Back-up copies of apps downloaded from AppStore?

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Jeremy1969 Author

Level 1

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Back-up copies of apps downloaded from AppStore?

Hello,

is it possible to DL a copy (for back-up reasons) of an already bought and downloaded app from AppStore?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Jan 19, 2012 4:41 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 19, 2012 9:23 AM in response to Jeremy1969

Jeremy...

No need to re download the apps but you can if necessary.

Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store

Help here > Mac App Store: Backing up your app purchases

"If you save a copy of an app to removable media (such as an external hard drive) or file share, simply drag the app back from its storage location to your Applications folder. When you open the restored app for the first time, you may be required to sign in with the Apple ID account that was used to purchase the app."

Very smart to backup your purchases !!! 🙂

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Answer 2

Jeremy1969 Author

Level 1

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Jan 19, 2012 10:40 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Carolyn,

I already checked the links you provided me but the first works only for iTunes and I meant AppStore, while the second does relate to AppStore, but it says to push the "Install" button to re-install, instead the only button I see is an "Installed" button that does not allow me to do anything at all.

The point is that I don't need to re-install, but I just need a back-up copy of all software already installed, because the USB key on which I stored all downloaded software has been damaged and I lost all my software stored on it.

Message was edited by: Jeremy1969

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Answer 3

Dah•veed

Level 9

64,651 points

Jan 20, 2012 9:11 AM in response to Jeremy1969

Unless you got an installer for an app when you bought it from the Mac App Store, then the app uses simple drag & drop installation. Just drag & drop the app's icon to the backup media that you wish to use (ext HDD, DVD, USB thumbdrive, etc) and it will be copied to the destination.

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Answer 4

Jeremy1969 Author

Level 1

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Jan 21, 2012 10:23 AM in response to Dah•veed

All apps I bought and installed from AppStore are free from installers: all have been downloaded and automatically installed on my HDD.

So I tried to drag & drop the apps on an external HDD but it disallows me saying that "the backup contents cannot be modified".

Then, I tried to drag & drop them on my HDD on a separate folder (which is copied & updated by Time Machine on the external HDD), but it obviously just saves a link as the app is already on the internal HDD.

Are there some settings that I should change or is there any error I make that I don't know of?

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Answer 5

Dah•veed

Level 9

64,651 points

Jan 21, 2012 10:41 AM in response to Jeremy1969

If the external drive is a Time Machine backup, then all of the apps are already being backed up by TM.

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