How To Download The Older Version Of An App On Iphone X With Charles Proxy

While the Internet is full of news on the subject of bypassing telegram locks and related problems for hosting companies, I had a more serious problem - Innologica updated the Inoreader application for iOS to version 6.

On a quiet weekday evening, the application on the phone was accidentally updated to the latest version, as usually nothing portended trouble. After a couple of days during the trip, the program was launched to read the news and I began to worry seriously.

You can compare how it was and how it became in two examples:

Of course, the taste and color and the owners of the iPhone X were clearly pleased with the optimization for amoled screens, but it was this update that prompted me to look for solutions to how to roll back the application, which the AppStore does not allow by default.

Earlier, getting the ipa file of the application was a matter of 2 minutes, it was enough to go to apptrackr and download, but it stopped working and other similar resources giving an honest download of the ipa file were not found (but suddenly you know these?).

There are the following ways to get the old version of the application:

You have an old application backup from your phone in iTunes and then you can just copy the application back (but I didn't have this).
Use the method whipped up by someone on the Internet using software called Charles. This method is described on resources like 4dpa and copied by many faces without understanding what is written there, however, without additional\u003e 100 grams, it is difficult to deal with this scribble.

Perhaps I will do it more fully, with pictures and in a simpler understandable form. In general, it will take about 5 minutes to download the old version software from the AppStore, and in my case Mac OS X. The method will obviously work on Windows as well. Charles application is for this system.

All your torment will begin even before you download Charles. The fact is that if you update iTunes on a Mac, then you will not be able to install applications starting from version 12.7. To return it, you need to install version 12.6.4 back.

Short: Download the application through the AppStore in iTunes, then enable the proxy, then download again, edit the request, send the request, get the old version, install.

In detail: after starting Charles, you need to install the application certificates on the Mac. This is done through the menu. Help → SSL proxying → Install Charles Root Cetrificate. The certificate then needs to be transferred to Keychain Access in Always Trust status. If not installed, then there will be errors and the method will not work.

In iTunes, we are looking for the Inoreader application (this is suitable for any application, but I was only interested in it at that moment), launch Charles and click on Download in the application installation window:

In the Charles window, you get a similar line with the word "buy" in the address associated with the apple server:

For information, you can pay attention to the fact that the size of the downloaded file is 20.4 mb:

Then you need to enable SSL proxying To intercept and edit requests:

Since, most likely, you have fast Internet and the application has already managed to load into the application library, you need to remove it from there.

Once again, we verify that SSL Proxying is enabled and proceed to re-download the application from the AppStore, at the same time you need to pause the download so that you have time for the following actions. After clicking on Download, another line will appear in the Charles window in the apple server containing the word "buy". Expanding this line you need to find buyProduct:

Right click on the window Contents and select below XML Text. Scroll down until we find softwareVersionExternalIdentifiers with a list of obscure numbers.

These numbers act as application versions. Accordingly, the smaller the number, the older the version of the application. How to find out which version of the application will be downloaded? For example, I randomly took the value 823964615 from the end of the list:

Now we need to check the version of the application. To do this, we get up to "buyProduct" and select in the menu Compose and to the right of the window is the Text view.

At the very top of the field will be the familiar set of numbers after the parameter

appExtVrsId

. This set of numbers is the current version of the application.

Instead of these numbers we substitute 823964615 copied above and it should turn out like this:

and do Execute. The program will give you a window and selecting a display mode XML Text we can find the bundleShortVersionString parameter below and see that the value we selected corresponds to version 5.4.4, which in my case is what I need, because these version is practically the latest before upgrading to 6.0

One step remains. You need to download the whole thing. To do this, in our last edited request buyProduct with the received version 5.4.4, select in the menu Breakpoints.

On a new one, go to the AppStore to download the Inoreader application (if the application managed to load into the library and you did not have time to stop it, simply delete it so that you can download it again).

As soon as you click on download in iTunes, the Charles window will pop up, where you will need to click on Edit request and in the already familiar parameter appExtVrsId fix the version on 823964615, click Executeand then again on Execute.

As a result, you will begin downloading the application and you can see that the size of the application has changed downward:

A program icon with the Update label will appear in the itunes application library. This will mean that you did everything right. You can do Get Info applications and it will be written:

Next, we look at the application where it is located in the file system and save it for the future if you suddenly decide to update the application :)

Upon completion, Charles should do Disable SSL Proxying By clicking on the server p30-buy.itunes.apple.com.

I must say that it turned out to do this procedure with me 2 times.
I hope this will be as useful to someone as it turned out to me.

There are times when the user needs to download the previous version of the application on the iPhone instead of the latest. For example, this situation was relevant when the VKontakte mobile client lost the "Audio Recordings" section, and the "users" unknowingly updated the "EPP" to the latest version. Return, as it turned out, was already impossible. But there is still a way - it involves using the Charles Proxy tool on OS X.

Via Charles proxy You can download the old version of the application on iPhone through iTunes. The process itself is a little tedious and long, but the method is actually working. Foreign colleagues even shot the full movie, which demonstrated the work of Charles Proxy utility.

Step 1: Download, then install and run the Charles Proxy tool on Mac. In the window that opens, click on Grant Privileges and enter the administrator password.

Step 2: Next, you need to download the application that you want to downgrade to the previous version via iTunes. In the tool window in the Structure section, you will see the appearance of new lines. You should see the "buy" server, right-click on it and click on Enable SSL Proxying.

Step 4: Now re-find the same application in iTunes through the search bar and click the download button again. After that, cancel downloading the application again.

Step 5: In the Structure section, click buy, then buyProduct.

Step 6: Go to the Response tab, right-click on buyProduct and click on Export. Select Desktop as the export destination, then select the XML format and click the Save button.

Step 7: Using a text editor, open the XML file, scroll down and find the line:

softwareVersionExternalIdentifiers

You should see a list like this:

1862841
1998707
2486624
2515121
2549327
2592648
2644032
2767414

These are all versions of the application, from the very first to the latest. Copy the version number you want to download. After that close the text editor.

Step 8: We return to Charles, right-click on buyProduct and select Edit.

Step 9: Click Text and find the following line at the top of the page:

appExtVrsId

Step 10: Under this text you will see the numerical value inside the tag . Paste the value copied in step 7, that is, replace it. Immediately after that, click on the button at the bottom of the Execute screen.

Step 11: Scroll through the Response tab - you should see bundleShortVersionString. Under it, you will see the real numerical version of the application that you entered.

Step 12: Right-click on the last item buyProduct in the list under "buy" and click on Breakpoints.

Step 13: In iTunes, we again search through the search application to refresh the page. After that, click on the application download button - the application starts downloading.

Step 14: We return to Charles. The tool saver may appear briefly. Next, click on the button Edit Request → XML Text and paste the version number, which we copied in step 7 under appExtVrsId . Click on Execute.

Step 16: Open iTunes, the download should be started and completed.

Step 17: Click on the My Apps tab, you will see the downloaded application. This must be an old version of the application. To verify this, you can right-click and select Get Info. The version number will be indicated there.

Step 18: Now all that remains is to connect your iPhone to the Mac and drag the application icon of the old version onto your iPhone. However, any new versions of the application must be removed from your iPhone before you can install the old version.

Step 19: Close and delete Charles after completion.

Every year after the presentation of the new iPhone, Apple launches a new mobile iOS system. For stability of their applications in the new system, developers also have to make changes and release new updates of their products in the App Store. Over time, older versions of iOS are no longer supported by both Apple and application developers. And if you are the owner of iPhone and iPad models that do not work on the latest versions of iOS, then you will easily run into the problem of installing some applications and games.

Each developer in the App Store for their application sets the minimum requirements (device and version of the operating system), and if you want to install the application, and your version of iOS will be below the minimum, then you will see this message:

"For this content (application), iOS 8 is required (any version of iOS can be specified here) or newer"

What you need to download an unsupported device (iPhone and iPad with an older version of iOS) from the App Store for iOS

If you get a warning like this, don't be upset, there is a way out! Unfortunately, you won't be able to install the latest version of the application, but you can download the previous one compatible with your iOS.

To do this, you will need:

mac or Windows computer with Internet access
installed iTunes program no higher than 12.6.5;
an Apple ID account that is used on a device with iCloud enabled (you can enable it in the iPhone or iPad settings).

IMPORTANT! With the release of iOS 11 and updating iTunes to version 12.7, Apple removed the App Store from the media combine and now applications can only be downloaded on iOS devices - iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch. Therefore, you need to install the latest version of the program from the App Store - this is iTunes 12.6.5. Read how to remove iTunes in the next article. To check your version:

for macOS - in the menu bar, click "iTunes" → "About iTunes"
for windows - Choose Help → About iTunes

Step 1 Launch iTunes on your Mac or Windows computer

Step 2 Sign in with your Apple ID account

Step 3 Go to the "Programs" section → AppStore and find the application you need or use the search

Step 4 Click Download

Step 5 After that, the computer will no longer be needed, now take your iPhone or iPad and open the App Store application on it

Step 6 Go to the "Updates" tab and select Shopping

In iOS 11 and above, you need to click on the icon of your account, it is located in the upper right corner in all sections except "Search"

Step 7 Select the application you just downloaded on your computer and click (cloud icon with a down arrow)

Step 8 You will see a message with the minimum requirements. To install the latest compatible version, the iOS system will ask: "Download the previous version of this application?". Click Download. After that, the download and installation of the application will begin.

Unfortunately, not all applications can be installed in this way. For example, if you have a gadget with iOS 7, and the minimum available version for downloading is for iOS 10, then most likely you will not succeed. In this case, you need to use the following instructions.

After downloading the application on your computer, the file can be deleted from the "Media Library" of iTunes, this is still a version that will not suit you.

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Updates to applications do not always carry something new and useful, some errors are often eliminated, but others appear immediately. Worse, when after an update an advertisement appears or useful functions disappear, as it once happened with the Xiaomi Fit app from Xiaomi - when the developer removed the "smart alarm" function.

At the beginning of last year, information appeared on many resources on how to roll back the version of the application on iOS, but after the next update of Charles and iTunes programs it was already impossible to download the old version of the application according to the instructions. In this article we will tell you what has changed and how to do this with newer versions of programs.

Before you begin, please note:

the instruction works only on version Charles 4, was tested on Charles 4.0.2 (the program is paid, but has an unlimited trial period, the trial version stops working every half hour);
the maximum version of iTunes is 12.3.3; on future versions, this method no longer works: either there is no button (12.4-12.4.3), or an error appears
"ITunes cannot authenticate the server. Invalid server certificate "(12.5-12.6.3).

Unfortunately, this method will not work on the latest version of macOS High Sierra. When starting previous versions of iTunes, you will receive an error, since for this operating system the minimum version is 12.7 (without the App Store).

As described above, the instruction will only work on Tunes 12.3.3 and below. If you have one of the latest versions installed, you need to remove it (read about it here). You can download any version of iTunes for macOS and Windows from this site.

Step 1 Download Charles 4 for your operating system (macOS or Windows) and install it. If the method does not work on a newer version, then download Charles 4.0.2 from here

Step 2 Launch Charles. On macOS computers, when you first start the program, click

Step 4 Go to the Charles program and in the Structure panel (on the left) find the line containing "buy.itunes.apple.com".

How to install old versions of applications on iPhone and iPad without a computer

Right-click on it and select Enable SSL Proxying.

Step 5 Go back to iTunes, stop downloading the application and remove it from the list of downloads (click on the download icon in the upper right corner, select the downloaded application and press the key 2 times). If the download has already completed, then go to the "My Programs" section and delete the downloaded application

Step 6 Use iTunes Search again and download the application again. If iTunes displays a warning that it cannot authenticate the server, click. The application starts downloading, stop it and uninstall

Step 7 Go to Charles and find a new line containing "buy.itunes.apple.com". Expand it and select "buyProduct"

Step 8 In the right panel of the program, select the Contents tab (instead of Contents, there may be a Response in some operating systems) and specify the display type "XML Text". Among the lines of code, find:

In line The current version of the application is indicated, and identifiers of all previous versions are already under it:

Select the version you want to install and copy its number

Step 9 Return to the left pane of Structure and on the line "buyProduct" right-click, select Breakpoints

Step 10 In iTunes, rediscover and download the application.

Step 11 As soon as you click, a new window will appear in Charles. Go to it, select the Edit Request and XML Text tabs

Step 12 Find the line and instead of XXXX (a set of numbers) insert the version number of the application that you copied earlier and press the button once, and then again

Step 13 In iTunes, the download of the selected version should begin. At the end of the download, the downloaded application will appear in the "My Programs" section. Look at the version of the program, open the context menu with the right mouse button and select Details or press (macOS) / (Windows). If you are not happy with the version, copy another version identifier and repeat Steps 10 - 13

Step 14 Connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer and install the application on the device

Attention! Starting from version iTunes 12.7, the app no \u200b\u200blonger has the App Store, so use the latest working version, 12.6.3, for installation.

After completing all the operations, do not forget to return everything to Charles by default, go to the program again, select the line "buyProduct", right-click on it and click Disable SSL Proxying, and also uncheck Breakpoints or simply delete the program.

The instruction is not simple and requires effort, but it is worth it if you want to return the old version of the application.

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Yesterday, we talked about how iPhone and iPad can install outdated versions of applications using Charlie. From the comments on that article, it turned out that there is a simpler way that does not imply the use of third-party tools. This method only works if the new version of the application is not supported by your device due to system requirements.

If you use an old Apple smartphone or tablet or did not update iOS to the eighth or ninth version, you will inevitably encounter restrictions - the App Store will offer you to upgrade or upgrade the operating system first. However, you can cheat and download not a new version of the application, but compatible with old technology or an outdated iOS build.

How to install an old version of the application on iOS?

1. Go to the iPhone or iPad system settings and enable synchronization with iCloud.
   2. Launch iTunes on your computer and download the application you need, even in the new version.
   3. Open the App Store on your mobile device and find the application that you downloaded through iTunes.
   4. A button with a cloud will appear next to the name of the application instead of the "download" button, which indicates that a "purchase" has already been registered in your account, and you can freely download this application to your device.
5. If your iPhone or iPad is not compatible with this application, the system will generate an error and ... will offer to download the version that was once compatible with it.
   6. Wait a while - an outdated version of the application will be downloaded to your device.

We emphasize once again that this installation method can only be used on older devices (iPhone 3, 4, etc.), and install older versions of applications on newapple smartphones and tablets can be accessed using the Charlie app we just wrote about. Charlie works as a proxy that downloads the version of the application you need from Apple servers - more stable than the new one or with features that were subsequently removed by the developers. One of these applications is the official VKontakte client, which once had a full-fledged music section, and now only excerpts from songs leading to the iTunes store are available.

The editors do not remain aloof from New Year's hype and preparing surprises. Together with the Apple Jesus online store, we have prepared one of the best gifts for any occasion - the brand new iPhone 6s of any color at your discretion. To participate in the draw you need to complete only five simple tasks. Read, participate and good luck!