Looking for help backing up iOS app

[s8film40]

I could use some help couldn't find a solution to this. I have an iOS app that a new update is available for. This update kills an important feature for me so I am looking at a way to save the version I have in case I accidentally update or eventually when I upgrade to a new phone. I looked in the iTunes library on my mac and found an older version but not the version currently on my iPhone. I did a backup through iTunes and it did not replace this with the current version on my phone. I tried backing up that older version and then moving it to the trash hoping this would trigger iTunes to back up that app but it didn't. If anyone could help me find a way to back up this it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[JamesMB]

I could use some help couldn't find a solution to this. I have an iOS app that a new update is available for. This update kills an important feature for me so I am looking at a way to save the version I have in case I accidentally update or eventually when I upgrade to a new phone. I looked in the iTunes library on my mac and found an older version but not the version currently on my iPhone. I did a backup through iTunes and it did not replace this with the current version on my phone. I tried backing up that older version and then moving it to the trash hoping this would trigger iTunes to back up that app but it didn't. If anyone could help me find a way to back up this it would be greatly appreciated!

You can't sync that app on your phone back to iTunes, because that functionality is no longer supported. Do a search on app thinning, and you will understand why.

 

[s8film40]

You can't sync that app on your phone back to iTunes, because that functionality is no longer supported. Do a search on app thinning, and you will understand why.

So is there any solution at all to back up my existing version of the app and be able to reinstall it or downgrade in the future?

 

[JamesMB]

So is there any solution at all to back up my existing version of the app and be able to reinstall it or downgrade in the future?

Nope....
You could backup your device to iTunes, and then copy that backup to a safe location, so it won't be overwritten by a newer backup. There might be software available that would extract that .IPA file from your backup.
If you can't extract the file, then the only way to restore it would be to restore the entire device using the backup.
Seems like a lot of trouble for just one app.

 

[s8film40]

Nope....
You could backup your device to iTunes, and then copy that backup to a safe location, so it won't be overwritten by a newer backup. There might be software available that would extract that .IPA file from your backup.
If you can't extract the file, then the only way to restore it would be to restore the entire device using the backup.
Seems like a lot of trouble for just one app.

Unfortunately this is an important app for me. I guess I'll just have to back up regularly to my computer instead of relying on iCloud back ups and of course be very careful not to ever hit the update all button in the App Store. Thanks for clarifying this though! It's a shame this kills some current iOS functionality for me.

 

[sbailey4]

So is there any solution at all to back up my existing version of the app and be able to reinstall it or downgrade in the future?

yes there is actually using iTunes. At least on Windows the old ipa files go to recycle bin when the updates happen. You simply restore those then install them from iTunes to your device. I have typically uninstalled the app from the device first then select the "install" option in iTunes for the restored version. The path is \Users\YOUR USER\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Mobile Applications for a Windows machine. Not sure on the path for mac but I suspect in the iTunes media folder. The key is for the version you want to be in the iTunes media apps folder then u can use the iTunes install option to put it on the device. As for backup, just save those ipa files where ever you want them for future use.

 

[s8film40]

yes there is actually using iTunes. At least on Windows the old ipa files go to recycle bin when the updates happen. You simply restore those then install them from iTunes to your device. I have typically uninstalled the app from the device first then select the "install" option in iTunes for the restored version. The path is \Users\YOUR USER\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Mobile Applications for a Windows machine. Not sure on the path for mac but I suspect in the iTunes media folder. The key is for the version you want to be in the iTunes media apps folder then u can use the iTunes install option to put it on the device. As for backup, just save those ipa files where ever you want them for future use.

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately the version that is stored in iTunes is an older version, not what I currently have on my phone. I have backed that one up and will use it in the future if absolutely necessary. Of course as luck would have it this app added a feature I really needed just before taking another I really needed away. The key for me is the app is only on my phone at this point and I would really like to find a way to get that file off and backed up.

 

[JamesMB]

yes there is actually using iTunes. At least on Windows the old ipa files go to recycle bin when the updates happen. You simply restore those then install them from iTunes to your device. I have typically uninstalled the app from the device first then select the "install" option in iTunes for the restored version. The path is \Users\YOUR USER\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Mobile Applications for a Windows machine. Not sure on the path for mac but I suspect in the iTunes media folder. The key is for the version you want to be in the iTunes media apps folder then u can use the iTunes install option to put it on the device. As for backup, just save those ipa files where ever you want them for future use.

Wont work...Since he has the wrong version in iTunes, and no way to get the version that he wants.
The only other way that I can think of is to find someone with the "old" version in iTunes, and have them email the .IPA.