Are you using an app that can no longer be downloaded from the App Store, but does it still work? It may then be difficult to reuse it on a new iPhone or iPad. When setting up the new device, apps are downloaded from the App Store.
I had this same problem with a smart lawn mower app where the app was no longer available in the App Store. Fortunately, the application still worked on my old iPhone, but I could no longer install it on a new one. With the help of iMazing for Mac, we managed to transfer the app to the new iPhone.
iMazing for Mac
iMazing is a Mac application that helps you manage your iPhone or iPad without needing Apple’s tools. It offers useful features such as transferring data (photos, videos, music, messages, apps) between your iOS device and Mac. You can also backup, restore, and export data such as messages or contacts. iMazing also gives you access to system files on your iOS device and offers more control over your device management than standard Apple software.
This app comes into play especially when problems arise. For example, you can transfer WhatsApp conversations without an iCloud backup and iMazing can also recover files (to a limited extent) that have been permanently deleted.
Solution if apps are no longer in the App Store
iMazing offers a handy tool to transfer apps from your old iPhone to a new one. It is even possible to export all apps on your iPhone or iPad to your Mac and place them on another iPhone or iPad. It is especially useful when you want to use an app that is no longer available in the App Store. This could be for various reasons: the developer may no longer be active or Apple has removed the application from the App Store due to a dispute.
Keep app backups with iMazing
If you always want to maintain access to an app, you can keep a backup of an application in the iMazing app for Mac. This means you can always reinstall the application on a new iPhone or iPad. It is a complex step-by-step plan that I try to explain as best as possible. If you follow the steps below, you can save apps from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac and then install them on a new device. The step-by-step plan below is suitable for the iMazing app version 3.0 or newer.
Make a backup via iMazing
- Download iMazing app for Mac and install it
- Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac with the cable
- Unlock your device and allow the connection
- Open iMazing
- Choose your device from the list
- Go to ‘Dates’
- Open ‘Apps’
- Select the app or apps you want to export
- Click on ‘Copy to Mac’ at the bottom
- Choose a desired location
iMazing will now show a few notifications and ask for permission to make a full backup of your iPhone or iPad to your Mac. This is necessary to remove the complete application from your device and save it on your computer. Follow the steps and wait for iMazing to make a full backup of your Mac, which may take some time.
After the backup is complete, iMazing will save the entire application, including content, to your Mac. You can find this at the export location you previously selected. You can find the complete backup of your device via /Users/[naam thuismap]/Library/Application Support/iMazing/Library
Transfer app to new iPhone or iPad
Once you’ve completed the steps above, if all went well, iMazing will have fully exported the apps you want to your Mac and you can then transfer and import them to another iPhone or iPad. This is a complicated process that you must follow step by step. Always read the information in the iMazing app, the step-by-step plan may have been changed for an update. Appletips is not responsible for loss of data, apps or other data.
Before you can install the application on your iPhone or iPad, you must disable the Find My function. This protection does not allow transferring apps via other platforms. You can disable Find My via Settings â–¸ Your name â–¸ Find My â–¸ Find My [apparaat] â–¸ disable the option.
- Connect your new iPhone or iPad to your Mac
- Unlock your device and allow the connection
- Open the iMazing app
- Choose your device from the list
- Go to ‘Dates’
- Open ‘Apps’
- Click on ‘Copy to device’ at the bottom
- Select the app on your Mac
Now follow the steps on your Mac’s screen. For example, iMazing will ask you if the tool can transfer the application to your iPhone or iPad and restart it. Allow this to start the transfer.
Complete important steps
During the transfer, iMazing will restart your device and activate a special transfer mode. This mode is not strange, Apple also uses this process for companies in combination with the Apple Configurator app. It is important that you carefully follow the steps indicated by iMazing.
- Your iPhone or iPad will restart
- Choose ‘Continue with partial configuration’
- Confirm with ‘Continue’
- On the ‘Make this iPhone your new iPhone’ screen, tap ‘Adjust‘
- Choose ‘Don’t transfer anything‘!!
- Log in with your Apple Account
Eventually you will see the ‘Make this iPhone your new iPhone’ screen again. Check under ‘Apps and data’ that it says ‘Don’t transfer anything’, if not? Then tap ‘Customise’ again and select ‘Don’t transfer anything’. Tap Continue. Follow the steps on the screen.
If you follow the steps closely, iMazing will put the exported app on your iPhone or iPad via your Mac. This way you can transfer apps that are no longer in the App Store and use them again.
Once the process is complete, you can turn Find My device back on via Settings â–¸ Your Name â–¸ Find My â–¸ Find My [apparaat] â–¸ enable the option.
For personal purchases only
It is good to realize that you can only perform the above steps with apps that you have personally purchased. Apps are protected with an Apple Account and password and can only be used by the owner. During the transfer, iMazing will ask for this information to unlock the app.
Of course, you can transfer apps from family members and friends, provided they are willing to provide the login details. You cannot transfer apps that you download from the internet in this way unless the login details are known.
Use iMazing for free
You can use the above solution for free via the iMazing app for Mac. The tool offers even more paid solutions such as complete backup restore, photo transfer, WhatsApp conversations, etc.
The iMazing app costs 39.99 per year (5 devices) or 59.99 once (3 devices). Transferring apps is free, and you can also test the full version for a short period. You can read more information about this application from Switzerland here.