch of apps and they came right back after i synced AAAHHHHH! Here are the steps Delete all the apps and eveything you want then turn the device off (slide to power off). Turn back on and sync they wont come back. let me know if this works for you

Setting -> Store -> turn off automatic download ! That's simple !

Settings -> Store -> Automatic Download was already turned off and this is still happening.

Deleting the app from the iPad, then restarting the iPad before syncing worked for me.

I was looking into this situation a little further, as I was having the same problem with my 4S running 6.1.3. I have discovered, at least what solved my issue, was that I had multiple authorized computers, and if I wanted the apps to stop updating I had to delete them on each individual computer. I went and removed all authorized devices, and the apps stopped trying to download. That is how I solved this issue. Hope it helps those of you who come across this problem again 🙂

I hope Apple are reading this ...

I have written on numerous occasions to Apple Support but never get a reply, very disappointing, so I thought I'd try here and see if I get some kind of response.

iTunes (Windows) needs some serious updating, it is an extremely frustrating program.

I connect my iPhone or iPad, I'm told that there are purchased apps, do I want to transfer them to iTunes, I'm not told what the apps are, why not? It would be so useful if a list of apps was displayed and I could select the ones I wanted to copy into iTunes ... worried that I might lose something I select "copy", it then copies a load of apps which I'd previously deleted from iTunes ... even though I had subsequently sync'ed my iPhone it hadn't deleted the apps from the iPhone, why not? So now I have to delete the apps from both iTunes and the iPhone to make sure they're gone ... this is absolute crap ... this really needs sorting out. The sync function does not work properly.

When selecting the Apps tab I'm presented with a list of apps which I can sort in various ways (name, kind, category, date, size) but the sort method or filter that would be really useful is installed/not-installed.

On the iPhone I create/edit a contact, I add a linked contact which I select from the list of contacts, when I go back to that contact I should be able to click on the linked contact and either be given a list of options including "call contact" or I should be taken to that contact ... clicking on the linked contact does nothing ... stupid.

When using the search function to find an app, I sometimes use this function not to run the app but to see if I have it installed, it would be nice if I were given the option to go to the screen/folder which contains the app.

When typing, if I turn the iPhone sideways, why can't the keyboard change to an extended mode (with e.g. comma, full-stop, etc) just like the calculator changes to scientific mode, rather than just giving me wider keys!

Apple, please listen to what your customers want.

It just happened again, this is super frustrating... I hope Apple is listening (which they don't with support feedbacks)... I hope they listen properly... ANYTHING I delete off my iPhone/iPad SHOULD NOT COME BACK when I sync with iTunes, e.g. Music/Photos/Books/Apps, etc etc.

Were you ever able to resolve the issue?

If you don't want to keep having old apps back up when you sync your Iphone or ipod go to your music library and under iTunes libary find the "apps" folder. (music>iTunes>iTunes Media>Applications)

All the apps you've downloaded are there. You have to manually delete the apps you don't want anymore from this folder.

I did this and I no longer get the old apps back on my phone. However if you are still having trouble make sure you aren't syncing via iCloud

Hope this helps

J_Nguyen - that's not the issue.

the issue is this -

I have an app on my iphone that i do not want on my ipad or my itouch or my ipad mini.

I do want to retain it on my iphone and i do want it to update when an update is downloaded on the desktop.

Thus your suggestion to delete from the computer, while it may be helpful in certain situations, does not address the specific issue.

to continue:I delete from the mini but upon sync, it reappears.

the app is not "new" since it has been viewed and deleted from the mini.

I agree, this has been 2 years that this thread has started and i keep having the same problems with either my apps or my music. Apps and Music deleted on a mobile device should not be put back on when you sync with the computer

This is an ISSUE I've had with Apple, iTunes, and ALL of my iphones since iPhone 3. Every incarnation of iTunes has to be relearned... which is bad enough... then on top of that, SYNC feature almost NEVER works correctly. I've already wasted over an hour and a half just tonight trying to restore my previous phone to my new phone WITHOUT the apps I don't want! I used the software, checked all the right buttons, manually selected "will not install" or "will uninstall" etc. etc. etc. Then after applying the changes and syncing the phone, voila! All of my apps I didn't want are back on my new phone. What's worse - my new phone is only 8 gigs, so there's not room enough for everything (thus the reason I removed them in the first place), but now the restore stops and the apps are left hanging - some I want, most I don't, and no clear idea of how I ended up with this mess. And like I said - this is not the first time. I've been dealing with this issue for years, and it's one of the main reasons I don't use itunes, don't back up my phone, and don't sync anything - EVER. Thanks apple software and support - you guys rock! Sarc.

I suppose this happens because there are two syncing ways: direct sync and iCloud. When you install an app in your iphone itunes will download it by default. Since it is a new app for itunes, the next time you sync your iphone itunes will install it again. To solve this either uncheck the "automatically install new apps" on the apps tab or turn off automatic downloads. Be aware that in the former case you'll have to manually install the apps you buy from itunes and in the latter you'll have to manually transfer new apps from your iphone to itunes (I think). I guess things get messier if you have more than one device...

Found this on a blog: OWC Computers (sourced below) and it worked for me:

Step 1.) Get rid of all the iOS apps in iTunes.

The first thing we need to do is clear out all the existing apps in your iTunes library, including the ones you want to keep. This is a simple matter of going to the Apps section of iTunes, selecting all, and hitting Command-Delete. Don’t worry about deleting something you want to keep; we’ll be adding them back in a moment and in the worst- case scenario, you can always re-download something (from your purchases).

Step 2.) Clear out any extra apps you may have.

Once you’ve deleted the apps in iTunes, quit iTunes and go to the Mobile Applications folder in your iTunes library folder. If you’ve left it in the default spot it will be located in your Music/iTunes/iTunes Music/Mobile Applications. It should be empty; sometimes, though, you’ll find an app or two hiding in there. If that’s the case, simply drag them to the trash.

Step 3.) Re-import the apps from your iOS device(s).

At this point, as far as iTunes 11 is concerned, you have no apps at all. We’re going to change that.

Relaunch iTunes, and connect an iOS device, but do not sync it. Instead, go to the menu bar and selectFile>Devices>Transfer Purchases from (the name of your iOS device). This will bring over any apps from your iOS device and re-add them to your library.

Repeat the process for each of your devices. When you’re done, your library will only contain the apps you have installed.

Step 4.) Enjoy the savings.

By doing this, you have removed all the apps that you have downloaded, but do not have installed on any of your iOS devices. I managed to reduce the size of my Mobile Applications folder from 34.79GB to 11.66GB. While my case may be on the “extreme” end of things, you may still be able to benefit, even if it’s just so far as to declutter your iTunes library.

http://blog.macsales.com/17825-an-easy-way-to-clear-out-unused-ios-apps-from-itu nes-11