iTunes Store: How to enable Automatic Downloads

Summary

iTunes 10.3 3 and iOS 4.3.3 or later (iOS 5 or later for iPhone (CDMA Model)) enable you to automatically download purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, or iTunes Store instantly to your other computers and devices.

Products Affected

iTunes Store

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Enabling Automatic Downloads on your computer

  1. Open iTunes. 
  2. If you have not already, authorize your computer for use with your Apple ID by choosing Store > Authorize This Computer. See this article for information about iTunes Store authorization.
  3. For Mac computers: Choose iTunes > Preferences and click the Store tab. 
    For Windows computers: Choose Edit > Preferences and click the Store tab.
  4. You can enable Automatic Downloads2 for Music, Apps, or Books under "Automatic Downloads."

Note: If the checkboxes are not selectable, you will need to sign in to the iTunes Store with your Apple ID. 

Enabling Automatic Downloads on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. Tap Settings > Store on your device.
  2. Tap Sign In if you're not already signed in to the iTunes Store.
  3. Enter your Apple ID and password.
  4. Tap On/Off switch to enable or disable Automatic Downloads for each content type.

Tips:

  • If iBooks is not listed as an option, you will need to download and install iBooks from the App Store on your device to enable Automatic Downloads for iBooks.
  • You can enable or disable Automatic Downloads over your cellular network on an iPhone or iPad Wi-Fi + 3G. To do so, tap the On/Off switch next to Cellular in Settings > Store. Cellular downloads are limited to a file size of 50 MB or smaller.

Additional Information

1Automatic Downloads only applies to new purchases made after you enable the feature. Automatic Downloads for iPhone 4 (CDMA Model) requires iOS 5 or later.

2Automatic Downloads for music and downloading past music purchases may not be available in all countries. Find out if iTunes in the Cloud is available in your country. iOS 5 or later is required for iPhone 4 (CDMA Model).

3When you first purchase content that is eligible for Automatic Downloads, you can choose to automatically download copies of that content to iOS devices and iTunes-authorized computers associated to your Apple ID. Learn more about associating a device or computer to your Apple ID.

You can specify which type of content automatically downloads to an associated device. iOS devices with push notifications enabled should automatically download the specified content(s) if the device has an Internet connection. On an associated device that does not support Push Notifications, including Windows PCs, the specified content(s) should automatically appear in the download queue where you can manually initiate the download within iTunes.

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