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

SSome of my apps are no longer in the AppStore. And some of the apps are old versions which I don't wish to update to the latest version. So are we screwed with this useless feature they have?

This might have been a wonderful feature if Apps were available in some App repository in case the Developer or Apple decided to remove it from the iStore.

This is my case and Apple has not been helpful enough to allow me restore "Notestree", a tool that was my keeper of unstructured ideas, websites and passwords and other free form data that adds up to two and a half years of information LOST because of what I now in retrospect see as "irresponsible" behavior to end users.

LaoziSailor wrote:

This might have been a wonderful feature if Apps were available in some App repository in case the Developer or Apple decided to remove it from the iStore.

That's called an iTunes library. If you had downloaded the app when it was still around and backed up your library then you would be able to restore it now.

If you still have the app on a device there is a slim chance that a tool like iFunBox might be able to extract a restorable copy.

tt2

Apple is sidestepping the issue and not being very helpful:

"I understand you reached out to an individual you hoped was the developer of the app, and it turns out that he is not related to the desired app in any manner. I also understand you’ve contacted Apple several times about this issue."

and not taking responsibility, as I think they should, for their actions:

"...and I would like to encourage you to pursue those cases for assistance in locating a back up in your personal iTunes history.

The other cases you’ve opened have reached Apple Developer Program Support, a group that assists developers with maintaining and utilizing their Apple Developer Program accounts. Due to confidentiality, we cannot provide any account information to someone who is not a member of the account.

I do apologize for the difficulty you are currently experiencing, and I hope that technical support is able to help you locate a back up. "

turingtest2 wrote:

That's called an iTunes library. If you had downloaded the app when it was still around and backed up your library then you would be able to restore it now.

Correct!, that is where Apps would be downloaded from. What I meant was a 2nd library containing archival copies of what is no longer available in iTunes to protect the End User.

turingtest2 wrote:

If you still have the app on a device there is a slim chance that a tool like iFunBox might be able to extract a restorable copy.

tt2

Thank you, turingtest2, for suggesting iFunbox, I have installed it in addition to iMazing which I already had; it is with it that I made a backup in addition to iTunes before my iPhone was replaced.

At this stage I am waiting for an iPad to return from a foreign trip in early September that I know has a copy of Notesfree.

so how to restore and restore from backup?

basically the restore from back up is broken... who is caring about this thing app thinning .. I just want to restore all my apps again back.. annoying and disgusting move from apple... we don't have time to waste searching on web, how to put apps back.. I'm angry

no way, not possible anymore to extract apps form a device with ios 9

Restore from backup will restore all apps that were on the device when it was backed up, provided they are either store in the local library or are still available in the app store. Typically after the restore completes the private data for each of your apps has been placed on the device and apps still to download are displayed with cloud icons and will download over wi-fi.

As mentioned there is a slim possibility, assuming you trust the makers of i-FunBox, of extracting any app which currently exists on your device and is no longer available from the app store. You can also redownload all of your available past purchases from the store now (see Download your past purchases - Apple Support) so that you have your own local copies in iTunes to guard against other favourite apps being removed. You should also keep and maintain a backup of your iTunes library.

tt2

@tt2 but that is precisely the issue, the app is no longer in iStore and backup was performed because the iPhone was going to be replaced, so there is no local either.

"Restore from backup will restore all apps that were on the device when it was backed up, provided they are either store in the local library or are still available in the app store."

the iPad that has the App on it will return next week and I will post my recovery results!

apple is removing my tips.. basically we should not discuss on some nonorthodox solutions.. this is NOT the right place to get some answers ... to much control here.. goodbye

so turn off automatic updates on the PHONE. Have auto updates on the COMPUTER. and BACKUP your phone before applying changes when you plug your phone in?

it is very bad that we lost our apps in iTunes even in last up date you can not find in left side as normal and nobody can give a good reason