Refresh App Store or open Updates tab

Question

Created Aug ’17

Replies 3

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Views 2.1k

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We often push out a mandatory app update and users with an older version are prompted to update the app. This taking them to the app page using a link like this.

itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/app/<my-app-id>

Many users are complaining that they see no option to Update even though the app was approved and released days ago. We are not using timed releases either.

I have noticed this issue personally as well. Restarting App Store or visiting the Updates tab fixes the issue. This is a problem as developers can't expect users to know this information.

Can we somehow force the App Store to update the app page (and not use an old cached version)? Or is there a way to open the Updates tab in App Store via an itms or https link?

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Answer 1

PBK OP

Aug ’17

try:

@"https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1234567890?mt=7"

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Answer 2

akoka OP

Aug ’17

mt=7 is for iPod games. I need to use mt=8 for Mobile Software Applications. But this doesn't solve the problem with App Store caching old pages.

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Answer 3

KMT OP

Aug ’17

> doesn't solve the problem with App Store caching old pages.

Which is quite literally something devs are forced to tolerate, isn't it.

Apple has control, and devs don't in this scenario, so at the risk of pointing out the obvious, and since you've asked a question you also seemed to answer, let's review just a couple factors why caches rule, off the top...

Apple's servers aren't centrally located - the hit pulls from the nearest/shortest source based on ping, load, outage, undefined router storms, etc. One source may have the new data while another is still playing ketchup.
Changes to the backend aren't instantaneous - it takes time for them to propagate across all related servers*.

Cached data avoids the number one fail online...having to wait. You want it now or you want it fresh...can't always have both.

Feel free to file a bug against the backend that demonstrates the issue.

*"Many users are complaining that they see no option to Update" - how many/what percentage? Add that to your bug report.

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