You can no longer sync iPhone apps to iTunes in the old way. Apple removed iOS app management from modern iTunes, and current iPhone apps are downloaded and redownloaded through the App Store using your Apple Account. Finder on modern Macs and Apple Devices on Windows can still back up and sync certain content, but they do not provide the former iTunes app library.

What to do instead

  1. Open the App Store on the iPhone.
  2. Tap your account picture or the My Account button.
  3. Choose Apps & Purchase History, then Your Apps.
  4. Select Not on this iPhone to find eligible apps you previously downloaded.
  5. Tap the download button next to an app to install it again.

The download is tied to the Apple Account and the app’s availability and compatibility—not to a copy of the app held in iTunes. If you are setting up a replacement phone, begin with a current backup; our iPhone restore guide explains the safe order of operations.

What Finder and Apple Devices can still do

On a current Mac, select an iPhone in Finder. On Windows, use the Apple Devices app. These tools can back up and restore the iPhone and sync supported content such as music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, books, photos, contacts, and calendars. They are useful for device maintenance, but they are not an app-transfer method.

Keep app data safe

  • Use iCloud Backup or an encrypted computer backup before replacing, erasing, or repairing an iPhone.
  • Verify important apps use their own account or cloud sync. A banking app, authenticator, game, or messaging app may require a separate sign-in, recovery method, or in-app backup.
  • Do not assume an app’s purchase history guarantees compatibility. Developers can remove an app or newer iOS versions may no longer support it.

If an app will not redownload

  1. Confirm you are signed in to the Apple Account that originally obtained it.
  2. Check Apps & Purchase History and your purchase history.
  3. Confirm the app is still available and compatible with the iPhone’s iOS version.
  4. If it was a Family Sharing purchase, confirm purchase sharing is enabled and that the app is eligible.
  5. For an in-app purchase, use the app’s Restore Purchases option if it offers one; downloading an app does not automatically recreate every subscription or in-app entitlement.

Frequently asked questions

Can I copy an app from one iPhone to another with iTunes?

Not with the current Apple workflow. Install it from the App Store on the other iPhone using the appropriate Apple Account, or choose it during device setup where offered.

Can I keep a local app library in iTunes?

Modern iTunes, Finder, and Apple Devices do not provide the old iOS app-library management feature. Rely on the App Store purchase history and the app developer’s support for current devices.

Does a computer backup include apps?

A backup can preserve device settings and app data, but apps themselves are generally downloaded again from the App Store during or after restoration. Keep the Apple Account credentials and any app-specific recovery details available.

Reference: Apple’s redownload-apps instructions and Mac syncing guide.