Why did the new update of iTuned delete all my apps without asking me if that's what I wanted to do? I had apps that I was saving that are no longer being developed that I can't download from Apple. I have them on my backup disk, but now there is no way to put them on my ipad.
Dar
macOS Sierra (10.12.4), Mail
Irish, there is no clear cut yes or no answer. iTunes only keeps the most recent version of an app, and only apps that are still being developed. If that is all you want, then it’s safe to delete that folder, but if you have apps that aren’t the most recent version, or apps that are no longer being developed you will lose them if you delete the copy you have on your computer.
You can delete the apps from your computer.
Anything that hasn't been removed from the app store can be redownloaded from your purchase history on demand.
If and when you restore a device the backup has a list of all installed apps and pulls them from the store as required.
By all means archive the Mobile Applications folder elsewhere. I'm going to do the same, but only because I'm an inveterate hoarder.
tt2
Bobbinfish wrote:
turingtest2, I just did a sync. Apps that I had updated on my ipad where synced with my computer, and visa versa, and I no longer have autoupdate.
That's not supposed to work according to what I've read, although I suppose it might only apply to apps that have properly implemented app thinning. If you're up for an experiment you could try deleting one of the apps in your library after making a backup copy of the .ipa file, then see if using File > Devices > Transfer Purchases will copy it back into the library. I'm fairly sure the answer will be no. You can drag and drop the backed up .ipa file back into the Mobile Applications folder and then into the library when you want to add it back, or redownload from purchase history.
tt2
How odd? Perhaps after turning off app transfer for a bit they quietly turned it back on for universal apps that don't carry separate resources for different devices? I'm not imagining the fuss when the behaviour first launched, so it must have worked that way at the time.
That's iTunes preferences I'm referring to by the way. Mac App Store preferences control automatic updates of Mac Apps such as iTunes, but the controls for iTunes downloading purchases are within iTunes.
tt2
Just hooked up iPad 2 running iOS 9.3.5 to iTunes 12.6.2.20 on Windows with a library that has no apps. Transfer purchases or syncing doesn't copy any in. There was a transfer purchases section of the device backup, but again no apps were copied into the iTunes library.
tt2
I don't know what to say T, perhaps because you haven't had the files on your computer in the first place.
I rather think that is my point. Your app collection is on your computer, and I think it is updated automatically when you make a new purchase. Syncing your device is not adding new .ipa files to the Mobile Applications folder.
Do you have Apps selected under iTunes > Preferences > Downloads > Automatic Downloads?
tt2
I’m sorry turingtest2 but what you think is incorrect. I do not have Apps checked in the automatic downloads section of the preferences. I haven’t had that checked for years. I download my updates by reviewing what’s available in the Updates tab. And I already told you that when I sync I get a message telling me that apps are being transfers from my iPad. 12.7 took that option, as well as many others away. That’s why I reverted back to 12.6.
Thanks. I guess I'm still trying to wrap my head around why you and I should see different behaviour with the same products. 😕
What version of iOS is installed?...
Aha! Rebooted into Sierra and dug out my old iPhone 4 which is still on iOS 7.1.2. Lo and behold iTunes 12.6.2.20 will transfer purchases from that just as you have observed. I had wrongly assumed that iTunes 12.1 dropped all app transfer when iOS 9 came out two years ago, because that is one of the things that people were complaining about at the time. I had no idea that it had been preserved for older versions of iOS. 😮😕😊
Thanks for illuminating yet another inconsistency in the ongoing logic puzzle that is iTunes. 😝
tt2
I don't know what to say T, perhaps because you haven't had the files on your computer in the first place.
The apps are still there in your Music/itunes folder. You just can't see them in itunes but they are still archived in a folder.
Yes, I know they are, and I am now copying them to a separate drive, but how are you suppose to get them to your device without an app that sees them?
The File Sharing area is still there.
tt2
I just discovered that about 2 minutes ago. Thank you TT2
You're welcome. 🙂
tt2
How do I do that with a Windows 10 computer?
iTunes Update deletes Apps without permission
