Can I have paid apps on more than one device and how?

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Can I have paid apps on more than one device and how?

This must have been answered before, but I wasn't sure how to search for it, so apologies in advance...

I have several Apple devices and I want to put the paid apps I have on one device on another as well. I would have assumed this was possible - perhaps via iTunes, but I can't see how to do it.

It doesn't seem to make any difference whether I restore from a previous device's backup (to the new device), or create a 'new' device.

So, for example, I have bought Air Display for my iPad mk1 and I now want to put it on my iPad mini as well. (I don't want to use them simultaneously.) The iPad mini is set up as a new device, so hasn't been restored from the iPad mk1's backup.

As another example, I have an iPhone 5 that I restored from an iPhone 4s backup. Most things were installed, but none of the paid apps came across and they're not listed in my iTunes library.

Do I have to buy them all again? Or am I doing something wrong? I would have assumed that they would be stored with my account details (all the devices are set up with the same Apple id).

Many thanks.

iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular (MM), iOS 6.0.1

Posted on Dec 12, 2012 2:55 AM

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Answer 1

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King_Penguin

Level 10

334,138 points

Dec 12, 2012 3:16 AM in response to 0013dru

It is possible, I have some of my apps on my iPad and iPhone (and some of them on an old iPod Touch). A backup doesn't contain the apps, just their contents and settings, so unless the actual apps are on your computer's iTunes then restoring to a backup won't copy them onto it.

You should be able to copy your apps (and other iTunes purchases so that you have copies of them and so that you can sync them either back to the same device if you ever need to restore it, or to other devices that you own) from the device that they are on to your computer's iTunes via File > Transfer Purchases (File > Devices > Transfer Purchases) and then sync them to the other devices (assuming that you have the relevant iOS version on them and the apps are compatible e.g. some apps are iPad-only, and some require full-phone capabilities so are iPhone-only). Or you can re-download them on your computer's iTunes and sync them or re-download them directly on the device that you want them on.

Re-downloading : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519

Syncing apps : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1977 (if you have iTunes 11 on your comouter then you can enable the left-hand sidebar via option-command-S on a Mac, control-S on a PC - that might make the instructions on that page easier to follow)

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Answer 2

0013dru Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 12, 2012 3:18 AM in response to King_Penguin

Thanks King Penguin, that makes sense. I knew I must be missing something obvious.

Cheers.

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