Transfer discontinued app to a friend's iphone?

[marbleize]

I have a free app on my iphone that is no longer available in the itunes store. My friend loves it and would like to get a copy on his iphone. We both have the iphone 4.

Is there some way to do this? Would it work to just copy the .ipa file from my PC to his?

 

[Scatabrain]

Even though it is free it is not possible unless it was already on their account.

 

[HankAZ]

I have a free app on my iphone that is no longer available in the itunes store. My friend loves it and would like to get a copy on his iphone. We both have the iphone 4.

Is there some way to do this? Would it work to just copy the .ipa file from my PC to his?

The only way is to give them access to your iTunes store account.

 

[marbleize]

The only way is to give them access to your iTunes store account.

Really?

Could I do that, install the app, then revoke access?

 

[HankAZ]

Really?

Could I do that, install the app, then revoke access?

It should work. He would need your password to do any updates to that app, but since it's no longer available in the iTunes store, it's a good bet that there won't be any updates to worry about.

 

[marbleize]

I'm not quite seeing how that could work... He would plug his phone into my computer--if I try to use my login, wouldn't it fail because it doesn't match his phone? Or if it worked, wouldn't itunes try to sync with my itunes stuff?

Also, somewhere else I read that downloaded apps (whether free or purchased) are tied to a specific Apple ID and can't be transferred to another one. And besides that, copying .ipa files is not legal...

 

[Ledsteplin]

just make sure he signs back in to his account. Then it's up to you about yours. I would have him sign out. Then you take his phone and sign in, download the app. Then you sign yourself out of his iTunes. That way he never sees your password.

 

[anon(4698833)]

Use home share/family share...let him download the app from your iTunes library, then change your password so he no longer has access. Pretty simple really...you can do it for up to 5 people at a time.

 

[marbleize]

Use home share/family share...let him download the app from your iTunes library, then change your password so he no longer has access. Pretty simple really...you can do it for up to 5 people at a time.

I haven't ever used home/family share, don't have any idea how that works. How do you get a new device to be recognized/accepted by itunes? How do you keep it from trying to backup the phone or sync it with itunes?

 

[anon(4698833)]

https://www.apple.com/family-sharing/#mn_p

 

[marbleize]

thanks; I'll check it out.