How to Transfer a Removed iPhone App: Keep Your Apps Alive

So, you’ve found yourself with a cool app on your iPhone that’s no longer available on the App Store, and you’re wondering how you can transfer this removed iPhone app to a new device—or even share it with a friend. This situation is more common than you might think, especially with older apps that developers no longer support or apps that were pulled due to changes in App Store policies. In this guide, we’ll explore how to transfer a removed iPhone app, keeping your favorite apps alive and accessible even when they’re no longer available for download.

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Step-by-Step Guide: How to Share or Transfer Removed Apps
1. Using iCloud Backup to Transfer to a New iPhone
2. Re-Downloading the App from Your Purchase History
3. Using iMazing to Transfer Apps
4. Using Family Sharing
Benefits of These Methods
Conclusion
FAQ

1. Using iCloud Backup to Transfer to a New iPhone

Step 1: Make sure the app is still on your current iPhone.
Step 2: Create an iCloud backup of your current iPhone. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup, then tap Back Up Now.
Step 3: When setting up your new iPhone, choose to restore it from the iCloud backup. This will transfer all your apps and data, including the removed app, to your new device.
Limitations: This method works well for personal use when migrating to a new device but won’t allow you to share the app with another person’s iPhone unless they log into your iCloud account.

2. Re-Downloading the App from Your Purchase History

Step 1: Open the App Store on your iPhone.
Step 2: Tap on your profile icon in the top right corner and select Purchased.
Step 3: Search for the removed app under Not on this iPhone and tap the download icon next to it.
Limitations: This only works if the app was previously downloaded with your Apple ID and hasn’t been entirely delisted by Apple.

3. Using iMazing to Transfer Apps

Step 1: Download and install iMazing on your computer.
Step 2: Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable and open iMazing.
Step 3: In iMazing, select your device and click on Manage Apps.
Step 4: Find the app you want to transfer, right-click on it, and choose Export .ipa.
Step 5: Connect the new iPhone and use iMazing to install the .ipa file onto the device.
Limitations: Both iPhones must use the same Apple ID for this method to work.

Step 1: If the app was purchased under a family member's Apple ID, ensure Family Sharing is enabled.
Step 2: Have the family member open the App Store on their device and go to Purchased.
Step 3: Select your Apple ID under Family Purchases and download the app from there.
Limitations: This method only works if the app was purchased and is still in the Apple ID's purchase history.

Benefits of These Methods

Preserving Nostalgic Apps: Keep your favorite old apps, like games that no longer work on the latest iOS, alive on newer devices.
Avoiding Data Loss: Transferring apps using these methods ensures that you don’t lose your data, such as saved game progress or custom app settings.
Safe and Legal: All methods described above comply with Apple’s policies, avoiding the risks associated with unauthorized app downloads.

Conclusion

While sharing or transferring an app that has been removed from the App Store isn’t straightforward, there are several methods you can try, depending on your specific situation. Whether you’re upgrading to a new iPhone or just trying to help a friend get that nostalgic game they miss, one of these methods might work for you. Just remember to act quickly—once an app is deleted from your device, it’s gone for good unless you’ve backed it up.

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