Any idea if when we download an update to an app if we can delete the old version? Or do I need all the versions?
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Can I delete old versions of apps?
- Thread starter imac abuser
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When I go into Mobile Applications folder there are multiple versions. I'm not sure if that's right.
Ahh, I see. I'm getting that too, now that I've checked. Now I wonder what's being thrown away, as I've mentioned.
For me iTunes automatically puts the old versions into my Trash bin when the new one is done downloading, maybe it is different on a PC?
EDIT: Stupid me, I am seeing it too there, and some of these apps take up a lot of space, anybody want to give it a try, figuring Apple does allow you to download it again for free if you already paid for it.
EDIT: Stupid me, I am seeing it too there, and some of these apps take up a lot of space, anybody want to give it a try, figuring Apple does allow you to download it again for free if you already paid for it.
For me iTunes automatically puts the old versions into my Trash bin when the new one is done downloading, maybe it is different on a PC?
Maybe the old versions are whatever you got updated on the iPhone and transferred back instead of through the iTunes Desktop version first?
I regularly update on my iPhone and then push back to my Mac later.
iTunes 7.X kept the apps, and all the updates.
iTunes 8 puts the old version of the apps after an update into the trash.
Yeh, the new iTunes deletes the old versions.
The iPhone usually runs an app using a .IPA file. If there is more than one then obviously it is propably an older version that's not been deleted. I'd suggest just delete the OLDER file and see if it works after a sync (it should do), and if it doesn't then by all means download the app again for free.
To answer the question - No - do not delete. It will seriously mess up your update notifications.
I tried long ago and finally restored all deleted versions (changing names so all 1, 2, 3, etc would be correct). Only then did my update #s go back to being accurate.
Let iTunes do it's thing.... whether it's to delete old versions or not.
I tried long ago and finally restored all deleted versions (changing names so all 1, 2, 3, etc would be correct). Only then did my update #s go back to being accurate.
Let iTunes do it's thing.... whether it's to delete old versions or not.
uhhh I dunno if that's true in iTunes 7, but your advice is dead wrong for anyone using iTunes 8. I've deleted all of my old versions of apps and I'm still getting the notifications of updates.
Actually if you all look at your Apps folder...Anything updated after 8.0 now has the App name and version in the file name. If you right click on the App in iTunes it will show you which file is active. The others are "now" dead. Before 8.0 they were not and the other poster above me is right...all versions had data that was pertinent to your app, this is no longer the case. When a file is updated it replaces the current one like it should and it invalidates all of the old ones.
I just tested it...if any App has a version number in the file name, it is OK to delete all the previous versions.
Hope that helps...Good Luck
I just tested it...if any App has a version number in the file name, it is OK to delete all the previous versions.
Hope that helps...Good Luck
I'm saying that I was getting erroneous update notifications until I PUT BACK all the app versions I had deleted. I then had to make sure that the true version numbers were correct.
Like I had 3 versions in my backup, the last being titled "calc2.ipa" Currently on the computer I had "calc1.ipa". I had to change that to "calc3.ipa" as that was what it would have been correctly titled had I not deleted the others.
So again, my advice is - let iTunes do it's thing and don't mess with the older versions of apps on the computer.
Thanks for the update. As I mentioned my issue with this was a while back. It's good to know one can safely delete...
...still, I will wait awhile...
You can do one of two things:
1) Down load the app again which should give you the version in the file name.
2) For windows (not sure Mac equivalent) right click on the app in itunes and select "Show in Windows Explorer" and it will point to the current active file. The later is what I did and and then deleted all the old stuff and so far those that I have checked work just fine.
Again, I am not making any promises that you won't have to set up "whatever" again, but for me, I have not had to do it yet.