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Is it possible to install apps not on the App Store to a new device?
Yes, considering you have the app .ipa file saved. An .ipa (iPhone Application Archive) file is a distributive archive that stores an iPhone app, just like .exe does for Windows. In this article we will show you how to install apps on iPhone without App Store or iTunes.
New apps get added to App Store every day, others get discontinued. If you know you have found something special that really suits your needs, be it a Unit Converter/Measurement Multi-tool or your favourite Battleship game, it is a good idea to save it on your PC. If you wonder how to download apps without App Store, it is technically not possible, this is why it is important to get your hands on them, while they are still available.
The easiest way to save the .ipa file on your PC is to make a backup of your iPhone. But here is the catch! iTunes saves only the list of apps without the actual .ipa files, it does the physical download at the time of the restore. If the app from your list has been discontinued and is no longer in the App Store, iTunes will simply skip to the next one. We need a tool that would download the actual app file at the time of the backup, luckily such a tool exists!
It is a powerful Backup and Restore multi-tool capable of:
🔹 Restoring only selected data, including Apps, Contacts, SMS Messages, Calendars, Settings, Passwords and much more.
🔹 Choosing any folder to store your backup.
🔹 Validating integrity of the backup file after each backup.
🔹 Restoring data from a corrupted iTunes backup.
How to install apps on iPhone
✒ How to download Apps without App Store
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Download CopyTrans Shelbee from the following page:
Download CopyTrans Shelbee -
Install the program. If you need help installing CopyTrans Shelbee, follow the installation guide.
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Start CopyTrans Shelbee and connect the iPhone via the USB cable. Click “Custom restore“.
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Select the backup you wish to install the apps from.
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If your iPhone backup is not encrypted, we recommended that you encrypt it with a password.
Encrypted backups include app logins, passwords, Wi-Fi settings, etc. More about encrypted backups from Apple.
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Next, please log in to iTunes Store with your Apple ID. You can skip this step if you want, but we recommended that you don’t, because if some of the apps can’t be restored from the backup, CopyTrans Shelbee will download it from the iTunes Store directly (provided that they are still there).
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Select the apps you wish to install on your iPhone and click Next.
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Please note that the data you selected will be overwritten on the new device. For example, if you want to restore Contacts from backup, the Contacts on the device will be overwritten with the ones in the backup.
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CopyTrans Shelbee always does another backup for safety reasons before every restore, just to make sure there is a safety net to fall on to, just in case. Select the destination folder and click “Start”.
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Wait until the process finishes.
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The process is finished. Congrats! If some of the apps didn’t download automatically, you can redownload them manually from the App Store. All your app data like settings, game scores, etc. will be saved.
📞 This is how to download apps without App Store. If you know you have found an app that you can’t live without, save it to your PC by doing a backup with CopyTrans Shelbee. This way you will always be able to install it again to a new device. Below is a detailed guide how to do a backup with CopyTrans Shelbee:
Download apps without App Store
✒ Download apps not on the App Store
- Download CopyTrans Shelbee from the following page:
Download CopyTrans Shelbee - Install CopyTrans Shelbee.
- First, make a backup of your apps with CopyTrans Shelbee: click on Backup -> Full Backup.
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Select the backup destination by clicking on a green pencil.
⚡ With CopyTrans Shelbee, you can choose any folder!
⚡ You can move iTunes default backup folder and transfer all previous backups there.
⚡ You can save a backup to an external drive. - Make sure that you have checked the Save the Apps button:
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Log in to the App Store.
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If you see this screen, it means your backup is encrypted and password protected. That means that “Encrypt local backup” option was checked in iTunes when the backup was done.
⚡ Encrypted backups include passwords, Wi-Fi settings, etc. More about encrypted backups from Apple.
⚡ If you don’t remember your iOS backup password, you can reset it.Unlike iTunes, CopyTrans Shelbee validates every backup to make sure it can be restored later; iTunes asks for this password at the time of the restore, it does not validate every backup. What password again?
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Now please wait until the backup is complete.
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And done!
Here are detailed instructions on how to back up your iPhone with CopyTrans Shelbee.
💡 Take care of your data, keep it safe by storing it in multiple locations. Do not just rely on the iCloud, as you can’t be sure if the servers will be online at the time when you need them the most. Have a physical backup on your PC and on an external hard drive. Now you know how to install apps on iPhone without App Store.
✉ Leave your questions and comments in the comments section below. Good luck!
