I have multiple devices, all handled with iTunes in the same PC.
Each device is associated with a different Apple ID.
I may want to install some apps in more than one device. As far as I know, an app downloaded in iTunes leaves a .ipa file that has embedded the information about the associated Apple ID (in directory C:\userdir\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Mobile Applications in my Win7).
Is that correct?
If so, is there any way to know the associated Apple ID, for each .ipa file?
Will I have more than one copy of an .ipa file in my PC, if the app is purchased with more than one ID?
Where will each one be stored?
And if not, where is the information about which Apple IDs were used to download each app stored? Can it be retrieved?
PS: This question has a title that describes well the present one. But the question itself asks something a little bit different, and the accepted answer is OK for that question, but it by no means answers this one.
PS2: This is a related question.
EDIT: There is a sign on top stating
This question may already have an answer here:
Retrieve the Apple ID used to download a given app (in iphone)
That is precisely the question referred to in PS2. I have posted that one too, and it is a different question (with no answers so far).
Best Answer
If you can copy something.ipa file to a temporary location and rename it to something.zip, then a standard unzip program will be able to show you the contents of the archive. In the top folder is iTunesMetatdata.plist, which you should be able to open in a text editor. Near the top would be a line for
appleId, followed by the appleId which was used to download this version of this application.If multiple IDs have purchased the same application, you would still only have one version on the computer.