How to Sync Apps from Your IPod Touch Without Deleting What You Already Paid For

Syncing applications from the iTunes library to your iPod is not always as easy as Apple likes to make you think it is. In the event that you have more than one iPod Nano or iPod Touch in the household, it can be even more difficult to share applications, games, and other iTunes store purchases. Also, you can run into snags in syncing apps you downloaded on your iPod via a wireless connection to the iTunes library on your computer. This is the exact problem I ran into today, and I'd like to show you how I fixed it.

The problem: I just bought Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles, a game app, using my iTunes account on the computer. I downloaded the app as usual and just as I was going to sync it, I got a warning sign that popped up on the software telling me that in syncing the iPod Touch, I would erase any other apps that weren't already in the library. I had several apps on my iTouch that I had downloaded from the iTouch App Store (not using the computer), but had never synced them to the computer library. This posed a problem.

The solution: After dinking around with the software I gave in and called customer support. After going through several minutes setting up a case ID for it (I was connected to a native English speaker, by the way, so at least the experience was a good one), I finally figured out on my own what my problem was. It had to do with transferring the purchases from my iPod Touch to my iPod library on the computer.

Here's how you can transfer apps, songs purchased from iTunes, videos, and more from your iPod Touch to the iTunes software on the computer:

1. Plug in your iPod and boot up the iTunes software. Sometimes this will happen automatically as soon as the iPod is plugged in.

2. Select your device and click File -> Transfer purchases from (name_of_iPod)'s iPod. You will notice all of your account's purchases currently on the iPod are being synced into the iTunes applications library. You can also right click on the device name and select "Transfer purchases" to accomplish the same thing.

3. Click on your iPod name in the left panel. You will be taken to the Summary tab in the big window. Next to the Summary tab you'll find the Applications tab. Click on this and select "Sync applications."

4. A warning will pop up alerting you that any apps not in the library at this time will be deleted. When you click OK, you will still be given the opportunity to select which apps you want to apply to your iPod before it syncs, so if you accidentally click it, all is not lost.

5. If all your apps are showing up in the window pane of the Applications tab, you're good to go. Make sure everything you want to keep or add onto the iPod is checked, otherwise it will be erased. Once it is imported into the library, though, it will keep it there, so you don't have to worry about losing it.

These steps saved me from making a BIG mistake and erasing my hard-earned, paid-for apps and games. Remember to follow these steps anytime you download apps from the button on your iPod before syncing from your computer.

Here's a helpful video explaining all of the steps firsthand.

Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtvUXvd_7Rg