Are you having trouble finding out whether an app has been previously downloaded on your iPhone?
Well, worry not!
We’re going to tell you exactly how to find out when an app was downloaded on iPhones.
An easy way to do this is to view your ‘Purchased’ apps in the App Store, inside your account.
One of the lesser-known features of the iPhone is that you can find almost anything with a simple search.
In this article, we’ll discuss the various ways Apple allows its users to find out when an app was previously downloaded on an iPhone!
3 Different Ways To Find The Download Dates Of Apps
Similar to Google and other top tech companies, Apple allows its users to keep track of the software and applications running on their devices.
One of the best things about Apple devices is that they offer top-of-the-line security. Having said that, these devices always keep track of any changes made.
Additionally, you can easily access these records as well. Therefore, when using an iPhone, you won’t need to worry about manually keeping track of which apps were downloaded or the dates they were downloaded.
Convenient, eh?
Generally, there are three ways to find an app’s installation date.
Aside from these, you can also find out the dates other apps were installed (but which were later removed) using your Apple ID.
There are many reasons why you may need to be aware of these dates.
For example, it’s pretty important to know when an app was downloaded so that you can monitor your activity and usage of said app.
Another such instance could be that you want to know when a particular app was used, and to see whether or not it is currently available.
As such, we have listed below the three methods you can use to find out when an app was downloaded. These include:
- Using the App Store
- Using your Apple ID, or
- Using iTunes.
We’ll discuss the merits of each method in further detail below!
Finding The Download Date Using The App Store
Like the Google Play Store and other app marketplaces, iOS provides its users with the ability to view details of all downloaded apps.
These include the apps that are currently in use and downloaded using the logged-in Apple ID.
You can easily find the download date of apps via the App Store. To do this:
- Launch the App Store and go to Apps;
- Tap your photo in the top-right corner of the screen and click on the ‘Purchased’ option.
An additional option appears if you’re using a family account; it doesn’t always appear, but select the available option if it does.
Lastly, the iPhone will present you with a list of all apps downloaded.
Finding download dates using the App Store may be different for devices working on older iOS versions.
To access the Purchased section in iOS versions older than iOS 11, follow these steps below:
- Tap on the ‘Updates’ option in the bottom right corner of the screen; and
- Under your profile, select the ‘Purchased’ option to display the list of all applications.
This list contains all of the apps currently in use by the device, along with those that aren’t in use.
If you only want to view the apps that you don’t currently have installed in your iPhone but were previously downloaded with your Apple ID, switch to the ‘Not on this iPhone’ option.
Finding The Download Date Using Apple ID
Aside from directly using the App Store, you can also find the installation dates of all apps in the Settings of your iPhone.
This process is somewhat similar to the method of using the App Store (detailed above); however, relatively, this may be more convenient than the aforementioned steps.
The best part is that this method does not require internet access for you to view the applications and their installation dates. Simply follow the steps below:
- Launch the ‘Settings’ on your iPhone and click on your name at the top to open the Apple ID screen;
- Select ‘Media and Purchases’ with the App Store icon under the iCloud option; and
- Select the ‘View Account’ option and select the ‘Purchase History’ at the bottom of the page.
By default, the iPhone will present you with a list of apps installed within the last ninety (90) days.
It’s possible to change this by selecting a different date range. Once carried out, the apps will be displayed alongside their installation date.
This method will show the entire list of apps downloaded on your iPhone with the exact installation date (and total bill, if any)!.
Finding The Download Date Using iTunes
iTunes is the go-to software for all iPhone users whenever a problem arises with their device.
Using iTunes is handy for many reasons.
For one, iTunes allows its users to sync images, music, and videos very easily.
Additionally, for the purposes of this article, iTunes can help find a specific app’s download date on your device since the software syncs apps from previous versions.
Similar to the two previously detailed methods, finding an app’s installation date on iTunes is also relatively simple.
For users with iPhones using iOS version 12.6 and below, follow the steps below:
- Launch the ‘Settings’ and select ‘iTunes and App Store’; and
- Go to Apple ID and click on ‘Purchase History’ to open the list of apps.
The only limitation of this method is that it works for the older versions only.
For iPhones using iOS version 12.7 and above, Apple completely removed the functionality of the App Store.
While considered controversial among mainstream iPhone users, Apple still went ahead with this change.
Therefore, if you want to find the download date for iPhones using iOS version 12.7 and newer, you’ll have to follow these steps below:
- Go to the ‘Store’ and select the ‘Apple ID’ option at the bottom of the page; and
- Select the ‘View Apple ID’ option and click on ‘Purchase History.’
In Conclusion
As you’ve discovered in this article, you can find the download dates of apps using any of the three (3) above-detailed methods.
All of these processes are simple and effective. While all different, they involve a variation of viewing the ‘Purchase History’ list.
Therefore, if you have changed your device and want to know the installation dates of apps you had previously downloaded, you can use any of the procedures outlined.
Now that you’ve learned how to find out the download date of a specific app, you can rest easy in the knowledge that you won’t ever have to manually remember these dates again!
We hope this article helps you find the answers to your questions you’ve been looking for, and proves to be just as resourceful as we expect it to be. Happy Exploring!