Backed up to a Mac but it wants to restore using iCloud?

[Kendo]

I specifically backed up my iPhone to a Mac since I have an app that is no longer available on the App Store so iCloud won't be able to download it. When I restore my iPhone from my Mac backup, for some reason it won't transfer all of the data from the Mac, it seems iCloud is the one doing the transferring. I know this because the transferring icon isn't displayed on the iPhone and if I disconnect the Lightning adapter, the iPhone is still downloading my apps with no problem.

The issue with this is that iCloud can't find my app that no longer exists. This was the whole point of backing up to the Mac. Am I doing something wrong? I would imagine it is simple enough since there is one button that says "Restore from backup from computer."

 

[uhaas]

I specifically backed up my iPhone to a Mac since I have an app that is no longer available on the App Store so iCloud won't be able to download it. When I restore my iPhone from my Mac backup, for some reason it won't transfer all of the data from the Mac, it seems iCloud is the one doing the transferring. I know this because the transferring icon isn't displayed on the iPhone and if I disconnect the Lightning adapter, the iPhone is still downloading my apps with no problem.

The issue with this is that iCloud can't find my app that no longer exists. This was the whole point of backing up to the Mac. Am I doing something wrong? I would imagine it is simple enough since there is one button that says "Restore from backup from computer."

With iOS 9, it will restore from iTunes, if that's what you chose, for backup data/app data, sync music from your compute or iCloud (if you're iTunes Match) and load apps from the App Store, so you get thinned apps. It's working normally. When finished, you might be able to force the .ipa onto your device.

 

[Paco II]

To confirm, did you backup to your Mac, or is it possible you were only syncing with your Mac?

Also, check to see if the app lives in iTunes on your Mac. If it does, even if you don't have a true backup on your Mac, you'll at least be able to sync the app back to your iPhone.

I specifically backed up my iPhone to a Mac since I have an app that is no longer available on the App Store so iCloud won't be able to download it. When I restore my iPhone from my Mac backup, for some reason it won't transfer all of the data from the Mac, it seems iCloud is the one doing the transferring. I know this because the transferring icon isn't displayed on the iPhone and if I disconnect the Lightning adapter, the iPhone is still downloading my apps with no problem.

The issue with this is that iCloud can't find my app that no longer exists. This was the whole point of backing up to the Mac. Am I doing something wrong? I would imagine it is simple enough since there is one button that says "Restore from backup from computer."

 

[Kendo]

With iOS 9, it will restore from iTunes, if that's what you chose, for backup data/app data, sync music from your compute or iCloud (if you're iTunes Match) and load apps from the App Store, so you get thinned apps. It's working normally. When finished, you might be able to force the .ipa onto your device.

Crap. So my Mac backup doesn't contain the actual app saved to my Mac? That is horrible! I thought this would be the only way to make sure I never lose that app IPA file.

 

[Kendo]

To confirm, did you backup to your Mac, or is it possible you were only syncing with your Mac?

Also, check to see if the app lives in iTunes on your Mac. If it does, even if you don't have a true backup on your Mac, you'll at least be able to sync the app back to your iPhone.

I did a true backup to the Mac and not a sync. Stupid me didn't realize you can transfer purchases from iPhone to Mac. I thought a full backup to the Mac would retain my app.

 

[Paco II]

I thought full Mac backups included the apps. If that is no longer the case, that would be unfortunate. I do have iTunes on my Mac auto download new app purchases from the app store. I assume those are 'universal' versions?

I did a true backup to the Mac and not a sync. Stupid me didn't realize you can transfer purchases from iPhone to Mac. I thought a full backup to the Mac would retain my app.

 

[Planey28]

I thought full Mac backups included the apps. If that is no longer the case, that would be unfortunate. I do have iTunes on my Mac auto download new app purchases from the app store. I assume those are 'universal' versions?

That's correct, you can transfer the app manually to your device through iTunes but it will not restore automatically from a local backup.

 

[Kendo]

That's correct, you can transfer the app manually to your device through iTunes but it will not restore automatically from a local backup.

Any way to get the app from the full backup?

 

[Planey28]

Any way to get the app from the full backup?

Afraid not, only app documents and data are stored in a backup, apps are stored separately in the apps section of iTunes. Have you tried looking in your purchases? Usually apps remain available for download in there even if they've been pulled from the store. If its not in either of those places I don't think there's any way of getting it back, sorry!

 

[getrealbro]

I did a true backup to the Mac and not a sync. Stupid me didn't realize you can transfer purchases from iPhone to Mac. I thought a full backup to the Mac would retain my app.

Prior to iOS 9 when you did a full backup to a Mac you were offered the opportunity to transfer any apps that were on your iPhone and not in your iTunes apps library. Since iOS 9 that no longer happens. BUT… if you transferred your app or downloaded it via iTunes anytime prior to installing/upgrading to iOS 9 your app should still be available to “install” via the list of apps in iTunes (i.e. the list of apps on the left of the images of your iPhone's home page etc.)

—GetRealBro