Xanos

Q: Unable to transfer apps back from iPhone to iTunes

Running iTunes 12.2, iPhone 6 syncs fine except it won't transfer any apps back to iTunes (iMac). It worked fine until a month ago or so. Any idea on how to fix this?

iPhone 6, iOS 8

Posted on Sep 12, 2015 5:35 PM

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Q: Unable to transfer apps back from iPhone to iTunes

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  • by knweiss,

    knweiss knweiss Sep 18, 2015 4:29 AM in response to knweiss
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 18, 2015 4:29 AM in response to knweiss

    I've opened radar #22736012: "iTunes (12.3.0.44) doesn't sync apps from my iPhone 6 (iOS 9) anymore" on the Apple Bug Reporter yesterday.

  • by nishanthrao,

    nishanthrao nishanthrao Sep 18, 2015 10:47 PM in response to knweiss
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Sep 18, 2015 10:47 PM in response to knweiss

    I hope Apple looks into the issue and fixes it. I had created a feed back report during iOS 9 Public beta testing on 27th July - #1069154 and another one after another update on 7 August - #1170831. but still the problem was not addressed. I guess Public beta testing feed back is not given and importance. But a developer reporting it might just catch their attention. lets hope the issue is resolved either by apple or let the users know of steps that will make it start working again.

  • by knweiss,

    knweiss knweiss Sep 19, 2015 3:53 AM in response to knweiss
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 19, 2015 3:53 AM in response to knweiss

    Just to let you know: Apple closed my Radar (#22736012) regarding this issue with the comment "Apps are no longer transferred from iOS 9 devices".

  • by nishanthrao,

    nishanthrao nishanthrao Sep 19, 2015 5:37 AM in response to knweiss
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Sep 19, 2015 5:37 AM in response to knweiss

    That would be surprising, What is the use of taking a backup to the local machines if the installers of the purchased apps cannot be backed up? it is counterproductive, if one has to reset the device and restore from the backup, then they will have to re download all the apps as the updated one will only available in the app store, it will be a absolute nightmare for people with metered connections with limited download limits. And they still have transfer purchases from iPhone / iPad option in latest iTunes on my mac? I am surprised if apple did not think this one through!. I think apple will bring it back or make it work.

  • by almuthanam,

    almuthanam almuthanam Sep 28, 2015 1:59 PM in response to nishanthrao
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Sep 28, 2015 1:59 PM in response to nishanthrao

    i have reported the same problem/bug like many others quite early in this thread, since then i have been in contact with apple support through phone and emails.

     

    I Can confirm to you that this feature has been disabled by apple due to custom app files for different iOS devices so it would save storage...ect on iOS 9

     

    i really hope you all rest now and stop waiting for a solutIon.

     

    you take care

  • by eslert,

    eslert eslert Oct 20, 2015 2:17 AM in response to almuthanam
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 2:17 AM in response to almuthanam

    Thanks for the answer, but it is truly unacceptable from Apple that I have to waste relatively precious data, because I want my iOS apps updated whilst travelling, only to discover I have to waste even more to get them updated in iTunes, so that all the other family devices can also be updated.

     

    I am sure that somewhere, this has been communicated, but unfortumnately, the multitude of fine print documents I am forced to read renders me comatose.

  • by woodmeister50,

    woodmeister50 woodmeister50 Oct 20, 2015 7:39 AM in response to eslert
    Level 5 (5,637 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 20, 2015 7:39 AM in response to eslert

    I agree that this is unacceptable.  Voice your opinion as I did here:

    http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html

    If enough complaining is done via the feedback channel, maybe it will get fixed!

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Oct 20, 2015 7:47 AM in response to woodmeister50
    Level 9 (54,562 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 20, 2015 7:47 AM in response to woodmeister50

    It isn't "broken". It is done because of a change in the structure of apps for devices running iOS9.

     

    "App Thinning": In order to make apps smaller with iOS9 they are being customized for the specific hardware on which they are to be used. For example the variant of an app downloaded for a retina iPad may not be suitable for a non-retina iPhone.  Transferring from one device to a computer to a different device may result in the wrong version being used and Apple has disabled transfer from device to computer in order to prevent this happening. If you want a backup copy on your computer you can transfer a non-thinned version directly from the Store to the computer which should you need it can be transferred to any i-device (but will take up more room).

     

    https://developer.apple.com/library/watchos/documentation/IDEs/Conceptual/AppDis tributionGuide/AppThinning/AppThinning.html - iOS9 App Thinning > "Slicing is the process of creating and delivering variants of the app bundle for different target devices. A variant contains only the executable architecture and resources that are needed for the target device." ... "The App Store will create and deliver different variants based on the devices your app supports." 

  • by Ellis Z,

    Ellis Z Ellis Z Oct 20, 2015 2:41 PM in response to Xanos
    Level 2 (260 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 2:41 PM in response to Xanos

    It looks like lots of others here beat me to this, but I spoke with Apple support and confirmed what has been said above.  This is no longer supported under iOS9 or the latest iTunes.

     

    It's a bit of a mind shift, but I'll get used to it.  I also preferred to let iTunes download updates and I'd sync to my various devices.  Can't do that now.  Oh well.

     

    That said:  Apple could have done a better job communicating this change (Release notes?)  ...  and that "Transfer to iTunes" menu option could be clear as to WHAT it is transferring as well. 

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