Download old versions of iOS apps!

Download old versions of iOS apps!

NOTE!! I’M PRETTY SURE AT LEAST SOME OF THIS IS WRONG. LIKE, MOST OF IT IS HOW I DO IT BUT I’M PRETTY SURE I GOT SOME DETAILS WRONG. I DON’T REALLY HAVE THE TIME TO UPDATE IT RIGHT NOW, SO JUST BEWARE THERE MIGHT BE ISSUES.

Need an old version of an iOS app? I adapted this guide to not use Charles as it costs like $50 even though it has a 30-day trial.

Prerequisites

  • An Apple ID that has downloaded the app before.
    • You’ll need to create a Zimbabwe region Apple ID for old Angry Birds games if you don’t already have them purchased, those games are still available in that country.
  • A PC running Windows XP/7/10/11
  • iTunes 12.6.5.3 32Bit 64Bit
    • Later iTunes versions do not support app downloading.
    • Downloading apps in iTunes does not work on a Mac.
  • Fiddler Classic
  • A third party program such as AppManager, iMazing, or 3uTools, if iTunes refuses to recognize your device.

    Optional Step

    To avoid guesswork, you can try to find the App Version ID using this site

Switch the drop down menu to the American flag, and search the app name.

If the app is delisted, sign into iTunes, enable the app tab if it is hidden, and right click it in the purchases page of the App Store, copying the link. Then, replace the number in the tools.lancely.tech url with the number in the apps.apple.com url.

If the page lists the exact version you want, take note of the number to the right of it, this is the App Version ID.

If the desired version is not listed, but other versions are, take note of the version IDs before and after it to reduce guessing later.

Main Steps

  1. Open Fiddler and iTunes.
    • If you are not already signed in to the correct account, sign into the Apple ID with the app purchased.
  2. In Fiddler, navigate to Tools -> Options -> HTTPS and click Actions, and trust the certificate. Then, turn on Decrypt HTTPS Traffic.
    • This certificate allows Fiddler to view and edit HTTPS requests, and will be removed from your computer later.
  3. In iTunes, navigate to your purchased page, and download the app.
  4. Once the download completes, remove it from your library and navigate back to the purchased page.
    • If you do not have the exact Version ID you’re looking for, do the following before continuing.
    • Double click the request in Fiddler that contains “buyProduct” in the URL.
    • In the Find box on the bottom right, type “softwareversionexternalidentifiers”
    • If you have two version IDs for versions before and after the one you are trying to find, choose one of the Version IDs in the list below between those two numbers. Otherwise, just choose one of them. Take note of the Version ID you chose.
  5. Right click the request in Fiddler that contains “buyProduct” in the URL, and click Copy -> Just Url
  6. In the black text box at the bottom, enter “bpu (the URL you just copied)” and press enter.
  7. Redownload the app in iTunes from the purchased page.
  8. In Fiddler, double click the new request containing “buyProduct”.
  9. In the top section on the right, click textView.
  10. Replace the number below “appExtVrsId” with the Version ID you saved earlier.
    • Leave the rest of the like unchanged, only replace the number!
  11. Click the button on the right that says “Run to completion”.
  12. Connect your phone to your PC with a cable, and install the ipa downloaded using iTunes, or another program.
    • If you’re using a program other than iTunes to install the ipa, it will be located inside Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Mobile Applications (with Music being the Music Folder of the currently signed in user)
  13. In Fiddler, navigate to Tools -> Options -> HTTPS, then then off Decrypt HTTPS Traffic, click Actions, and Remove Interception Certificates.
    • Fiddler will no longer be able to decrypt HTTPS traffic on your computer, as the generated certificates will no longer be trusted.