Once upon a time you could organize/rearrange the apps on your iphone via your computer screen while the phone was plugged in. My phone is currently on 11.0.3, and my itunes is 12.7.0.166, so both up to date, and I no longer see this option available.
Does it no longer exist? If it does can you show me where to find it? Searches in Google and Apple Support only point me to outdated articles.
Management of apps, books, and tones has been removed from iTunes 12.7. See Changes in the new iTunes - Apple Support for details. The intention is clearly that management of these generally takes place on the device.
See the Manually add items from your computer section of Manually manage content on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using iTunes - Apple Support for the control that remains. This can be used to copy apps (including apps that have been withdrawn from the store), ePubs, iBooks, PDFs, and tones from your computer to your device. The File Sharing feature for copying data between apps and the computer is still there. You can also use iCloud Drive, or Dropbox to move content to and from the device.
A long time criticism of iTunes, at least from some quarters, is that has been that it has become bloated. Perhaps this is an attempt to address that. I let both my iOS devices update automatically when there is an updated app, and I'm not interested in hanging on to old apps that a developer has withdrawn, nor do I need to rearrange my apps often, so while the change is drastic, I don't think it really affects me much. I'm more irritated by the changes to iTunes U, and iBooks in iTunes for Windows.
See Deploy apps in a business environment with iTunes - Apple Support for access to iTunes 12.6.3 if you want to revert to a build with app management features. Windows users need to uninstall the current copy of the iTunes application first. See Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash for steps to revert to a pre-iTunes 12.7 version of your iTunes database.
tt2
JibsMan wrote:
.... Now I gotta figure out how painful it will be to switch to Android....
Samsung, LG, etc. make some great devices that are completely
hobbled by the fact that they are running Android.
Android is by no means a picnic and management there is even worse
for both apps and media!
Totally agree! Apple's time has come and gone once again. I remember a time when Apple was very user friendly and innovative....now its milking $ off the ideas Steve and the team pioneered. Apple is slowly forcing us to use backup over icloud for a monthly subscription. Thats probably the real reason why you cant arrange apps on the desktop.
Gary Macleod wrote:
....Apple is slowly forcing us to use backup over icloud for a monthly subscription.....
The cloud is wonderful!
The cloud is great!
UNTIL IT'S NOT!!!!
My biggest pet peeve of this change is that you end up being TOTALLY dependent
of 100% AVAILABLE Apple Servers and a 100% AVAILABLE and 100% RELIABLE
internet connection.
Previously, I had downloaded all apps and updates via iTunes, secure in knowing that
if I ever have some disaster with an iDevice I had everything available to restore without
having to depend on any thing else (iTunes library was also backed up locally). Now,
that security blanket has been ripped put of my hands.
I have also searched for the reorg in iTunes, but in vain.
I miss it because it is harder to mess with wiggling icons on an iPhone than on my Mac screen.
Not every change is for the better... Ihave a serious problem with change for change’s sake, and I see a lot of that since Steve is no longer with us.
Apple, get your act together !
Oh *groan*, somebody must have already mentioned Apple does not read this forum for this kind of feedback, just other users like yourself who are tired of reading posts that don't really contribute anything new.
Somebody must have already posted this link:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html
Oh, and please stop canonizing Steve Jobs. He was the founder of Apple's "give them something and tell them they like it" philosophy.
gPad wrote:
Someone reads it. My post was taken down for being a rant. “This forum is for technical topics and not just rants.” I mentioned research on more emojis and not useful tools.
The Hosts will review a post if it has been reported to them, by a community member, for possible violation of the Terms of Use. The Hosts, however, are not engineers, developers or programmers.
What a shame, organizing the home screen is very weak on iOS compared to Android (my travel phone (dual sim, dont' even try to change your iPhone SIM card while traveling, screw everything up) is Android). you cannot even shuffle screens around... and apps auto arrange themselves on a given screen...at least with iTunes you can more easily arrange. Glad to see iTunes on a diet, but iOS is still weak in this space.
I think a dedicated iPhone app would be great and very helpful
Cynditjie wrote:
we want to manage our apps using a mouse and a larger screen, not on a small device. PUT IT BACK!
Who is "we"? Unless you're part of some recognized group, you're really only speaking for yourself. Your assumption that "Most of us do not JUST own iPhones" is just that, an assumption. As it the notion that, even people who own multiple devices want to use iTunes to organize their apps. You have every right to your opinion but attempting to speak for other is bad form.
To each his own I guess. I’ve never used Itunes for anything but to organize apps. After 25 years in the computer industry and 8 years in mobile technology the last thing I want to do is use my fingers to drag hundreds of apps around. My poor fingers and arms have been worn down. But maybe others don’t have this issue.
iTunes started out as a quite nice music playing/organizing app. It was called SoundJam before Apple bought it.
In my opinion, a good solution would be a dedicated phone management app, sort of a consumer version of Configurator 2 (which is an option to consider, by the way). But, I don't see it as a likely part of Apple's plans. But, perhaps if enough people submit feedback....
Perhaps I'm lucky and the fifty years of piano playing resulted in stronger hands.
elifromdoylestown wrote:
Good humor. Apple needs to start listening to customers rather than act unilaterally on their own on deciding what is right for us.
As they haven't made much of a practice of doing that in the over forty years since they were founded, I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.
elifromdoylestown wrote:
Good humor. Apple needs to start listening to customers rather than act unilaterally on their own on deciding what is right for us.
If Apple had listened to consumers in 1983 your computer would not have a mouse today, as participants in focus groups universally panned the idea of a mouse, thinking it was stupid.
Apple has always worked on the assumption that they know what you need better than you do. If this is not acceptable you should probably not buy Apple products. Just find a manufacturer who DOES do what consumers tell them to do and you will be happy. Although I can't think of any...most of them just copy Apple.
Remeber The Mac Towers? Where you able to Customize the parts based on need? Well, that's the future of phones... Build your own... Seriously considering it.. as the tech and parts are available... | There is no reason for this abuse. It takes a mental toll as well... you CONSTANTLY Need to be ON with them... They make everything including your PURCHASES as hidden as possible, as deceptive as it gets... mainly because they take you're money and remove the apps from your device after... (justify as you may, this is THEFT) These people have changed their model so much after Steve Jobs Passed.... Sadly there aren't many other 'Consumer Products' available, so the next level is Custom Phone Shops... and a HUGE business opportunity.. they absolutely took us (this sector) for granted.
DONT FORGET you also DONT HAVE 500+ APPS ON THE DEVICE TO MANAGE. Notice I said DEVICE!!! because not ALL IPHONEs are used JUST FOR THE PHONE, 100 + gigs wasn't meant for text or your calls.... I can do that with a FLIP... Marinate on that...
Actually, as I recall idris has around 750 apps. I have only 300. I never used iTunes to manage my apps, so I don’t miss it at all. But if you stop typing IN CAPS FOR A MOMENT and actually read the thread you posted to you would learn that Apple provides 2 ways to manage apps from your computer. But that would take the fun of whining away.
how to organize apps with itunes?
