manage iOS 11 apps via iTunes 12.6.3

Question

Level 1

37 points

manage iOS 11 apps via iTunes 12.6.3

I'm still using iOS 10.3.3 in order to retain full control of my apps.

With iOS 11 can one still manage apps in order to save old versions of the .ipa files and put them back when required?

I currently do this with iOS 10.3.3 and iTunes 12.6.3 on OSX10.13.3 by moving .ipa files from the trash into a folder to save them. Then by deleting the newer app from the iOS device, dragging the older version of the app onto iTunes 12.6.3 then sync and have the previous version of the app installed on the iOS device.

Posted on Mar 1, 2018 11:16 AM

Reply

Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

272,725 points

Mar 2, 2018 5:40 AM in response to dgd

If you're running iTunes 12.6.3.6 or earlier you should be able to download all of your iOS apps from the iTunes Store. Upgrading to 12.7 doesn't delete them, they just not listed in iTunes any more. See iTunes 11 for Mac: Download previous purchases from the iTunes Store for the general method. Upgrading IOS is a one way journey, you cannot go back if you don't like it.

tt2

Reply

Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

272,725 points

Mar 1, 2018 12:45 PM in response to dgd

Yes. Note however that iOS 11 won't run any 32-bit apps that you might still be running under iOS 10.3.3. Take a look at Settings > General > About > Applications to check for compatibility warnings.

tt2

Reply

Answer 3

dgd Author

Level 1

37 points

Mar 2, 2018 6:29 AM in response to turingtest2

When an iOS10.3.3 app is updated iTunes v12.6.3 puts the prevous app version into the trash where i can move it to a folder to keep and restore later if I need to downgrade the app. How can I get the .ipa files for apps when there is no update?

Rant:

I won't be using iTunes 12.7 for a very long time, probably until an essential app won't work without it in a few years. iOS 11 looks the same, I won't "upgrade" and cripple my work flow until an essential app won't work. Apple upgrades used to be something to look forward to especially 35-38 years ago via floppy disk. Way back then I was an Apple Certified tech. and Microsoft Certified Software Applications Developer. For more than a decade, and especially now, apple updates have become dreaded curses and I don't do major system updates usually for a few years. And I never buy new computers for the same reason and because all the early adopters have debugged things. I can't afford the down time to fix everything the updates and latest hardware break. Takes several weeks to recover, sometimes a few months. I have 13TB of data so even a clone takes days.

Reply

Answer 4

dgd Author

Level 1

37 points

Mar 1, 2018 6:43 PM in response to turingtest2

Wow!

thanks for that tip. I didn't realize I had so many apps installed that will become incompatible. Guess I'm not going to upgrade to ios 11 for a while yet.

Reply