How do I recover iTunes movie purchases deleted from my iPad 2?

If you did not download the movies on a computer then transfer them to the iPad or back them up from the iPad onto the computer-they are gone.

iTunes only allows you to download a purchased movie once.

Apple doesn't allow redownloads of movies at this time. That said, you can contact iTunes support and plead your case. You might get lucky and get a one-time exception.

If you want to ticked off - be ticked off at your coworker for deleting the movies.

You cannot download the movies again without paying for them. That is not Apple's doing but the decision of the movie studios to not allow it. If you want them back, you have to pay for them again.

IF - they are in your iTunes library - you should be able to sync them to the iPad again.

Email iTunes support. Like I said, they may make a one-time exception for you and let you redownload.

The movie studios are notriously paranoid about pirating and have not yet figured out that placing such heavy restrictions on paying customers is more likely to turn them into either a) not customers or b) pirates. To be fair, look at it from their perspective: If you have one copy of a movie, and you figure out a way to give it to someone, then redownload it, you could keep this going and going and rob the studios of all their profit!

This policy has been around since the beginning of iTunes. In fact, music and tv shows couldn't be redownloaded either until very recently. So, this is not a "post Steve Jobs policy."

wjbrown2010 wrote:

...had there been a simple dialog prompt to say "please back-up your movie purchase ASAP by connecting to your external iTunes software", I would have done that.

Do you back up your computer files? Is there a "simple dialog prompt" that reminds you whenever you create a new file? If not, how do you know that making a backup is the sensible thing to to?

wjbrown2010 wrote:

I bought "Mulan" for my kids through the Windows iTunes software access to the store ... it's now running on 3 DEVICES. Why is it different for movies purchased on my mobile device?

Because you did a sync to copy it onto three devices. Why is that not your S.O.P? Why did you choose NOT to sync the other movies?

Ridiculous.

Apple does not own the movies, they are an authorized reseller.

They do not dictate terms to the movie studios.

Taking a hard line would mean having nothing to sell.

If you had read the iTunes terms of service, you would have seen this:

Some iTunes Products, including but not limited to Content rentals, may be downloaded only once and cannot be replaced if lost for any reason. It is your responsibility not to lose, destroy, or damage iTunes Products once downloaded, and you may wish to back them up.

The delivery of iTunes Products does not transfer to you any commercial or promotional use rights in the iTunes Products. Any burning or exporting capabilities are solely an accommodation to you and shall not constitute a grant, waiver, or other limitation of any rights of the copyright owners in any content embodied in any iTunes Product.

Sorry - I know that you are upset - but you are totally wrong as well.

Playing a movie that you purchased in iTunes - on three different devices that are authorized for iTunes content - is totally different than wanting to download the movie again at no charge.

Wait - try this. Go buy the Movie on DVD again at Target tomorrow and let your coworker toss it out the window. Then go back to Target and tell them that you demand another copy because you let your coworker throw it away and you already purchased it before so you are entitled to a free replacement.

You have nobody to blame except your coworker and yourself for not taking the necessary precautions like backing up your purchased content.

BTW - if you plead your case with Apple for a redownload, I wouldn't recommend telling them that you lent the iPad to a coworker and he deleted the movie from the device. That would take brass nuts to do that and expect a free download.

Poor analogy. The only cost involved in redownloading a movie is some bandwidth. What makes this situation frustrating is that everything else is redownloadable so you are misled to think that "iTunes will take care of my content".

Levente Orban wrote:

Poor analogy. The only cost involved in redownloading a movie is some bandwidth.

Demo was not using an analogy. He was stating a FACT. If you download a movie a second time, you WILL be charged a second time. Period.

Hi, a bit late for a reply..but I did almost the same whilst on holiday last week. Bought a movie from Itunes and had to delete it to make space on Ipad for another movie. Thought I had lost the first movie as it seemed to have dissapearded and not showing up anywhere..DOH ..but after a short while I realised you can right click on your Ipad in Itunes and "transfer purchases from 'yourIpad" and this will back up to your main computer....simpes!

I have the 4th generation ipad the iPhone 4S Mac laptops and computers I love apple but iTunes is weak for that. I only bought a 16gb ipad and if I needs delete a movie or two for some room I should be able to still have it for free.. Redownload it. lol #PoorPeopleProblems :/