Now that iTunes 12.7 is out, should we delete all our mobile apps?

[EugW]

Since iTunes 12.7 no longer allows us to access the directory of apps, the app directory has become functionally useless. I'm thinking of removing it from active duty, but just putting a copy of all the files on a storage drive somewhere.

How best to delete the apps? Are there specific extra folders that must be deleted or adjusted?

 

[BornAgainMac]

I recommend archiving them. For fun, you can show package contents and see the resources used in apps. Even non-tech users will see some interesting stuff in there. I don't think this ability will ever be possible with new apps.

 

[Partron22]

If you delete them, you will have a hard time finding them back should you ever decide you want one of them.

 

[EugW]

If you delete them, you will have a hard time finding them back should you ever decide you want one of them.

I would delete them from my main directory, but I would archive them (as BornAgainMac suggests). I'm just wondering how best to do this, safely.

 

[nebo1ss]

Guess I have not been paying attention to the changes. I was not aware that I can no longer download apps on iTunes and sync them to iPhone. I have two Apple ID's one on the US store and one on the London store. I keep iTunes on the US store for downloads and the phone on the London store for downloads and sync to get everything on the phone. I guess this will no longer be possible not sure why Apple did this. The two ID's is a historical thing I lived in New York for years but now live in London.

 

[steve62388]

Mine are backed up as part of my normal Time Machine regime so I deleted them. I'm almost positive I'll never need to touch them again, I'm a big believer in moving on to a better developer if one hasn't bothered to update their app in years (64 bit support for example).

 

[admwright]

Mine are backed up as part of my normal Time Machine regime so I deleted them. I'm almost positive I'll never need to touch them again, I'm a big believer in moving on to a better developer if one hasn't bothered to update their app in years (64 bit support for example).

Do know that time machine is NOT a long term backup system? It gives you a history as long as there is space. If you have deleted a file and your time machine disk is full it will start to delete the oldest backups. If this includes a file you have deleted it will eventually be gone for good.

 

[BornAgainMac]

I recommend just copying the directory off to an external drive. Tag the files something like "Old iTunes Apps" so that you can find it again if have a ton of other stuff on the drive. After you archived them off, delete the apps from your iTunes library from the finder. Startup iTunes and see if it complains or not. If it complains, you can always copy the apps back but likely it will not complain and you can reclaim that disk space.

I bet Apple updated the Disk space tool in High Sierra. Go to "About This Mac", click Storage and then click Manage. This is after you upgrade to High Sierra but I can see Apple updating it so that it can clean out iTunes apps. It is possible Apple didn't update that tool.

 

[steve62388]

Do know that time machine is NOT a long term backup system? It gives you a history as long as there is space. If you have deleted a file and your time machine disk is full it will start to delete the oldest backups. If this includes a file you have deleted it will eventually be gone for good.

I'm fully aware of that. But only a hoarder would want to hang onto apps for years and years. I'm not sentimental, if an app hasn't been updated in a long time (eg 32 bit apps) I move onto something better. iOS updates will break them sooner or later. Otherwise we would all still be rocking Nokia 3210s because of Snake. The edge cases are incredibly few for most of the hundreds of millions of iOS users to give a stuff about losing this facility.

Of course this is Macrumors so cue the QQ.

 

[JamesPDX]

Like the LOC is a hoarder.

 

[jk73]

I've been wondering the same. Any danger to simply deleting the Mobile Applications folder after installing 12.7? There's been much discussion of this in several threads here but it's unclear if anyone has taken the plunge. Thanks.

 

[Icehawk]

I've been wondering the same. Any danger to simply deleting the Mobile Applications folder after installing 12.7? There's been much discussion of this in several threads here but it's unclear if anyone has taken the plunge. Thanks.

I deleted the app folder within the iTunes folder. The only thing I've noticed was this weird spike in free space on my hard drive. I've synced my phone, backed it up locally, and such without issue.

I did move a couple apps to "save" from the folder before I deleted it. I had a few that aren't in the App Store anymore.

 

[jk73]

I deleted the app folder within the iTunes folder. The only thing I've noticed was this weird spike in free space on my hard drive. I've synced my phone, backed it up locally, and such without issue.

I did move a couple apps to "save" from the folder before I deleted it. I had a few that aren't in the App Store anymore.

Thanks for the reply. Good to hear.

It's not that I need the almost 10 GB of space, but it seems like a waste to leave it there if they're just essentially dead files now.