How to Download an App Removed From the App Store
Epic Games made the decision this week to remove all of its Infinity Blade games from the Apple App Store. For fans of the franchise, this was a big bummer. Even bigger bummer: If you’ve temporarily removed the app from your phone, now you can’t get it back from the App Store.
While at first glance it may seem like all is lost, if you’ve already downloaded the app before, you can download it again.
The only way it works is if you’ve downloaded the app in the past and signed in with the same account that you originally downloaded it to your device. So, if you missed downloading anything before it was checked out from the store, or you used it on your friend’s phone, you’re out of luck.
To find missing apps, go to the App Store and select Updates and then Purchased (on iPad, this is behind your profile icon in the upper right corner).
You should see here a list of all apps you have ever purchased with that user ID. You can tap Not On This iPad or Not On This iPhone to see everything you’ve ever downloaded that isn’t on your device. Or you can use the search button to jump directly to what you are looking for.
When you find the application you want. Tap the cloud icon next to an app to download it.
My own quick look at my App Store account revealed that this is the first app I ever downloaded: AIM on July 11, 2008.
Keep in mind that if an app has been removed from the store, like my precious AIM, then it is most likely no longer supported by the developer. This means that your user experience may not be the same as it was before, or not very pleasant at all.
In future versions of iOS, this app may also eventually become incompatible with your device.
Unfortunately for me, the AIM app is loading, but I can’t log in and hear that iconic door opening sound again.