Downloading apps you’ve already paid for is especially important if you accidentally delete an app or if you lose apps when your iPhone breaks or is stolen. There are a couple of ways to do this, including finding the app in the App Store and downloading it like normal.
How to Download Apps You Already Bought on iPhone
Using your phone to re-download apps from the App Store is probably the easiest option. Here’s what to do: Another way to redownload purchased apps is to visit their App Store page. Even if you bought the app and then deleted it, the download button will be the same the cloud icon seen earlier. If you’re using iOS 10 or an older version of iOS, you won’t see that icon. Tap Purchased at the bottom of the screen, and then skip to Step 4.
How to Re-Download Previous Apps Using iTunes
You can also download previous app purchases using iTunes. Here’s what to do:
How to Redownload Pre-Installed iOS Apps
If you’re running iOS 10 or newer, you can delete many of the pre-installed apps that come with your iPhone. This can’t be done with all apps, but some apps like Apple Watch and iCloud Drive can be deleted. If you delete these apps and then want them back, it’s easy. Just search for them in the App Store and re-download them like any other app.
What About Apps Removed From the App Store?
Developers can remove their apps from the App Store. This happens when they no longer want to sell or support an app, or when a new version is such a major change that they treat it as a separate app. Most of the time, you should be able to redownload an app you’ve purchased, even if it’s been removed from the App Store. This isn’t true 100% of the time, but generally speaking, if you’ve paid for an app, you’ll find it through the App Store using the steps from earlier. The apps you probably won’t be able to re-download include those that break the law, infringe copyright, are banned by Apple, or that are actually malicious apps disguised as something else (you probably don’t want those anyway).
