iTunes won't backup my iPhone Apps, after iOS 9

So it seems now when you restore a backup, it puts placeholders back for the apps but then re-downloads them on the device over WiFi, not off my hard-drive via itunes as it did before (though all apps were synced from source iPad to iTunes so MUST exist on hard drive), and any no longer in app store or that are no longer free don't download, they're gone! They ought to change the wording from 'backup' to 'approximation' as that's what it is.

Hmm, that sounds like the way iCloud restores have worked to date, though you would think that if an up to date version of the app exists in the iTunes library then that would be copied over. Nonetheless an improvement over not restoring data for an app that isn't in the library.

tt2

Yeah, I have this same problem.

I will be very disapointed if it stays like this.

I keep different kinds of apps on all my devices.

I like to keep my iPhone backup stored in iCloud.

And, I like to keep a copy of it, and my iPad on my iMac.

The way it is, I can't tell if i even have a backup.

I don't know whats backed up, and whats not.

I do know if this was an attempt to fix something, it really was not broken to begin with.

Stands to reason, it did not need to be fixed.

A lot of us buy apple devices cause we like them better then the others.

The others are always fixing what is not broken.

We love it when apple gets better WITHOUT changing whats ALREADY GOOD.

The data is backed up. As ConvertApple has mentioned above it seems that the restore process has been tweaked to ensure that all app data is restored and apps can be restored from the cloud if not in the library. I haven't had reason to test it myself, but it sounds like things are on the right track.

tt2

Apple's move on slimming or slicing or whatnot, it should work better for the future and long term.

However, at present, it has simply destroyed an eco system that was working good.

I sold my iphone 5 16gb yesterday, took a backup ofcourse, and bought an iphone 5 32gb. (I'm still unemployed, and therefore dont have the liquid cash to upgrade).

Now, you could've imagined what happened rest. No apps are backed up after restoring from backup.

I have close to 100 apps, and I managed to get some 60-70 from old itunes backup; off which close to 50 needs to be updated now. Rest are still downloading from server (I went on to purchased section in appstore and manually selected each). It would take almost a day it seems.

The most funny side though is that, the apple guys sitting in the US are trying to make a formula that is not even working well in US due to bandwidth issues. Imagine, how it would work here in India, where I've a 'BROADBAND' connection of 512kbps (yes, you read it correct, it is kbps only, not mbps) 😟 😟

Ok, so I've read a lot of this thread and haven't found my situation just yet. I bought a new iPhone 6s plus last night and previously had an iPhone 6 plus running iOS 9.1. I have a Macbook 2008 model running Lion OS and iTunes 12.2.2 I backed up my old phone and when I tried to restore my new phone from my old backup iTunes told me that my version of iTunes needed to be updated. Guess what? It is up to date. Its the last version of iTunes that was made for my version of Mac OS. So now I have a computer that can't sync my phone or restore it because Apple has chosen to make my computer obsolete. So my 350+ gigs of music will just have to set on my computer useless. It looks like that is what the situation is. Can anyone relate? Does anyone else have this issue? Please advise.

Just upgraded to iOS 9.2 - but it failed, so had to do a restore from backup and then hit this issue - 20 or os of my apps failed to restore due to "app could not be found".

Seems to be a mixed bag - some no longer available, but many are current, eg Garageband

After searching around - I found I could restore the apps by going to the app store on the phone and looking for them in purchased apps.

Hi everyone

Since I update my ios to 9 version I cannot backup my apps on my PC, I don't know why is that, I simply sign in with my apple ID in itunes and surely it's OK but sometimes the iTunes ask about backing up the apps some other times it wouldn't...

now the question is what the **** is wrong with APPLE COMPANY, after Steve Jobs death everything is a real chaos,

Pleeeeeeeese if anyone know the solution help me..

hey andrew! actually i too having the same issue about itunes not backing up my third parties app data... i need it badly because my phone having some problem and i have to get it repair but when i connect my iphone to my computer and create backup through iphone it does not saves my third parties app data ..and i dont want to delete my third parties app data because basically its a photo hider app so my some private data is in it..please help me..

This is outrageous. It makes me literally sick that now you're not even allowed to back up your apps manually. I was using iFunBox and CopyTrans to do that prior to iOS 9, so I could easily downgrade an app if the upgrade breaks it, as it very often does. This should be easily doable via App Store, and now they even took the workaround solution from us. I'm furious at Apple. If anyone has a suggestion on how to downgrade apps on iOS 9, please help. Thank you.

I had a similar issue and even a trip to the Genius Bar at the Apple store didn't help. Then I found this post and it resolved my particular issue: cannot see any purchased apps in iTunes library I didn't read all of the reply posts so not sure if this will completely resolve yours.

Surely the point of a back-up is to retain information in case a problem occurs with hardware? Having purchased a new iPad to replace my older broken one, it seems all of the information stored inside the Apps themselves is permanently lost. I am referring to things like saved game data, favourite sites, pages etc. I have managed to re-install the Apps themselves from the App store, but seems rather pointless if I have to start some of my games again. Especially when I think of the amount of hours I had put into them *facepalm*.

Is there any chance someone knows if it's possible to restore this data? I found a site that explained it's possible to do it with a iExplore software, but tried that and it said something about "developers have not enabled data access" (not exactly what it said, but my memory's not perfect!!)

Will be leaving some negative feedback for Apple and considering returning it and getting a cheaper (non-Apple) tablet.

When you restore an iOS device backup the old rule that app data would only be restored if the app was in your library has been removed. All app data should now be restored. Apps that are in your library will be transferred and any app that was on the device when it was backed up will be queued for download directly from the app store.

tt2

I had a iPhone backup issue and I found some relevant posts, but just relevant, no post has solved my problem.

I really don't know how to easily backup my iPhone apps and other files.😕

Sometimes it seems like all these companies are trying to restrict everything with the aim of having complete control. A far cry from the freedom of OS's that existed a two decades ago. I think in the end it will go in a full circle...people will not want to pay for the privilege of having their freedom removed, and will turn to simpler but free alternatives.