iTunes Media Kind: missing Apps

The following blue text is a link to the Apple support article, which in turn contains download links for iTunes 12.6.3:

Deploy apps in a business environment with iTunes - Apple Support

These are direct links to the relevant installation files:

• iTunes 12.6.3.6 for Mac OS X/macOS - iTunes12.6.3.dmg (2017-09-22)
• iTunes 12.6.3.6 for Windows (32-bit) - iTunesSetup.exe (2017-09-22)
• iTunes 12.6.3.6 for Windows (64-bit) - iTunes64Setup.exe (2017-09-22)

Windows users need to uninstall iTunes before they can install the 12.6.3 build.

Both Mac and Windows users need to restore a previous version of their library database using the approach in Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash or from a suitable backup.

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iTunes 12.7 no longer supports the App Store or managing of apps.

All app downloads, updates, and management must now be done from

each individual device.

See Managing apps with iTunes 12.7 or later. You can revert to iTunes 12.6.3 if you find it essential to manage apps in iTunes. Personally I'm quite happy making the occasional tweak to the layout of my apps on my device, as it occurs to me, rather than waiting until I've connected it to iTunes. Similarly I don't waste time and bandwidth downloading updated versions of apps to both my computer and my device when it is only the device that can use them, although I realize that come the next restore this may be a little less speedy than restoring directly from iTunes.

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1. iTunes 12.7 removed app management features from iTunes, along with those for books, tones, and iTunes U. Apple haven't given reasons, but at a guess the aim is to drive management of device only content to the device. Previously people could buy content in iTunes that they couldn't consume on their computer, e.g. apps, or iBooks on Windows. Removing this option removes the need to refund purchases made by those who haven't understood. There may well be a significant reduction in downloads from Apple's servers given that only thinned versions and delta updates need to be delivered to devices now, and iTunes won't be downloading universal versions in duplicate.
   
2. The main impact on the iTunes library is that most iTunes U content has been rolled up into Podcasts, and may have been moved if iTunes is set to keep the media folder organized. This might mean broken links if you revert to an older version of the database. Other content should have been left in situ and can still be added to your device manually. Keeping regular backups allows you to revert to an earlier version of your library if something goes wrong. Time Machine for Mac users is ideal. When iTunes makes a change to the internal structure of the database it will save a copy of the old version in the Previous iTunes Libraries folder inside your iTunes folder. These can be used to roll back the database when installing an older or lower numbered version. Newer versions of iTunes can read older databases, but not the other way around.
   
3. Only one instance of iTunes can be installed per operating system. I currently have my Mac set up to dual boot in to either Sierra with iTunes 12.6.3 connected to a library that just the collection of apps that were in my library when 12.7 came out, or High Sierra with 12.7.1 which has my regular iTunes Match library. See Open a different iTunes Library file or create a new one - Apple Support for details on how to make and switch between libraries. If you have the installers downloaded to your computer you can probably switch from build to the other in about 10 minutes. Although 12.6.3 will install over 12.7 and 12.7.1 there may come a time when that doesn't work so well.

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Richiwalt wrote:

Google Pixel is looking pretty sweet about now to me ...

Because we all know that it won't have any problems. Oh, wait....

https://www.androidauthority.com/google-lawsuit-pixel-2-issues-812027/

There is also no way to manage apps for an Android phone from your computer. So, if that's what's important to you, changing to a Pixel won't get you what you want, either. It would seem to make more sense to back down to iTunes 12.6.3 which restores that app management options.

wow. did not know, thank you for warning us that Apple officially took APP MANAGEMENT OUT!

i wasted time trying to figure out why my iTunes was missing something! ; )

the question is WHY?!

why in the world would Apple REMOVE PRACTICAL features that make life easier/faster/smoother?!

why regress instead of evolve?!

the post-iTunes 12.7 / iOS11 Nightmare:

- drag 200-300 apps individually across 10+ screens!!

+ you can NOT move screens anymore!?!?!

does Apple expect us to move 1000s of apps to reorganize screens?!!?!

since when is Apple so anti-productivity?!

the pre-iOS11 iTunes scenario:

manage APPS from Mac in iTunes, easily, fast, even move screens around.

installing / uninstalling / updating / organizing etc.

so easy on big screen too! ; )

Apple is being insanely UNgreat!

this is the most impractical Apple i've seen in years,

besides the total disrespect for Pro-Users.

Might as well switch to Windows/Surface Pro/BOXX Apex4/Droid at this rate!

for constructive criticism, esp. since Apple does not seem to read its own forums, hence nonsensically not learning from what issues its users have with its own products and less hope for learning/improving its products (hardware/software) in more detail than https://www.apple.com/feedback?:

what is a practical ALTERNATIVE to APP MANAGEMENT?

is there a 3rd party tool (web or app)?

is Apple working on separate App Mgt app (iOS + macOS)?

is Apple working on more efficient version than pre-iTunes 12.7 for a near-future update of iTunes?

anyone have suggestions/tips on how to manage 100s of apps across many screen in iOS?

thank you,

rolf

iTunes 12.6.3 was released after iTunes 12.7, specifically to allow people who needed/wanted to continue to deploy apps through iTunes the ability to do so. Yes, it works with High Sierra. Yes, it works with iOS 11.

Only you can decide what you think is new or better (or not) with iTunes 12.7 and iOS 11. I think what's better about iTunes 12.7 is that it's gotten rid of a lot of the iOS management features. As far as I'm concerned, they were needless bloat. I may actually be able to use iTunes as a music app again. That's my opinion.

No one here can answer any "why" questions about what Apple does. We don't work for Apple.

Apple says you dont want to backup apps or arrange them in Itunes so now you cant. They took the feature away rather then letting its users decide. My view is now Iphone 8 or Iphone X actually this change in iTunes decided for me its a Galaxy 8

I just spoke with Apple. It is not included in the new ITunes (version 12.7.0.166) as of 9/13/17. They didn't even tell users of this before upgrading.

thanks, but Apple is simplifying for simplification's sake, without consent of what users need, and punishing those that Think Different and DO want the previous 12 years of iTunes managing their Apps.

this is a matter of preference.

if anything Apple can add preference in preferences.

you can not dictate how everyone must use tools, that is insanely ungreat from Apple's usual insanely great ways.

waiting for iTunes may not be your choice, but it is for others. we do not feel it's a waste of time, since as i described, in the case of having 100s of apps across many screens, it is very cumbersome/time-consuming to waste hours dragging icons back & forth. only because Apple killed App Mgt.

some users do want to organize/layout their screens and not randomly have unrelated apps on each screen, whether you can search & click apps or not. so it is not so much about duplicating apps on iDevice + Mac, as Apple thinks, but an organizational need. New iOS11 Files app + iCloud Drive do not solve App Mgt, just file mgt.

why would Apple force us to regress to pre-iTunes 12.7 and miss the new features just to use App Mgt, which Apple killed for no apparent practical real world reason?

wow. did not know, thank you.

but Apple did not advertise/explain anywhere that 12.63 came after 12.7 & that 12.63 is option for App Mgt.

the article "

Managing apps with iTunes 12.7 or later"

Managing apps with iTunes 12.7 or later

mentions 12.63 but i do not see link to download it?

thank you

irolf2 wrote:

why would Apple force us to regress to pre-iTunes 12.7 and miss the new features just to use App Mgt, which Apple killed for no apparent practical real world reason?

Is there a reason you can't use iTunes 12.6.3 as indicated in the article I linked to above?

You can read more about the changes at the link. There are also a lot of discussions about them here - just search for iTunes 12.7.

Changes in the new iTunes - Apple Support

Yes, it was explained on the first dialog window that was presented to you and in the update release notes.

The same link is also included in my user tip, along with instructions on how to go back to a version of your iTunes library database that is compatible with iTunes 12.6.3.

tt2