Now and then, we receive new versions of our favorite apps on the App Store, hoping to see fresh changes, improvements, and additional features. But sorry to disappoint you, some updates still remind us that “not all updates are favorable.” Most times, such updates either introduce unwanted features, unbearable bugs, or, at worse, remove some of our favorite features. If you recently installed an unfavorable app update that made you search for “How do I install an older version of an iPhone app?”, we’ve got a fix for you!
Here, we’ll guide you on:
- How to roll back to an older version of an iPhone app,
- How to install an older version of an iPhone app, and
- Where to get older versions of app files for your phone.
Let’s get going!
How Do I Install an Older Version of an iPhone App
Rolling back to an older version of an app should’ve come in a breezy procedure on iPhone if Apple has added such a feature to the App Store. But it’s not, not even on any operating system.
Nonetheless, the good news is that you can always manually roll back to previous versions of an app on your phone if you’re not pleased with the new update.
However, kindly note that downgrading an app on your phone will clear its data, as you’ll have to uninstall the app first before installing the older version. Other than that, there’s nothing to be afraid of.
So, here’s the procedure that answers your query, “how do I install an older version of an iPhone app?”
Method 1: Using the App Store on your iPhone (if available)
- Open the App Store on your iPhone.
- Tap on your profile picture or initials in the top right corner to access your account.
- Select “Purchased” or “My Purchases” to view your purchased apps.
- Search for the app you want to install and find it in your purchased apps list.
- Tap the cloud icon or the download button next to the app’s name. If the app has an older version available, it will prompt you to install it.
Method 2: Using iTunes on your computer (if available)
If you have a backup of the app in your iTunes library, you can try to install an older version using iTunes. This method may not work if the app’s developer has removed older versions from the App Store entirely.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes (make sure you have the latest version of iTunes).
- Click on the device icon in the upper left corner to access your device.
- In the left sidebar, click on “Apps” under your device to see a list of installed apps.
- Find the app you want to install an older version of.
- Delete the app from your device if it’s already installed (right-click and choose “Delete”).
- In your iTunes library, locate the older version of the app. If you don’t have it, you might need to search for the app file or download it from a trusted source.
- Drag and drop the older app file into the “Apps” section in iTunes.
- Sync your device with iTunes, and the older version of the app should be installed.
These are the simplest ways to roll back an iPhone app on your phone. We hope that answers your query on “how do I install an older version of an iPhone app?”
If you usually experience issues when the App Store auto-updates your apps, or you’d prefer to manually update your apps when you feel like it, you may turn off automatic app updates on the App Store. Doing that will ensure your apps don’t get updated overnight, as well as give you control of when to update your apps if you want.
How to Turn off Auto App Update on iPhone ?
Follow these steps to modify your app updates option on the App Store.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap App Store.
- Turn off App Updates.
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