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Apple secretly releases iTunes 12.6.3, which reintroduces the ability to download App Store apps (.I

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vista980622

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Aug 2, 2012
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Apple has secretly released iTunes 12.6.3 on its enterprise support help page, which reintroduces the ability to download App Store apps (.IPA) from your PC or Mac while supporting iOS 11, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X.

Sidenote:

  • This build of iTunes supports macOS High Sierra (10.13), macOS Sierra (10.12), OS X El Capitan (10.11) and OS X Yosemite (10.10).
  • This build of iTunes is specially blessed by Apple, allowing you to install this on top of iTunes 12.7.
  • Your iTunes Library will still not be compatible after installing iTunes 12.6.3 on top of iTunes 12.7. You either need to revert to a backed up copy of your previous library, or you need to open iTunes while holding down the Option key (or Shift key on a Windows PC) on your keyboard, then choose "Create a new Library".
  • After install this build of iTunes, your Mac App Store will no longer see iTunes 12.7 as 'newer' than iTunes 12.6.3. You can still manually update to iTunes 12.7 by downloading the installer.
  • This version of iTunes also supports iTunes U, Ringtones and Audiobooks.

Mac: https://secure-appldnld.apple.com/i...-9FEF-11E7-B113-91CF9A97A551/iTunes12.6.3.dmg

PC (32 Bit):
https://secure-appldnld.apple.com/i...8-9FEF-11E7-8504-92CF9A97A551/iTunesSetup.exe

PC (64-bit):
https://secure-appldnld.apple.com/i...A003-11E7-8324-03D19A97A551/iTunes64Setup.exe

Source:
https://support.apple.com/HT208079
 
Last edited:
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vista980622 said:
Apple has secretly released iTunes 12.6.3 on its enterprise support help page, which reintroduces the ability to download App Store apps (.IPA) from your PC or Mac while supporting iOS 11, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X.

Sidenote:

- This build of iTunes supports macOS High Sierra (10.13), macOS Sierra (10.12), OS X El Capitan (10.11) and OS X Yosemite (10.10).
- This build of iTunes is specially blessed by Apple, allowing you to install this on top of iTunes 12.7. (Library will still not be compatible, but installer will run without complaining).
- After install this build of iTunes, your Mac App Store will no longer see iTunes 12.7 as 'newer' than iTunes 12.6.3. You can still manually update to iTunes 12.7 by downloading the installer.
- This version of iTunes also supports iTunes U, Ringtones and Audiobooks.

Mac: https://secure-appldnld.apple.com/i...-9FEF-11E7-B113-91CF9A97A551/iTunes12.6.3.dmg

PC (32 Bit):
https://secure-appldnld.apple.com/i...8-9FEF-11E7-8504-92CF9A97A551/iTunesSetup.exe

PC (64-bit):
https://secure-appldnld.apple.com/i...A003-11E7-8324-03D19A97A551/iTunes64Setup.exe

Source:
https://support.apple.com/HT208079
Click to expand...

Interesting. Thanks for the heads up.
 
This is indeed interesting! Pity about not supporting a library from 12.7; I think I'll need to dig around in Time Machine to get this up and running.
 
Be advised... if you install this version of iTunes it will open with a warning that the library does not match and will offer to update it to the 12.7 version. If you delete the library in order to get 12.6.3 working, all your app downloads will be missing including the music.

I wisely backed up using CCC before I installed 12.6.3 and wound up having to clone back to get everything working again. My advice: Avoid this so called update. There may be work arounds that allow keeping your old library so perhaps you can get it to work.
 
chscag said:
Be advised... if you install this version of iTunes it will open with a warning that the library does not match and will offer to update it to the 12.7 version. If you delete the library in order to get 12.6.3 working, all your app downloads will be missing including the music.

I wisely backed up using CCC before I installed 12.6.3 and wound up having to clone back to get everything working again. My advice: Avoid this so called update. There may be work arounds that allow keeping your old library so perhaps you can get it to work.
Click to expand...

To clarify, did you have this problem upgrading from 12.7 or 12.6.2?

Also does 12.6.3 allow the rearranging of home screens as well or just the ability to download apps?
 
The download image in the link is for 12.6.3 and will overwrite 12.7 if it's already installed. I had updated my copy of iTunes to 12.7 when it was offered. As stated, the overwrite will cause a problem with the iTunes library since the library from 12.7 is newer.

Version 12.6.3 reverts iTunes back to the way it acted before 12.7 was issued. However, it does cause problems as noted. I reverted to my backup and will just live with 12.7.
 
So, I assume it's safe to upgrade my 12.6.2 to this version 12.6.3, and still use my current iTunes databases, and stop being promoted to update iTunes?
 
HeadphoneAddict said:
So, I assume it's safe to upgrade my 12.6.2 to this version 12.6.3, and still use my current iTunes databases, and stop being promoted to update iTunes?
Click to expand...
Opened fine for me, played a track to verify the library can be read.

All good so far.

This update is aimed at people who would have held out updating at all (like me) because the restored functionality is essential to them.

Good to see this download existing, a shame that it is now a step-child rather than embracing the versatility of iTunes, clearly a transitional move. I just hope that all functionality of iTunes will be kept around in some way or another.

With my plan to move to Plex for anything but music and obviously the iOS device management app management and backup is crucial to me.

Things like these are something that I gladly left behind sometime ago when I switched to Mac from Windows as my daily driver.
The irony isn't lost on me Apple. Learnt my lesson though, slowly but surely trying to escape Apple software that isn't the bare OS itself where ever possible.

Too much trust has been damaged.

Glassed Silver:ios
 
I installed this and had to rebuild my library by adding stuff back into iTUnes - I don't have that much so it wasn't a big deal. I was more interested in the Ring Tones capability than the application stuff. Apple has to provide some mechanism to add custom ring tones and not just purchased from them ones - like your kids playing an instrument.
 
I have many custom ring tones that I made myself (like your "Kids Playing an instrument") - these are not lost in 12.7 and can be found in the music files / songs (probably as .mr4 files if you made them yourself) - I changed the genre for these songs in 12.7 to "ringtones" so I could find them easier.

nothing is lost in 12.7 and is easy to transfer just drag to the iOS device manually
 
kevvyc said:
To clarify, did you have this problem upgrading from 12.7 or 12.6.2?

Also does 12.6.3 allow the rearranging of home screens as well or just the ability to download apps?
Click to expand...

For all those interested, 12.6.3 basically just adds support for the 2017 iPhones to 12.6.2. (Says so in the included version notes too.) So if you didn’t update to 12.7 (or luckily downgraded) everything is as it should be. I guess if you upgrade to 12.7 then it forces you to rebuild your library. Hope that helps those who were wondering.
 
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I "downgraded" from 12.7 to 12.6.3 based on the tips on this page (thank you!). First I restored a Time Mcahine backup of the /Music/iTunes/ folder (which had been changed by 12.7) then installed 12.6.3. It went very smoothly (fully automated). Now I have apps and ringtones back :)
 
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mikzn said:
I have many custom ring tones that I made myself (like your "Kids Playing an instrument") - these are not lost in 12.7 and can be found in the music files / songs (probably as .mr4 files if you made them yourself) - I changed the genre for these songs in 12.7 to "ringtones" so I could find them easier.

nothing is lost in 12.7 and is easy to transfer just drag to the iOS device manually
Click to expand...

Mine were lost when I reset the phone as new in 12.7 and then restored a backup ( as was recommended by Apple person). The tones were still in iTunes but i couldn't get them back onto phone - apparently the reset and restore got rid of them. I'm not sure what / how to drag to IOS device from my MBP or is it from iTunes? Also concerned what will happen with them when I buy a new phone and setup.
 
I keep my media folder (with the library files too) on an external drive. I'm using iTunes 12.6.2.20 on Sierra.

I keep the external media drive disconnected while doing upgrades so the upgrade has no chance to replace or ruin my library (.xml and .itl) files.

Will I be safe upgrading to 12.6.3 ?

Thanks
 
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Unlike (the hated) version 12.7, 12.6.3 should not alter any of your media & library files so it should be safe to install. As I indicated, I restored 12.6.1 media files from Time Machine before installing 12.6.3 and it accessed these file straight away.
 
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CTHarrryH said:
Mine were lost when I reset the phone as new in 12.7 and then restored a backup ( as was recommended by Apple person). The tones were still in iTunes but i couldn't get them back onto phone - apparently the reset and restore got rid of them. I'm not sure what / how to drag to IOS device from my MBP or is it from iTunes? Also concerned what will happen with them when I buy a new phone and setup.
Click to expand...

Now that I have reverted to 12.6.3 the ringtones are no longer showing as songs - the media kind "Ringtone" is back and also my library is missing many updates since I used the old / previous itunes library. Long story short - I had to find the ringtones again and reinstall after downgrading to 12.6.3 since iTunes now is syncing again and they were removed after the downgrade. Easy enough to put them back - checked the boxes in the summary area, synced again and all back - but confusing!

One thing that helped me in all this "Ringtone" confusion was that I keep a physical copy of the the custom Ringtones in the music folder - in a separate folder Ringtones, so no matter what happens with the iPhone and iTunes I can always find the original .m4r files.
 
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Well, downgrading from 12.7 was easy for me.

After the 12.6.3 installation, just do the following:
1. Go to the Previous iTunes Library folder in the iTunes folder under your user name and open it.
2. Copy the latest listed iTunes Library.itl folder. Yes, it will have a date in the file name.
3. Go back to the main iTunes folder in the Music folder.
4. Paste the copied file.
5. Delete (or remove) the current iTunes Library.itl file.
6. For the old copied iTunes Library.itl file with the date in the file name, renamed it to "iTunes Library.itl".
Done

Now you can launch iTunes 12.6.3 and you're back to normal. I've done it to mine running High Sierra and have no problems.

Enjoy.
 
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Hello everyone!

I downloaded iTunes version 12.6.3 for the first time using the link on the Apple Support page.

However, when I clicked on "Updates" it says there are no updates available for the apps but when I plug my iPhone in it says there are updates for some of the apps when you click on the "Apps" listing on the left side when the device is plugged in.

Why does it say there are no updates available in the Updates screen across the top??

Please, can someone help me with this. I am a new user using this on a PC.

Many thanks
 
macsba said:
Hello yaysir1000;

Are you logged into your iTunes account in iTunes 12.6.3?
Click to expand...

_____________

Yes I am. I can see the apps in the Apps tab at the top and when I plug my iPhone in but when I click on the Updates tab at the top it says there are no updates available. However, when I plug my iPhone in I can see in the Apps list on the left that it says under certain apps "Update" meaning that there is an update available??

Please help!! Thank you.
 
yaysir1000 said:
_____________

Yes I am. I can see the apps in the Apps tab at the top and when I plug my iPhone in but when I click on the Updates tab at the top it says there are no updates available. However, when I plug my iPhone in I can see in the Apps list on the left that it says under certain apps "Update" meaning that there is an update available??

Please help!! Thank you.
Click to expand...

App update is working for me on a Mac. At first the update screen was blank then I clicked on the "Check for updates" button then they all appeared and I could "Update all apps". It is possible that this is not working on the PC version of iTunes.
 
mpainesyd said:
App update is working for me on a Mac. At first the update screen was blank then I clicked on the "Check for updates" button then they all appeared and I could "Update all apps". It is possible that this is not working on the PC version of iTunes.
Click to expand...
___________________

I don't know very frustrating here. Does anyone have a solution or help? I would greatly appreciate it.
 
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