11 Ways to Fix It When an iPhone Won’t Download Apps

If you have a good connection, try force-quitting the store app and maybe even restart your iPhone

By
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Writer
  • Ithaca College
Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others.
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Updated on June 24, 2023
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher headshot
Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
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If your iPhone isn't downloading apps from the App Store, follow these steps to get it working again.

These tips apply to all iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices with recent versions of iOS.

Reasons Why iPhone Won't Download Apps

Often the iPhone won't tell you exactly why it won't download an app, but the likely causes are:

  • There's no storage room left on your iPhone
  • Problem with Apple ID
  • Incorrect iPhone settings

If the App Store itself is down you also won't be able to download apps.

How to Fix an iPhone That Won't Download Apps

There are several ways to fix an iPhone that fails or stalls while attempting to download apps. If apps on your device won't download, try these fixes, in this order.

  1. Download apps using Wi-Fi on your iPhone. To protect you from going over your data allotment from your carrier, Apple put up a barrier when trying to download apps over 200 MB when using the App Store via your carrier's connection. If you are Wi-Fi there is no barrier.

    The App Store will ask you if you really want to download an app that's over 200MB if you are on a cellular connection; if you have a large enough data plan, you can go to Settings > App Downloads > and then choose if you'd like to be asked about this.

    Make sure the phone isn't in Airplane Mode, which blocks all Wi-Fi and cellular network connections.

  2. Restart the App Store app. Typically, you don't have to quit apps on an iPhone, but if one is missing behaving (even one from Apple), forcing it to quit and reopening it can fix whatever temporary issue the app was having.

  3. Pause and restart the app download. This tip works when the app download stalls. If an app icon appears on your home screen, but the download has slowed or stalled, tap the icon for the app you're attempting to install. This pauses the download. Wait a short time and then tap it again to resume the download.

  4. Restart the iPhone. Sometimes you need to restart a device to get things working again. There may be a temporary glitch in the operating system or a software component. A restart usually resolves these issues.

  5. Check your Apple ID payment method. You need to connect a payment method to your Apple ID to download apps, even if you're downloading a free app. If you do not have a payment method on file or your card is expired, you might not be able to download apps. This can also lead to a Verification Required pop-up message. Adding a valid payment method may solve the problem.

  6. Sign out of the App Store and sign back in. An iPhone that can't download apps may signify something wrong with your Apple ID. If the connection between your iPhone and the Apple App Store is disrupted, signing out and signing back in may fix it. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, and choose Sign Out at the bottom. Then, sign back in by selecting Sign In and entering your Apple ID username and password.

  7. Update iOS. Updates to iOS—the operating system for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch—frequently resolve software bugs. It could be that your iPhone cannot download apps because of a bug in the OS. An easy, fast, and free OS update may solve the problem.

    You can update iOS wirelessly or through iTunes.

  8. Fix date and time issues on your iPhone. Incorrect date and time settings may block you from downloading apps. Select Settings > General > Date & Time. Move the Set Automatically toggle switch to On (green). This allows your iPhone to always check the time and set itself accordingly.

    Learn more about changing the date and time on your iPhone, the many implications of doing that, in How to Change Date on iPhone.

  9. Reset the iPhone device settings. Bugs sometimes stem from low-level settings. You can't always see or fix these settings individually, but iOS allows you to reset all settings. Doing this won't erase your data, but it can solve these issues.

  10. Check the Apple ID you're using. If you have a problem updating an app on your device, the problem could be the Apple ID you're using. When you download an app, it's tied to the Apple ID you're logged into then. If you change the Apple ID you're using, apps tied to the old ID can't update. Sign in to other Apple IDs you've used, following the instructions in step 6 above.

  11. Get help from Apple. If you tried all these steps and your iPhone still won't download apps, you need help from the experts at Apple. You can get online or phone support at the Apple website or make an appointment at the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store for in-person help.

FAQ
  • How do I free up space on my iPhone?

    You can't expand the storage on your iPhone, but you can make the best of it. The easiest way to make space to have the iPhone help you by going to: Settings > General > iPhone storage > and look for the Recommendations section. This doesn't always appear, but it should if your iPhone is getting close to capacity. If that doesn't appear, you can manually remove apps you don't use as often. To do so, just hold down on the icon on the home screen until the menu pops up and choose Remove App. You can always download it again later if you need it.

  • Can I use Wi-Fi in Airplane Mode?

    Yes. Initially, turning on Airplane Mode turns off all the antennas in your iPhone, you can go back into Control Center and tap on the Wi-Fi icon to turn on only the Wi-Fi antenna.

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