Transfer Purchases no longer working

I've had this issue, since updating to iOS 9 GM-candidate, and the last version of iTunes, and it persists now to iOS 9.0 and iTunes 12.3.0.44 (today's updates).


Clicking 'File->Devices->Transfer purchases (etc...)' does nothing.


Is anyone else experiencing this?


I'm trying to back up a couple apps to my iMac, as they have been taken off the iTunes store, and I would like to keep a backup.

Posted on Sep 16, 2015 12:12 PM

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182 replies

Sep 22, 2015 6:16 AM in response to disco_bob

hi, what about the app settings or those apps that support itunes backup?


the reason i wanna transfer the app into my computer is that when i want to restore or what, i can "mirror restore" back whole phone like how i used to do, unless this new approach does backup all apps' settings and the files in it? please ensure me... hmmm i just felt insecure if i cannot transfer the apps..


but my friend's iphone 6 at ios 9 still can transfer, and it is auto transfer during sync and backup, my devices used to be like this too, but now no longer work for my ipad, iphone 5 and 6 plus...

Sep 22, 2015 10:35 PM in response to Gordon Hodgson

Transferring purchases from devices with iOS 9 has been disabled by Apple. This is the response they gave to submitted bug reports regarding this issue:

Apple Developer Relations 18-Sep-2015 02:51 PM

This issue behaves as intended based on the following: Apps are no longer transferred from iOS 9 devices. We are now closing this bug report. If you have questions about the resolution, or if this is still a critical issue for you, then please update your bug report with that information.

It's because of the App Thinning feature Apple introduced in iOS 9. Basically, a different version of each app is downloaded on any device. So, apps downloaded on an iPhone cannot be used on an iPad.

Sep 22, 2015 11:57 PM in response to jadevjs

This is a step back from Apple and not at all helpful for the end users, maybe helpful for developers and their servers.


It will be a nightmare if one has to reset their device and restore from backup, if it is just a couple of lightweight apps then it will not be a problem to download them again, but if it is a app which is in couple of hundred MB or even a GB then downloading it all over again will be counterproductive for the end user.

I read somewhere it is because it will be helpful for users of 16 GB users to be able to install iOS update which is silly; Apple should then just stop selling 16GB and lesser capacity devices.


I have a 128GB iPad Air2 with couple of hundred application which I use on an off, just before and after the iOS release the app updates took up around 5-6 GB, none of which I can transfer to my Mac as a backup. Now with a lot of apps crashing if I want to reset and restore I will have to re download the entire app updates which will be a big hit on my limited broadband download capacity.


I have two iPads, two iPhones with lots of apps installed on them and duplicated on them. Now in the new scenarios that Apple is forcing upon its users if a common app of say of 500 MB is installed on them I will have to download them on all devices which will amount to almost 2GB in case of a big game then it might go up to 4-5 Gb and a couple of games and apps like that then your whole download limit will be exhausted. In the older scenario one can download the update in one of the device and then install it on other devices after backing up the installer to a PC via iTunes, which is logical and simple.


I hope apple restores back the older functionality and not be adamant like they usually are, not everyone has an high speed unlimited download broadband connection, After shelling out for the Apple devices if we have to incur extra expenses on using the devices then it is not helpful for the monthly budget at all. Please apple be reasonable and restore the functionality.

Sep 23, 2015 9:11 AM in response to Gordon Hodgson

This is really bad by Apple. Taking away functionality that users want and use. I really hope they realise their mistake. Clearly they think everyone lives in an unlimited internet world. I guess a 500 Billion dollar company can't believe there are users with metered internet connections!


Surely even with app thinning they can copy over the device specific app to the computer!

Sep 23, 2015 10:37 AM in response to Gordon Hodgson

iOS 9.0.1 just came out. The apps-not-transferring feature-bug is only slightly worse now because after updating my iPhone to 9.0.1, both my iPhone and iTunes then showed a whole bunch of apps that need to be updated, except every one of these apps had already been updated in 9.0 and was already current. I had to update the already current apps to the same version they already were in order to get the App Store to show everything was current. Not a big deal, just a bug, and just more Apple Store bandwidth downloading the same app multiple times again and again.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Transfer Purchases no longer working

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