Restore Missing iPhone Applications after 3.0 Firmware Upgrade

by Michael Sheehan on June 22, 2009

in Apple, Cellular, Fix It, Gadgets, General, Hardware, how to, iPhone

I was excited like many others to get the new Apple iPhone firmware 3.0 update last week. Installation was not an issue for me, even after coming from a jailbroken 2G (original) iPhone. That is, until I started looking for some of my applications. For some odd reason, there were several of my applications that had just disappeared. I finally found a fix which I will go into in a second.

3_firmware

Here are some of the symptoms and things that I tried first (gathered from around the web and from my own experimentation):

  • Could not locate via Spotlight search – searching for the name of the app showed no results. It just wasn’t there
  • iTunes showed that it synced – my iTunes showed that the application(s) were supposed to be synced
  • Delete and Re-download didn’t work – I removed the application from iTunes by unchecking the box next to it so ensure that it wouldn’t sync next time. Then I tried to download it via my iPhone. The application would start to download but would hang and never fully install
  • Purchase “free” application – I read somewhere that if you purchased a free application and tried the syncing again, that your missing apps would magically appear. This didn’t work for me.
  • Not 3.0 compatible – some people suggested that the applications were not 3.0 compatible yet. This wasn’t the case for me because I knew someone who was using the applications in question with 3.0 without any issues.
  • On another page – some people found their “missing” applications on another page to the right of the home page. This was not my case either and those apps on a different page would have shown up via a Spotlight search
  • Re-sync numerous times – that was just something that I kept doing with no luck

So, after testing out all of the items, doing reboots and soft-restarts, I finally tried what eventually ended up working. And, it is really easy!

The Fix for Missing Applications

Note: be sure you fully back up your iPhone before you do this.

All that you need to do to fix this issue is to go into Settings > General and scroll all the way to the bottom and click the “Reset” button. Once you are in the Reset screen click: “Reset All Settings“. You will get a couple of “Are you sure?” type of screens and if you have a pass code set up for your iPhone, you will have to enter that as well.

photo 2

After you do the Reset, you will need to re-attach to iTunes and restore from your backup. Depending on the amount of data, photos, music, videos, applications, etc., this may take a while. After the sync is finished, you SHOULD have all of your missing applications back and hopefully in full working order.

Please leave a comment if this (or a different trick) worked for you so that others can learn.

Did you find this solution useful? If so:

HTD says: Remember, there are solutions out there. Don’t be too afraid to try different things and when you find a solution, be sure to share it with others!

Related posts:

  1. iPhone: Experience installing Firmware 1.1.1 on Jailbroken iPhone with 3rd Party applications
  2. How To Fix Applications Crashing After Upgrading to Apple iOS5 on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch
  3. How To Get Your iPhone Out of a Recovery or Restore Mode Loop
  4. iPhone: Upgrade to Firmware 1.1.3 Observations
  5. How To Get 48 Applications in the iPhone Dock using iOS4


Tagged as: 3.0, Apple, applications, firmware, Fix It, iPhone, missing, reset

← Older Comments
  • Teddi

    Thank you! It worked!

  • Mo

    Phew I almost tried this out of fear. Just goes to show you should pause and think about it first. Clicking “sync” in iTunes did it for me.

  • Mo

    Phew I almost tried this out of fear. Just goes to show you should pause and think about it first. Clicking “sync” in iTunes did it for me.

  • iphone mom

    hi. I am reading how to restore iphone apps icons after upgrading

    Unfortunately one of the icons missing is my “settings” icon. It totally disappeared.

    iphone mom

  • iphone mom

    hi. I am reading how to restore iphone apps icons after upgrading

    Unfortunately one of the icons missing is my “settings” icon. It totally disappeared.

    iphone mom

  • heathagazi

    I tried all of the things in your list before even resorting to a google search. I figured I must've missed something. This did the trick and took less than a minute. Thanks for the help! Woot!

  • https://macinjosh.pip.verisignlabs.com/ macinjosh

    YES!!! I've been struggling with this for months. So glad I saw your comment before I did something rash! Thank you!

  • fenddi

    i recently unlocked/jailbroke my iphone 3G, i had all my icons showing after the jailbreak/unlock, no problem. An hour later my ipod, mail, calculator icons werent showing/missing. i have tried resetting the home screen, going to settings-general-restriction-enable, then disable, but was unsuccessful. Please somebody help me!!

  • xk4l3x

    ya well i accidentally put all of my apps in the category folder and now none of my apps are not on the home screen. not even settings. all i have is two bookmarks on my home screen. how do i get them back

  • xk4l3x

    ya nvm i fixed it somehow. wut i did was put the two bookmarks in the bottom docks then it reset n got put in safety mode and i went to categories and removed all apps out of the folder n i fixed it. lol

  • Tim

    YES the restrictions worked for me. FYI the app that was missing for me was Reqall.

  • Derry57

    Thanks for this short & simple instruction – it worked for me.

  • Simon

    This worked great for me (and even gave me some apps back that i had lost when i got my phone unlocked, also by telia).
    Took about 10 seconds to fix :)

  • Jim

    I had the missing applications for most (all but two, i think) of my applications after restoring the last backup from my old iphone 3GS onto a replacement iphone after the original one stopped connecting to the telco network.

    I tried the fixes suggested on this thread, but they didn't work. Hunting around for *.ipa, (on Vista), I found the apps under C:Users[NAME]MusiciTunesMobile Applications, and dragged them into the iTunes Applications folder (which was previously empty). From there it was a simple matter of synching the iphone, responding to the warning that all applications on the phone will be lost) and they are all now restored to the phone.

    Hope this helps someone.

  • Redplanet

    I found the ipa files of the apps still on my mac in the itunes/mobile applications folder. by opening these files from the folder they are directly imported to itunes and hence restored without any fuss…..

    JW

  • HowGood

    Neither worked for me.
    But I post here, as you laid out the steps that many of us have gone through.
    What DID work (add it to the list) is DE-authorizing, then authorizing the computer, then syncing…

    Hope this helps as well…

    p.s. Spotlight finds only recent files. Download FindAnyFile (3rd party) to search all files. You may find your apps in the Home/Music/iTunes/Mobile Applications folder

  • amuseme

    Nice job Rick very simple stuff. I’m a little embarrased that it wa so easy. Thank you!! Now how can I get my original Black wallpaper back on my home screen? any ideas I’m not sure what happened to it.

  • Adelinagonzales29

    did not work for me

  • kusum

    i forgot my 4 digit pass code…what do i do?

  • Sam

    I did the ‘Fix for missing applications’ as described above, but it dod nort work for me. So, I dragged the missing Apps from the iTunes list on the PC to my phone, and ‘bingo’ it did reinstalls or Synchronisations which put all the missing Apps back on the phone!!

  • http://www.hightechdad.com hightechdad

    Great! Thanks for posting your solution. It’s helpful to other readers.

  • Lucky_abi12

    actly my prob is in itunes my apps which i synced r showing but its not showing in my iphone dos any1 noe how to slove dis ???

  • inca

    I had to get all of my .ipa App files from backup and drag them into iTunes. Then Sync. Then go into iTunes/iPod/Apps and check all of the boxes again. Then Sync again. That got mine back.

    I think iTunes interface is junky. iTunes backup and restore design is junk too.

    Worst of all, the support.apple.com kb articles are completely misleading and incomplete. I almost gave up and just figured my apps were gone. What a bunch of s$!%. I miss my Palm III which had a simple backup and structure and documentation!

    This is the best webpage I’ve found. Thanks!!!!

  • http://www.cygnismedia.com/ Facebook Applications

    nice one i really like it..

  • Pe1380

    It worked for me. Thank you!

  • Katareena11

    HELP!!! I had to update my software for my iPhone and once it was done- my ‘Project 365′ app (which had 6 months worth of photos of my daughter) was the only app missing?! WTH do i do!? its not even listed on itunes either!? but every other app was still there?! hheelppppppp meeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://www.hightechdad.com hightechdad

    While I can’t guarantee that it will work, try installing it directly on
    your phone via the App Store on your iPhone. Perhaps it will find the DB
    of your photos. Good luck and let me know.

  • Alex

    Here is how I solved it:

    Went to the store and downloaded duck hunter lite. Played a game and after that all my apps worked. Good luck.

  • Ernie

    This is unnecessary. All that you need to do is go to the apps section of itunes and check sync apps and check all of the apps that you want synced.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Moeteise-Surrey/100001455787723 Moeteise Surrey
  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Moeteise-Surrey/100001455787723 Moeteise Surrey
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