Apple Returns IOS App Support to ITunes (Sorta)
Apple’s recent 12.7 update for its iTunes app removed support for the iOS App Store and iOS app management. However, following a protest from users, Apple brought back app support in iTunes 12.6.3. Even if you’ve already upgraded to iTunes 12.7, you can still take advantage of the app-friendly iTunes 12.6.3, but if you stick with it, you’ll have to miss out on any future iTunes features.
The decision to drop support for apps in iTunes, the de facto software used to manage iOS devices since its release in 2007, has outraged some users who require App Store features. On its support page, the company explains that the app-friendly iTunes 12.6.3 is primarily aimed at enterprises and corporate companies that still need support for managing iOS apps in iTunes. iTunes 12.6.3 is available for macOS and Windows computers.
If you’re using the app-friendly version of iTunes, you won’t be able to keep up with the latest iTunes updates from Apple, and iTunes 12.6.3 will retain its version number until you decide to manually update the app.
Users of the newer iTunes 12.7 can still install the App Store version, but may need to create a new iTunes library because your current iTunes library is incompatible with the old version. Windows users can hold down the Shift key while opening app-friendly iTunes to create a new library. Mac users can hold the Option key while opening iTunes to create a new iTunes library.
If you don’t need it or you don’t miss the lack of iOS app management, you better just go with the flow and stick with iTunes 12.7, the app is more likely to receive both minor and major updates compared to a convenient spin-off.