How to Download Past iPhone App Purchases

One of the best features of the App Store is that you can redownload apps an unlimited number of times without having to pay a second time. This is especially important if you accidentally delete an app or if you lose apps in a hardware failure or theft.

If you couldn't redownload past purchases, all the money invested your apps would have to be spent again. Luckily, Apple makes it easy for you to redownload apps purchased from the App Store.

Redownload Past iPhone App Purchases on iPhone

Probably the easiest and fastest way to redownload apps is right on your iPhone. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Tap the App Store app to launch it
2. Tap the Updates icon at the bottom right corner
3. Tap Purchased
4. If you have Family Sharing enabled, tap My Purchases (or the name of the person who originally purchased the app, if it wasn't you). If you don't have Family Sharing enabled, skip this step
5. Tap Not on This iPhone
6. Scroll through the list of apps or swipe down to reveal the search box and type in the name of the app you're looking for
7. When you find the app, tap the download icon (the iCloud cloud with an arrow in it) to reinstall the app.

Redownload Previous App Store Purchases in iTunes

You can also download previous purchases using iTunes by following these steps:

1. Launch iTunes
2. Click the Apps icon in the top right corner, just underneath the playback controls (it looks like an A)

1. Click App Store just beneath the playback window at the top center of the screen to go to the App Store
2. Click Purchased in the Quick Links section at the right
3. This screen lists every app you've ever downloaded or purchased for any iOS device. Browse the screen or search for the app using the search bar at the left

1. When you find the app you want, click the download icon (the cloud with the down arrow in it again)
2. You may be asked to sign into your Apple ID. If you are, do so. At that point, the app downloads to your computer and is ready to be synced to your iPhone or other iOS device.

What About Apps Removed From the App Store?

Developers can remove their apps from the App Store. This happens when the developer no longer wants to sell or support an app, or when they release a new version that's such a major change that they treat it as a separate app. In that case, are you still able to redownload the app?

In most cases, yes. It likely depends on the reason an app was removed from the App Store, but generally speaking, if you've paid for an app, you'll find it the Purchases section of your account and will be able to redownload it. The apps you probably won't be able to redownload include those that break the law, infringe copyright, are banned by Apple, or that are actually malicious apps disguised as something else. But why would you want those anyway, right?

 

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