Where Is The Devices Tab In Itunes
Last week we talked about creating a backup of your iOS device that, when restored, would also restore all your apps. As I noted in the article, an iCloud backup restores apps and their related data, and restoring using an iTunes backup does, but maybe not the way you expect it to.
The iTunes Store is available on all your devices, which means you can buy that catchy song you just heard or rent that movie you’ve been meaning to see, anytime you want. And since your entire library of music, movies, and TV shows lives in iCloud, everything you buy is immediately available, no matter how you want to play it. Hi, In the latest versions of iTunes, there is no Photos tab. Once you connect your device to the computer, you will see it in iTunes. Click the device. You will then see a Photos tab at the far right. Using this tab, you can sync the photos on your device with a folder on your computer. Hope this helps, J.
Shortly after the article posted, Sandeep Roy sent me a message via Twitter and posted a comment asking about an apparent footnote at the end of the Apple support article I referenced stating that, as of iOS 9, there were changes to iTunes’ Transfer Purchases option that no longer allowed you to transfer app purchases. He asked if I would check it out. The footnote, which Apple Support on Twitter hadn’t told me about and which I hadn’t read when I read the support article, stated the following:
With iOS 9 or later, apps will not sync or transfer to iTunes via Transfer Purchases. If you would like to download your apps to your iTunes library, make sure to turn on Automatic Downloads for your iTunes purchases. You can also download past purchases.
Curious, I gave it a test, wiped all the apps downloaded to iTunes, connected my phone to my Mac and transferred purchases. The result? No apps transferred when transferring purchases.
This change to app transfers is due to App thinning, (another shoutout to Sandeep Roy) which Apple introduced with iOS 9. In short, when you download an app in iOS 9 or later your device only receives the binaries and resources required by that device. Previously, when you downloaded an app, the app included every possible installation option, so your iPhone app also included resources only meant for iPads and your 64-bit iOS device binaries for older devices only capable of running 32-bit apps.
App thinning is a great way to save space on your iOS device, but from Apple’s perspective a thinned app is not a complete app that can be installed on all devices, so they don’t get transferred with iTunes Transfer Purchases option.
So what’s the best way to back up your apps you’re running iOS 9 or later? My first choice is iCloud. Some of you have said that your iCloud backups have never worked as expected them to, but in my experience, as long as I’ve had access to good Wi-Fi, iCloud backups have been solid. Others of you have said you don’t want to purchase more iCloud storage and therefore an iCloud backup won’t work for you.
No matter what your reasons for not using iCloud, you have options.
Turn on iTunes automatic downloads feature.
iTunes offers the option to automatically download any purchases you make on other devices. This includes music, movies, TV shows, and apps. To check and see if this feature is on:
- Open iTunes
- Click the iTunes menu
- Select the Preferences menu
- Select the Store tab
- Locate the Automatic Downloads section
- Put a check in the Apps box
Now, anytime you download an app on any device, it will automatically show up in your iTunes app library and, because iOS keeps track of all the apps you had installed when you backed your device up, they’ll be restored from your library lickety split.
Don’t want to download all the apps to your iTunes library?
If you don’t want to keep copies of every app in iTunes—maybe you have a MacBook or MacBook Air with limited storage—don’t sweat it. When you restore from an iTunes backup, you should see placeholders show up on your iPhone, and then the apps download from the App Store one by one. (Just tap one if you want it to jump the line, because you need to use it right away.) That way you will get the most updated versions, too. If you want, you could take screenshots of the home screens on your old device just to make sure everything gets put back in the right place, but it shouldn’t be necessary.
Hat tip to Sandeep for the heads up.
UPDATE—September 29, 2016: Updated to clarify that apps are downloaded from the App Store when you restore from an iTunes backup and you don’t already have copies of the apps in your iTunes library.
There are times when you would like to turn your iPhone into a remote for iTunes to control media library. Thanks to iTunes Remote app for iOS, navigating through the library and controlling the playback is quite simple.
I like using my iPhone as a remote for iTunes to control media library a bit more conveniently. When I’m resting on the couch or don’t want to mess with the physical keyboard, I turn my iOS device into a smart remote control to get things done faster.
Apple offers an app called “iTunes Remote” that makes it pretty straightforward to get on top of iTunes library. To get started, all you need to do is pair your iPhone with the iTunes. If you want to have a more seamless experience, you can take advantage of Home Sharing. Read on to get going…
How to Use iPhone As Remote for iTunes to Control Your Media Library
Pair Your iPhone or iPad with iTunes Library Using iTunes Remote
First off, install iTunes Remote app on your iOS device. The app is available for free and requires iOS 9 or later.
Once you have successfully installed the app on your device, launch it.
Now, you have two ways to connect the remote app to your iTunes library: Home Sharing or Connect manually.
Use iTunes Home Sharing
If you have enabled Home Sharing on your device, you will be able to set iTunes Remote to automatically connect to any of the iTunes libraries on the Home Sharing network. Aren’t using it?
Step #1. Head to iTunes on your Mac → select File in the menu bar → Home Sharing.
Step #2. Next, click on Turn on Home Sharing. Then, enter your Apple ID and password to confirm.
Step #3. On your iOS device, open Settings app → Music → tap on Sign In under Home Sharing and then enter your Apple ID and password.
Once you have set it up, tap on Use iTunes Home Sharing. Then, enter your Apple ID and password to sign in.
Note: Make sure to use same Apple ID both on your iOS device and iTunes.
Once your devices are on the same Home Sharing network, the app will automatically find your iTunes libraries.
Connect Manually
If you aren’t using Home Sharing, you can manually pair the remote app to the iTunes library.
Note: Ensure that your computer and iPhone are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Step #1. To do so, tap on Connect Manually.
Step #2. Next, you should see a four-digit code on the screen.
Step #3. Now, launch iTunes on your computer and click on Remote app icon near the top left of the screen.
Step #4. Then, you need to enter the same four-digit code that is displayed in the remote app on your iPhone.
Once the connection is made, you can use the app to control the media library right from your iOS device.
Note: Just in case the app is not able to find your iTunes library, tap on Settings app at the top right. Then, tap on Add an iTunes Library. Next, you have to open iTunes → click on the remote app icon and enter the passcode displayed on your iPhone screen.
Control iTunes Library from Your iPhone and iPad
After the pairing is done, you can start using the app to control the iTunes library comfortably. You can browse through your Playlists, Artists, Albums by heading into the respective tabs. There is also an option to search the library.
Check out the More button at the bottom right corner. Tap on it to access all of your TV programs, Audiobooks, Internet Radio and more.
When any song is playing, you can adjust the volume, pause it or even go to the Up next section.
That’s pretty much it!
Signing off
So, that’s how you can get on top of your iTunes library right from your fingertips. Let me know your feedback about it.
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