Can’t locate your previous app purchases after updating to iOS 11? Does it seem like iOS 11 made all your purchases invisible? Quite a few users are having a hard time finding their purchases apps on iOS 11 App Store. The good news is that The Purchased tab in the iOS 11 App Store hasn’t disappeared, it’s just moved!
Not only did Apple completely redesign the App Store in iOS but they have also removed apps entirely out of iTunes 12.7.
Quick Tips
Follow These Quick Tips to Find All Your App Purchases in the iOS 11 App Store
Tap Your Account Details in the App Store and tap the Purchased option
In earlier iOS versions (iOS 10 and earlier,) it was easy to locate all of your previously purchased apps in the bottom App Store tab bar or on your list of app updates. But with iOS 11, things are different.
There are many times when you need the ability to re-download apps that you had previously purchased. This option is still there but the navigation to reach your purchased apps has changed in iOS 11.
How To Find Purchased Apps on iOS 11 App Store
To access your previously purchased apps, tap on App Store to Open it.
Next, tap on Today tab on the far left-hand side at the bottom menu
Or tap any of the App Store tabs except the search tab
Then, Tap on your User Account Icon at the top right-hand corner of the screen. The icon might look like a silhouette headshot of a person (as in the example above), or it might be a picture you uploaded to identify you.
Now, access your previously purchased apps from the Purchased option in this menu. This shows all your purchases as well as any apps that you purchased as well as apps from your Family Purchases, if applicable.
Scroll through the list of the purchased apps or type in the name of an app in the Search bar to locate a specific app.
Want to Hide an App Purchase?
If you share a device with a spouse, parent, or friend or are using a company’s device and want to hide some of your app purchases from any prying eyes, there’s an easy way to do that!
Locate the app in question and then simply swipe left on the app and then tap the red Hide button–that’s it!
And just so you know, hiding an app doesn’t cancel its subscription!
Redownload a hidden iOS apps
Open the App Store app then tap Today
Tap your User Account icon then tap your Apple ID
Enter your Apple ID password if requested (or Touch ID/Face ID)
Scroll and tap Hidden Purchases (under iTunes in the Cloud section)
Find the app that you want to re-download and tap the cloud icon
How To Edit / Remove the iMessage App Drawer in iOS 11
Speaking of App Store, many users are having a little hard time adjusting to the new layout of the iMessage. The iMessage shows the App drawer with the keyboard.
If you do not like the App Drawer, you can simply turn it off by pressing and holding on the App icon as shown below. This will remove it from your iMessage screen.
You can also choose to customize the App Drawer. Scroll the App drawer to the left and tap on” …”. (More).
Next, Tap on the Edit button at the top right of the screen. Here, you can remove the different Apps from your favorites. When you remove all of them, it shows you the App Store icon and More (…) at the bottom of your screen
Close an app
1. On an iPhone or an iPad with no home button from the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen
2. On an iDevice with a home button, double-click the Home button and swipe right or left to find the app that you want to close
3. Swipe right or left to locate the app you want to close
4. Swipe up on the app’s preview to close it
It always a good idea to restart your device after closing apps!
You may also want to delete the app if you don’t want to move forward after the trial. To do so, go to your home screen and press and hold on the app’s icon until the quick action menu appears. Choose Delete App from the bottom of that menu and confirm.
My user icon is not in the left hand side of my phone. It was a few weeks ago but now I can no longer see my purchased apps. I am not sure how to find them and I would appreciate some help.
Where this account icon is located depends on your iOS version.
For iOS 12, open the App Store and tap on the Today button from the bottom tab menu. Then tap the icon in the upper-right, choose Purchased from the options in your account details.
If you’re using iOS 11, first restart your device then open the App Store. At the bottom, tap the Today, Games, Apps, or Updates option.
Then tap the icon in the upper-right corner–it might be a picture or it might be a person’s head in silhouette.
Then follow the steps outlined in the article.
If you still aren’t seeing it, force close the App Store by double pressing Home or swiping up the Home Gesture Bar until you see the App Preview Cards for all your open and suspended apps. Swipe through and locate the App Store Preview Card. Once located, Press and Swipe the App Preview up off the top of your screen to close it.
Then relaunch the App Store and see if things look as described.
Thank you for helping me find the purchased apps in the App Store. It is not a user friendly change, especially for my son who is autistic and wants to use his IPad independently without having to try and communicate with me verbally. What seems a simple change really isn’t when you have to learn the new route and if he goes the new route he is also right next to my acct button and other things I don’t want him accessing.
I’m so sorry to hear about how this update impacts your family. And I’m sure countless other families too, around the world. I grew up with an autistic sibling, so I know from experience how important independence is to any child, especially an autistic child-and we didn’t have iPads then!
Have you looked into setting some restrictions on your iPad? You could add a few restrictions for things like in-app purchases, installing or deleting apps, and a whole bunch of other things. We have an article that talks about setting up an iPad for a child (and others–I set these up for my grandma who lives with us.)
Anyway, it might help both of you.
Keep us posted and I hope your son enjoys his iPad!
Delilah Smith says
I am trying to close a trial app and I can not find a way to do it
Elizabeth Jones says
Close an app
1. On an iPhone or an iPad with no home button from the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen
2. On an iDevice with a home button, double-click the Home button and swipe right or left to find the app that you want to close
3. Swipe right or left to locate the app you want to close
4. Swipe up on the app’s preview to close it
It always a good idea to restart your device after closing apps!
You may also want to delete the app if you don’t want to move forward after the trial. To do so, go to your home screen and press and hold on the app’s icon until the quick action menu appears. Choose Delete App from the bottom of that menu and confirm.
Ronak Regan says
My user icon is not in the left hand side of my phone. It was a few weeks ago but now I can no longer see my purchased apps. I am not sure how to find them and I would appreciate some help.
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Ronak,
Where this account icon is located depends on your iOS version.
For iOS 12, open the App Store and tap on the Today button from the bottom tab menu. Then tap the icon in the upper-right, choose Purchased from the options in your account details.
If using a different iOS version, let us know
Liz
John says
There is no image in that corner what do I do?
SK says
Hi John,
If you’re using iOS 11, first restart your device then open the App Store. At the bottom, tap the Today, Games, Apps, or Updates option.
Then tap the icon in the upper-right corner–it might be a picture or it might be a person’s head in silhouette.
Then follow the steps outlined in the article.
If you still aren’t seeing it, force close the App Store by double pressing Home or swiping up the Home Gesture Bar until you see the App Preview Cards for all your open and suspended apps. Swipe through and locate the App Store Preview Card. Once located, Press and Swipe the App Preview up off the top of your screen to close it.
Then relaunch the App Store and see if things look as described.
Sam
Kristen says
Thank you for helping me find the purchased apps in the App Store. It is not a user friendly change, especially for my son who is autistic and wants to use his IPad independently without having to try and communicate with me verbally. What seems a simple change really isn’t when you have to learn the new route and if he goes the new route he is also right next to my acct button and other things I don’t want him accessing.
Elizabeth says
Hi Kristen,
I’m so sorry to hear about how this update impacts your family. And I’m sure countless other families too, around the world. I grew up with an autistic sibling, so I know from experience how important independence is to any child, especially an autistic child-and we didn’t have iPads then!
Have you looked into setting some restrictions on your iPad? You could add a few restrictions for things like in-app purchases, installing or deleting apps, and a whole bunch of other things. We have an article that talks about setting up an iPad for a child (and others–I set these up for my grandma who lives with us.)
Anyway, it might help both of you.
Keep us posted and I hope your son enjoys his iPad!
Cheers,
Liz