Old Apps on Macbook

I still have an iphone 4. I mistakenly deleted an app but still have it in my iTunes library. When I try to download the app on my phone it says I dont have the system requirements. How can I put the old version on the app back on my phone

Are you syncing the app to your iPhone? What iTunes version in on the MacBook?

Have you tried logging in to the iPhone app store and re-downloading it? What might have happened is that there is a version in your iTunes library that is newer than the iPhone 4 can use.

In order to use the iTunes store method you'll have to log into the store using the iPhone 4. If you use a newer device the store won't show you older versions of the software. It assumes that you want the newest possible version.

My iTunes is 11.4, both my Macbook and phone are old. Slydude, the problem is I cant get the old version of the app back. When I try to reload via my phone its the new version which isnt compatible....

Not sure I understand.. If the older app is still in your iTunes library, you should be able sync it back on your iPhone 4. I routinely do that with older versions of apps that I have previously downloaded. I keep all my apps (old and new) stored on my Mac for that very reason. All you really need is the older *.ipa version and sync it back on the phone. It then doesn't matter which version of iOS is on your phone. Of course if you didn't keep a copy of the older version on your Mac, you are then out of luck.

When I sync, the app (the old version still in the library) doesnt appear back on my phone. I dont know why!

DuLac said:

When I sync, the app (the old version still in the library) doesnt appear back on my phone. I dont know why!

Click to expand...

That's not normal. Like I said above, I have older apps that I keep in my iTunes library on the Mac and can easily sync them back to my iPhone 7+ and 6s+ both running the latest version of iOS. It sounds like maybe the older version of your app is either broken or corrupt and that will prevent it from being synced. There's third party software that works much better than iTunes but with an iPhone 4, I don't recommend buying it. The software will cost you more than your phone is worth. Might be time to look for a new iPhone?

Apple is now selling iPhones on their refurbished site. The phones come with full warranty and are like new. Not exactly inexpensive though, but you would be getting quality at a good discount.

If you login on the iPhone 4 it should only show apps compatible with whatever version of IOS that is on the phone. I haven't had to do that in some time but it worked the last time I did it. In fact I was looking for an app I had on my first gen iPad so it shouldn't have problem showing you things that work on the 4. Has the older version of the app been pulled from the store possibly?

Thanks chsag. Hi slydude, when I look at the apps in itunes is also shows ones that arent compatible but tells me they arent supported when I try to download

@Dulac

Let's say you attach your iPhone 4 to your Mac via USB. You open iTunes. Click on the iDevice icon for your phone - top of the left column on the tool bar.

Having done that, on your left, you will see your iPhone and your name. Under this will be "Summary" and under that will be "Apps". Click on Apps.

This will reveal all the apps currently or previously associated with that phone. Scroll through the list till you see the app in question. Alongside that app will be the word "Install". Click on that. Then sync.

It is not enough just to Sync because if you deleted an app from the phone, Apple assumes you want things to stay that way - otherwise every sync would automatically re-install all your apps.

You have to tell iTunes to "Install" - equally, you can tell iTunes to "Remove" an app from the list (by clicking on "Remove").

Good luck.

Ian

Dear IWT

Thank you so much. This worked!

(PS BTW re the suggestion for a refurbished phone. I have found out that unfortunately they dont do that in the UK yet...)