Many iDevice users had chaos right after the upgrade where they found all their apps gone and started bashing out Apple, but if one had seen the iTunes messages and warnings just before upgrading to iOS5, you would never have done it so. I can’t blame it. We were all excited and knew how blindly most of us clicked on the Next Button. Nevertheless, if you did or did not backup your Apps on your computer, there is still a way to recover them.
Recover Deleted Apps on iPad or iPhone using WiFi Sync or App Store
Follow these methods, including troubleshooting to restore the apps on your iPad or iPhone.
- Use WiFi Sync
- Setting up
- Troubleshooting
- Use App Store App on iPad or iPhone
- What about the future backups?
Make sure your PC and iPhone are connected to the same network.
Using WiFi Sync:
In case you had at least synced once or backed up data when the warning was given or have used Transfer Purchases even if not synced ever.
Starting iOS, now it is possible to sync your iPad / iPhone over WiFi, no wires required. You can even upgrade coming versions over WiFi. So let’s learn how to sync it :
Setting it up
On Computer:
- Connect your iPad / iPhone to your computer and launch iTunes.
- Next, select your device in iTunes, Scroll down the summary page, and look for OPTIONS.
- Here you will get the check box to select WiFi SYNC.
- Next, Go to the Apps section and select the apps you want to sync.
On iPhone/iPad:
- Next, on your iPad or iPhone, Go to Settings > general >iTunes WiFi Sync
- Make sure it is enabled. In case it’s already, you should see a button that says “Sync Now.”
Syncing :
If everything is all right and you see the Sync Button Enabled, hit and all your apps will be back.
- Your iPad or iPhone will appear in iTunes when you go to the WiFi Sync option on your iDevice.
- Though it says here that WiFi Sync is only available when you are connected to your charger, it works.
- You need not connect your iPad or iPhone again to change what you want to sync. It works the same way as it was when plugged in.
Troubleshooting which can give errors when using WiFi Sync
In case see the “Sync Now” button is grayed out and it will always say that “Sync will resume when “Your Computer XYZ” is available,” and neither it shows up in iTunes even if both your computer and iPad are on the same network try below-mentioned troubleshooting.
- Make sure it’s the same computer you have always synced with your iPad. It is odd, but this trick worked for me instantly. My Laptop synced quickly with WIFI, but the desktop did not, which is connected over LAN with a router.
- The computer is authorized to transfer apps and files to your iPad or iPhone
- Bonjour is installed. If not, download from here and make sure the service is running ( Run > Services.msc )
- Check Firewall Settings:
- Go to Control Panel > Windows Firewall > Advanced settings >Inbound Rules
- Look for Entries named under Bonjour Service.
- When found, please select it and double-click, and go to Advanced Tab
- See if the Profile is set only to Public. If this is the case, enable for Private and Domain also.
Using Purchased Apps Option and Download Again :
In case you never backed your apps, even though you were warned that all apps would be gone with the upgrade, you need to use your iTunes Purchased Option to download them again.
- Go to App Store App on your iPad or iPhone and select the tab which says purchased.
- Here you can see a list of apps you have purchased before, and all you need is to install them again, but that will cost you both time and bandwidth. There is no way you can batch download apps from App Store.
- You can see what is on your iPad or iPhone and what is not there.
Make Future downloads sync automatically.
Another good thing about iOS 5 is that it allows you to instantly download apps you have purchased on any computer to all your iDevices if they are tied up together. So if you had to download a new app on your computer and you visit the WiFi Sync center on your iPad, you will see the option to sync means there is something new.