IPad – Download App updates seperately for Mac and iPad

data synchronizationipaditunes-store

If I download iPad App updates via iTunes on a Mac, shouldn't they automatically sync when I connect the iPad to the Mac?

I plugged an iPad 3 (iOS 6.1.3) into a Mac (OS X 10.6.8) running iTunes (11.0.2).

The iPad was waiting for 8 App updates, as was the Mac. I downloaded, via iTunes, all the updates on the Mac, and then ran a sync. The iPad was still waiting for the 8 updates.

Music and photos seem to sync OK.

Is this the normal behaviour? Seems strange to have to download everything twice…

Best Answer

A solution is as follows:

  • Download updates on the iPad
  • Connect iPad to computer running iTunes
  • In iTunes, select File > Devices > Transfer Purchases from "<iPad name>"

This causes the update that you've already downloaded on your iPad to be transferred to your computer, and iTunes shouldn't try and download it again.

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