How do I downgrade an iPhone app to a previous version?

How do I downgrade an iPhone app to a previous version?

So you were tired of those home screen badge numbers showing up on the App Store icon and you updated your iPhone apps on the go. Now whenever you use one of these updated apps it doesn't work properly or you don't like the so-called improvements made by the developer. How can you downgrade to the previous version?

1. Delete the app from your iPhone.
2. Connect your iPhone to the computer and open iTunes.
3. Do not update your apps in iTunes. Back up and sync your iPhone using iTunes.
4. When the sync is complete, click your iPhone in the left iTunes menu under DEVICES. Click the Apps tab at the top of the iTunes window. Find the app you wish to downgrade under Sync Apps.
5. Make sure the box is checked next to the app you wish to downgrade. Click the Apply button.
6. The old version of the application will be copied from your computer to the iPhone.

If you have already updated the application on your computer, or synced your iPhone before deleting the new version of the app you must follow this step first. Open the trash can or recycling bin and look for the older app version (this file will end with the suffix .ipa).

Drag the old app file into the iTunes window. iTunes will ask if you want to replace the app with an older version. Confirm and begin from step one above. If the old version is not in your trash can you cannot access the older version of the app.

Newest iPhone FAQs

VIEW ALL FAQS

tags: 
iPhone Applications
iPhone Applications

Comments

AlbaniaKosovo replied on

thankx man its work,you saved my life,respekt ;)

Al replied on

Worked for me after this: I had to drag the old app out of the trash, but iTunes would not let me drag it into the Sync Apps page. The solution was to bring up the Library/Apps page of iTunes and drag it there. (I had also cut/pasted the app from the trash to a folder on my hard drive.)

Luke replied on

Hi everyboby,

I've an old ios 4.21, no update is allowed on my phone, is it possible to install an old Whatsapp or any other compatible app? Somebody knows how to do it?

OVER CLOCKED KAI replied on

You just download the app onto your computer iTunes. Then, the app is already associated with your account. After that, try again downloading the app. It should have an iCloud downloading symbol. It will say that the latest version is not compatible with your iOS, but that you can download the most recent version compatible with your version. This worked with iBooks on my iPod 4. The latest version for that app required iOS 7.0, and the iPod 4 only has iOS 6.1.6.

bd replied on

I must also say a BIG THANK YOU for this solution. It worked like a charm for me, so I could get back the old app I was using on my iPhone 3g, after having mistakenly deleted it. The app on the itunes store was compatible only with iOS7. I was really trying to find the way to get my old app back on the phone and this did it for me!

Anonymous replied on

Thank you SO much! You saved my life:)!!!

Anonymous replied on

I will try this with minecraft pe

Anonymous replied on

Ok so I accidentally updated my snapchat app and I really hate it! Like seriously I do not like it! I want to try this out but I'm afraid it will delete everything from my phone :( will this happen?!

Anonymous replied on

omg i have the same problem as you, hate it so much! :(

Anonymous replied on

What if you never synced your phone with the old version of the app? I'm guessing this isn't possible? Thanks!

Anonymous replied on

I followed each direction step by step & these directions definitely work!!! Thankyou :) :)

colamysoda replied on

Thank you. It really worked!

Anonymous replied on

Thanks for this - SoundCloud's new update was just horrible - had to go back to old one cause i couldnt even create playlists on the new one ! smhh

Anonymous replied on

Well I have a problem, I do not have a computer and never hooked my phone up to one. My favorite game just updated and I absolutely hate it. Please help!!!!

Anonymous replied on

what do u mean by left itunes menu under devices i cant find that
im confused help

Anonymous replied on

For some reasons my downgraded apps on my iphone are grayed out? When I click on them, it says installing but nothing happens? Did I do anything wrong?

Charly Stabilak replied on

Worked great for what I needed! I'm sure OS, iTunes, app versions all come in to play for each specific case. But worked great for me, thanks! :)

Anonymous replied on

Said "drag to iTunes Window" I had to drag to the iTunes icon

Anonymous replied on

Thank you so much, it works perfectly.
Appreciate your work mann, Cheers

Anonymous replied on

If i never back up to itunes, can i use someone elses older version of the app?
Like i want the old version of whatsapp, can i use my friend's phone (old version of whatsapp) to back up to itunes thn sync only whatsapp to my iphone?

Anonymous replied on

This is super..you are the man....:-)

kate replied on

I did this, and it sort of worked. The version saved on my itunes is too old, and crashes when I try to open it. So my itunes had version 2.6.2 and the new version I hate is 3.4.0. Is there a way for me to get a version of the app later than 2.6.2 but before 3.4.0? I dislike the new 3.4.0 version, and unfortunately have not synced my ipad to itunes in a long time. Thanks!

Anonymous replied on

Is there a way to do it without a computer?

Peter replied on

Friday, December 19, 2014

I recently was stunned to see an update to my eBay app on my iPad. I was stunned because it was such a piece of junk compared to the previous version. This new version just didn't do what I needed.

1) I could no longer see how many bids my current items for sale had. And the green colored bid amount disappeared. The green color was a instant indication that my item had a bid and will sell.
2) I could no longer sort searched items by items that SOLD. A very important tool as I shop garage sales and flea markets. I need to know how much a similar or exact item sells for on eBay.

I was at a loss to know how to revert to the previous version, but your instructions above clearly headed me in the right direction. With a few minor variations from your directions I was able to get the old version back. I am running iTunes Version 12.0.1.26 on my iMac.

1) Delete the newer version of the eBay app from my iPad.
2) Back up my iPad to iTunes while connected to my iMac.
3) When finished, Click on the iPad within the iTunes application on the iMac.
4) Under Summary, Click on the "Restore Backup"
5) Select a Back-up previous to the most recent back-up. The most recent back up I just updated with no eBay app at all. I had to go back to an iPad backup from 2013. This will mess up tons of other things like your contacts and other personal stuff. But I can re-install those after I fix the problem app eBay.
6) The instruction or warning telling me what would happen when I hit the Restore button didn't mention anything about the reinstallation of any apps. It only mentions contacts, pictures, music and more. It also specifically tells me that the version of the iPad Software would NOT be changed.
7) I hit restore and within minutes, iTunes reinstalled my OLD eBay app. I am elated. I have more restorations to do now - to my contacts and more, but my eBay app is my most often used app and has functions that both the newer version of the eBay app and the web browser version don't have.

Thank you so much for your instructions. I hope this can help others.

Peter

Marie replied on

Thank you!!! Couldn't stand the annoying switch between apps and the even more annoying mascot!

Anonymous replied on

Once I have plugged my iPhone in and clicked on iPhone and then on apps down the left hand side, no apps actually come up, why is this and how do i get the apps to come up?

Anonymous replied on

I am trying to downgrade my snap chat but it's not working

herb replied on

i just did it and it worked for me!

Tas replied on

Can someone please help me with downgrading my snap chat ?

Anonymous replied on

Worked! Thank you SO much! I updated the "imoji' app and it ended up being a terrible new version so I wanted to downgrade and I got it back! feels good.

Pages