Removing current version of app from download

Question

Need a help in critical issue with version released and currently ready for sale on appStore, we have found the issue, fixed and now decided to upload new version on appstore, while uploading it provides a option with check box

Are you updating this app because of a significant usability issue or for a legal issue, such as infringement?

If we select yes, it shows all versions of app including current version of app with checkbox which is ready for sale

Select the box for each version of your app that cannot be enabled for iCloud download because of a significant usability issue or due to a legal issue such as infringement. Any versions you select will be unavailable for download as a previous purchase.

so i would like to know if we select current version of app which is ready for sale and upload new update, will the previous versions of app will be available for download.

Answer 1

I decided to test this. Here are the results.
First I want to clarify some of the confusion. There are two places where you can control the availability of previous versions of your app. If you go to Rights and Pricing in iTunesConnect and then scroll to the bottom and click Manage iCloud download settings for this app, you'll be able to select which versions of your app should not be available to users as a previous purchase. Notice that you cannot select the current version of your app. However, if you create a New Version of your app and then click "Prepare for Upload" you'll have the option to select Yes or No next to "Are you updating this app because of a significant usability issue or for a legal issue, such as infringement?" If you choose yes, the window will expand and you'll get a similar control where you can select versions that should not be available as a previous purchase. Except now, you can select the current version of your app. Although it doesn't make this clear, the assumption is that the current version of your app will only disappear from iCloud download availability once the new version is approved and live. I will test this.

As an aside, one of the reasons this feature was added (to download previous versions of an app) was so that users who's device or OS were too old for the current version could still download the latest version that their device/OS supports.

What I Did
So I decided to choose Yes and to select the current version to see what would happen (since there was a crashing bug in that version of my app). I don't expect this to remove my app from purchase availability since the verbiage seems to focus on iCloud download availability as a previous purchase.

My app has changed to Waiting for Upload and I can report that the current version is still available on the app store. Subsequently I uploaded and the status changed to Received and then Waiting for Review, and still my existing version is available.
I also decided to delete the app from my iPhone and then go to the App Store and tap the cloud button (which takes the place of the purchase button when you've previously purchased an app). It still allowed me to download the latest version (which is good).

I will keep this post updated with further developments.

Answer 2

Yes, Apple have enabled a new feature, whereby older devices still have access to older versions of your app, you can select the older versions and make them unavailable though if you wish.

The feature is good for people with older devices, so they can still get your app if they are stuck on iOS 6 or whatever, but if you wish by checking the box beside each 'older' version you can ensure it's not available.

Answer 3

"Any versions you select will be unavailable for download as a previous purchase." !

After you upload a new app, the currently ready for sale app will be one of the previous purchase! However, it might be not instantaneous and might be pending apple review for some time!

SO IF you select your current ready for sale app then it will NOT be available for Download!

In any case if you are not sure enought you can always send an email via iOS developer to apple and ask!