Having recently migrated from an old machine to a new desktop, I had almost everything setup just the way I like it. Only, I couldn’t figure out how to transfer all the (free, haven’t paid for a single one yet!) apps from my iPod touch (2G) to the new iTunes install.
The default syncing that happens when you first plug-in the iPod didn’t work. When I tried to sync just the applications, iTunes politely threatened to erase and replace all the apps on the iPod touch with the non-existent ones on my computer. A quick search of Apple’s support site turned up the answer: File > Transfer Purchases from iPod. Alternatively, you can right-click on iPod in the iTunes Device list and select “Transfer Purchases” to achieve the same result.
The “reverse” transfer works for apps and other files purchased from the iTunes Store to any computer (up to 5) that is authorized for your iTunes Store account. Oh, and all of this (obviously) applies to iPhones as well.
You can also go to the ‘Advanced’ menu and authorize your computer with your Apple ID. Then iTunes will recognize that you are the owner of both iTunes libraries and the iPod.
Thanks this was incredibly simple.
thanks a lot iv’e skipped a lot of updates but now I know what to do it’s so simple, thanks
I have a problem with this. Every time I tried to transfer my apps to Itunes. It always appeared “Some purchases….couldn’t be transferred because you’re not authorized them in this computer”.
Then I authorized it. But It also had “This computer had been authorized,Include this one. you authorized out of your available 5″.
I can’t understand. What can I do?
Send me a email if possible.
thanks – this was helpful! one-stop answer to my question. for those who are also having problems with the ‘some purchases cannot be transferred’ thing – my ipod touch was a hand-me-down from my dad and some apps had been purchased with his apple.com log in, so as long as you can authorize both accounts on your computer, you can download apps from both accounts. hope this helps any with similar problems!
@Jerry: I’ve had similar issues in the past, but more sporadic than consistent. Usually if you just say OK, nothing catastrophic will happen (unless you actually need/have more than 5 computers on which to authorize)
Best bet = head to an Apple store and meet with an “Apple Genius”. I actually asked a friend of mine (before posting this reply) who works at Apple (although as a “Creative,” not a “Genius”) and he said has experienced something similar as well.
Best of luck, and if you find anything out, please leave another comment to help other readers!
go to the apps section on itunes and click ‘transfer purchased items from ‘*ipods name*’ and it should transfer into your itunes
Glad I found this post. I changed computers but when I tried to authorize the computer, the apps didn’t transfer to my library. I thought I was going to be stuck purchasing and updating my apps through my ipod for the rest of eternity. Thanks!
Thank you so much for this post! About 5 seconds of google-fu led me here and your post was clear and easy and exactly what I needed. Thanks again!
Transfer iPod/iPhone/iTouch stuff to computer or recover lost or missing music, backup and restore all of iPod/iPhone/iTouch content I recommend you Cucusoft iPhone/iTouch/iPod to Computer Transfer. Transfer iPod/iPhone/iTouch stuff to computer or recover lost or missing music, backup and restore all of iPod/iPhone/iTouch content I recommend you Cucusoft iPhone/iTouch/iPod to Computer Transfer. This software can keep your iPod/iPhone safety.
http://www.ipod-to-pc.net/
how to transfer?
Thank you so much for this! I have been having this problem for sometime but now I know what to do! Thanks!
Thank.You.So.Much.
I just did what it sayed to do ( right click on the iPod thing on iTunes and clicked transfer purchases it went right away
thanx, really helped
SO SIMPLE BUT SO ESSENTIAL !! THANKS
Thanks a lot, it worked perfectly!!!
I had the same problem as jerry but i think i figured it out. If on the origninal computer, your itunes library is bieng shared (like for me it was me and my sisters accounts on one library) when you move to another computer, i had to authirize the computer with BOTH accounts (i had to authirize both my account and my sisters on my new computer)
Cheers man, your a lifesaver. ive had this problem for ages and i needed help. YOU ROCK!!!
You’re a lifesaver!!
Thankyou so much for this post!
goood if you guys are saying hes a life saver? think about those is haiti. the rescuers are lifesavers not something that has to do with an ipod touch hahahaha
all i did was go into applications in the library category, then i went to file: transfer purchases from (your ipods name)’s ipod. and it started taking my apps from my itouch into itunes. very simple and easy.
this only transfered my songs not any of my apps
please help
same jimmy false alarm
transfer from ipod to itunes.http://www.ipod-computer.net/
Thank you soooo much!! I was having the same exact problem. This helped a bunch!!!
DAMN, I should’ve read this first before I took off EVERYTHING off my ipod! (including all the apps that I’ve payed for) FECK. MY. LIFE.
Is there away to re-download apps off my itunes account ?!
yes there is i had the same problem on my last itouch you go on to your itunes lick downloaded from (your ipod name) then look at apps or if you remember the names off them go onto app store (on ipod) then redownload them and even know it says the price it will say this is free because u already paid
hope this helped u 
thank you for sharing ! it is very good !
may be i can have a try !
WOW!!! So glad this is out there….I too had frustrations as I have a work laptop and home laptop…just glad it worked out. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
BJ V,
“Is there away to re-download apps off my itunes account ?!”
Yes! Once you buy the app, you own the app! Now, it will say if you want to purchase it and say, “Yes” then it will say, “You already purchased this app..would you like to download it again?” [something like that] and there you. At least, this has been my experience.
NO! to music. If you don’t backup music and lose it…well, good luck. I have been told Apple sometimes restores credit to get the music again, but you really have to beg and plead. At least, this is what I’ve been told.
Cheers!
i can’t transfer my apps, because it’s not authorized, i just asked my friend to download apps into my ipod, so it’s not my itunes account. anyone know how to transfer the apps to my computer? help, pls. thank you
ok i tranfered purchases from ipod to computer
if i sync will it erase my data in my apps?
it will erase your ipod stuff but if you have all ur apps on your computer you good to go all you do s sync and you gots ur stuff back
dude thanks so much! i bought a macbook recently and i have like 4 pages of apps on my ipod and i almost erased ALL of my apps but after googling fro like 2 sec i clicked on the 1st one which led me to this. THANK YOU!!
P.S IF ANY OF YALL ARE HAVING PROBLEMS TRANSFERING YOUR IPOD/IPHONE MUSIC TO ITUNES I HAVE A SOLUTION TO SAVE YOUR ITUNES MUSIC LIBRARY!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3gP3z1dVkw
IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIBRARY AND POSSIBLY SAVE YOU FROM NO MUSIC!!
sounds not bad software!
more and more ipod transfer software apperaed online
how did you know which one is better?
Does this work when the iTunes has just been installed? Say, for example, after restoring your computer?
Ooooh TY soo much couldnt find out how to do it and was scared i would loose everything when i tried to update my ipod
hi i tried it on my itunes 10 but the apps that i added when i had my touch jailbreak doesn’t get transferred to my itunes =( help please
im having the same problem! it wont let me put all of my apps on my comp
ahh finaly its kinda easy if you know it .. go to itunes then right click on youre ipods name it says ”Transferring purchases ” when you do that it will work
Thanks a lot for this. I was having a hard time with my iPad cause I reformat my laptop to install Windows 7. This worked flawlessly. I’m working on a page like this but in Spanish, more informative than technical but I’m considering a section for tips also.
Thanks again!
How helpful the article is, thank you to provide it.
thank you for this post it helped me alot…i was looking for this a 100 times already but i cant figure it out until i found this post
Just recently purchased a new pc and couldn’t remember how to transfer the apps on my ipod touch to my pc. This has helped alot! Thanks so much! =)
i tried this but the “some purchases cannot be transferred” screen popped up, i clicked “ok” but nothing happened! it’s still not transferring any of my apps onto itunes…what’s the problem? any help is appreciated!
Well my songs and videos were transerfered….
But none of my apps were….
Help?
i love you. i thought i was stuck with my old 1st gen iTouch forever. with my $20 that I spent on purchases. Thank you so much!!
I have an iPod Touch 2g, jb, and recently moved to a new computer, running on Windows XP. I tried transferring purchases, but it starts on ZombieFarm (the last one) and after about one second it just stops… I tried making a backup, and it doesn’t transfer anything. I have all the music, copied on a USB from my old PC. Is there a way of doing this with apps?
Oh, one other thing… I thought the backup worked first time, so I synced to get a few new songs. I wasn’t paying attention
so I just went ahead and did it. iTunes had already deleted three or four apps before I could cancel it. I got some with FAAD, so can I get them back without paying?
Thanks
Ok I’ve got the apps now… But I still need a way to get the apps iTunes deleted back for free. Is this possible (please say yes…)
Oh thank goodness,you saved my life,lol…
having same issue as mr.me itunes starts the transfer but it just quits after like 5 seconds help?
having same issue as mr.me itunes starts the transfer but it just quits after like 5 seconds help?
omg i love that u put this up! MAJOR LIFESAVER!
how do i transfer the data on my app from my old ipod touch to my new ipod touch. is that possible? its not the app that i need but the data in it. please help. thanks.
Thank you.
Very simple. Difficult to find.
I purchased some apps from a shop for my iPad which was synced from the shop with the apple ID of that shopkeeper. Now I want to transfer those purchased apps bk to my PC. I dnt hv the apple ID and pass of that shopkeeper bt I hv mine.
Can anyone plz say what should I do?
A complete life saver