How to fix “Cannot Connect to App Store” on iPhone and iPad

The App Store is the only source to download apps for iPhone and iPad users. However, in rare cases, the iOS App Store may not work and display a message that says, “Cannot Connect to App Store.” As a result, downloading, re-downloading, or updating apps might fail.

If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t browse, download, or update iPhone apps, here are some possible solutions to fix these issues.

Fix App Store problems on iPhone

1. Ensure Wi-Fi or cellular data is working

Usually, you can’t use the App Store because your iPhone or iPad isn’t connected to the internet. Sometimes, your device may show the Wi-Fi icon, but there may be no internet access. Other times, you may think your mobile data is working, but actually, it isn’t.

The easiest way to check this is by going to Safari or YouTube and visiting a webpage or playing a video. If you’re successful, that means your iPhone or iPad can connect to the internet, and the App Store should also work. But since it isn’t, please go to the next solution.

However, if the internet isn’t working on your iPhone, the following tutorials should help:

Besides that, you can try these options, too:

Restart your Wi-Fi router

If you’re connected to Wi-Fi, power off the router from the main switch, and after waiting for a minute, switch it back on.

Try another Wi-Fi network

It could be that the Wi-Fi network you’re on has restricted the network to prevent App Store access. This is common in schools and institutions where bandwidth and productivity are two of the main focuses on internet access. Try connecting to another Wi-Fi network or a Personal Hotspot.

Change your iOS device’s DNS settings

If you have a certain type of DNS setting on your iOS device, it’s possible that the App Store is simply getting blocked. We have a great guide on how to change your iPhone or iPad DNS settings.

Change the DNS settings on your wireless router

Your wireless router also has DNS settings embedded into it. Another of our tutorials walks you through how to change DNS settings on your wireless router as a better alternative than doing it on your lone iOS device.

Enable cellular data for App Store

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone or cellular iPad and tap Cellular (or Mobile Data). Here, make sure the toggle next to App Store is enabled, which means it’s allowed to use cellular data. In case it’s off, turn it on, and after that, you can connect to the App Store via cellular data when you’re outside the Wi-Fi range.

Enable cellular data for App Store on iPhone

Does your Wi-Fi or cellular data offer terrible speeds?

In this case, you can’t do much except trying to access the App Store repeatedly, hoping it works on one of the occasions. I also recommend checking these articles:

Note: Make sure you haven’t reached your daily or monthly data cap.

2. Force App Store to refresh

You know where the navigation bar is; it’s the bar at the bottom of the screen with the Today, Games, Apps, Arcade, and Search tabs. Try tapping one of them ten times in a row, and this will force the App Store to reload even on a slow, laggy network!

3. Quit and relaunch the App Store

If you suspect your device just isn’t loading the App Store due to memory problems or software glitches, you can always open the App Switcher and force-quit the app. Then, it’s just a matter of relaunching the app from the Home Screen and hoping for the best.

Force quit App Store on iPhone

4. Turn off VPN

Are you using a virtual private network, or VPN, on your iPhone and iPad while trying to open the App Store? When a VPN is active, you see the words VPN in the iPhone status bar. With most VPNs (paid or free), you can access the iOS App Store. But in case it repeatedly shows an error and doesn’t let you explore, open your VPN app and turn off the connection.

Some VPNs may not allow you to access the App Store. Or, a free VPN may offer terrible speed, due to which the App Store (with high-res images, videos, app icons, etc.) may not load and give up after a while resulting in the “Cannot Connect to App Store” error message.

5. Check App Store’s system status

It’s possible that everything is perfect on your end, and still, the App Store may not work due to a temporary failure on Apple’s part. To check, go to their official System Status page:

  • Here, if you see a green dot or the word Available for App Store, that means the service is working fine.
  • In case it shows a different shape in yellow or red, that signifies a temporary issue, and you’ll have to wait until Apple implements a fix. This waiting period may be a few minutes to a few hours!

Note: Sometimes, the App Store might be working and have a green dot, but related things like iCloud Account & Sign In may be experiencing a problem due to which you can’t use the App Store. In this case, too, you’ll have to wait for Apple to smoothen the issues.

6. Set the correct date and time

App Store may not work if your iPhone’s date and time are incorrect. To fix this, go to Settings > General > Date & Time and make sure the toggle next to Set Automatically is green.

Set Date and Time Automatically on iPhone

7. Restart your iPhone

Often, several iPhone issues are solved just by turning it off and back on. If App Store isn’t working on your device, make sure you do this, and hopefully, the problem may be solved.

8. Update to the latest version of iOS

Are you using a very old version of iOS or iPadOS on your iPhone or iPad? In that case, go to the Settings app > General > Software Update to get the latest available version of the operating system.

Note: If you’re on the latest beta version of iOS and can’t connect to the App Store, consider switching to the non-beta version or send feedback to Apple, hoping they address this problem in the next update.

9. Use the App Store and not Spotlight Search

Often I pull down my Home Screen to access Search, type the app name, and get the relevant App Store suggestion. From here, I just tap GET or the download icon to install the app. It works well. However, the Search screen doesn’t show all the results, and sometimes it may not display relevant App Store apps at all. Thus, I recommend opening the App Store and using the search bar there to find the desired app.

Use App Store and not Spotlight Search

In case you see no App Store suggestion in Spotlight Search, here’s how to fix that issue: How to fix an app not showing in iPhone Spotlight Search

10. Reset network settings

Still unable to use the iPhone App Store? Go to Settings > General. Scroll to the bottom and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone > ResetReset Network Settings. Once that’s done, connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi or cellular data and open the App Store. You should be able to download and update apps now

Reset Network Settings iPhone

11. Reset all settings

Finally, if nothing helps, reset all your iPhone settings, and this will almost certainly solve the App Store problems.

Can’t update apps on iPhone? Here’s the fix

App updates ensure you get the best version of that app the developer has to offer. App updates also introduce new features, fix bugs, improve security, ensure proper compatibility with iOS, and more. Therefore, keep your apps updated.

However, if you cannot update your iPhone apps, follow most of the above solutions like ensuring internet connectivity, restarting your device, checking App Store server status, etc. Besides those, take a look at some additional points mentioned below.

1. Pull down the page to see all app updates

When you go to update apps (App Store > tap your profile picture OR press the App Store icon on Home Screen/App Library and choose Updates), you may not see all the available updates. But when you pull down this screen, it will refresh and show you all the pending updates.

Refresh App Store Updates to see all pending updates and install them

2. Ensure you have sufficient free space

You can’t update apps if your iPhone’s local storage is full. In such cases, free space on your iPhone and then retry updating the app.

3. Use the original Apple ID

Suppose you downloaded some apps on your iPhone using your main Apple ID. Next, you signed out from this Apple ID and signed into another. Now, when you go to update apps, it may ask you to sign in using the same Apple ID using which you downloaded the app. So do that, and then you can update apps. If you don’t remember that Apple ID, consider deleting the app and downloading it again using the currently signed-in Apple ID. Note that deleting an app may cause the data inside it to be lost permanently. See if needed: How to find and know your Apple ID on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

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