From time to time, the App Store app may not work as expected. In this troubleshooting article, one iPhone XR user reports that the App Store and one app won’t install any updates at all. Learn the ways to fix this issue below.
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Problem: iPhone XR App Store app won’t install updates
My new iPhone XR refuses to update the App Store app and also the Clips app. Both act like they are downloading, then pop back to “update”. Have tried hundreds of times. ALL my other apps Apple and 3rd Party apps update with no problems. I’ve reset and backed up and restored numerous times. WTF?
Solution: Knowing the cause of this problem takes a lot of patience. Below are the troubleshooting steps that you can do to fix it.
Make space for app updates
We don’t know how many apps you have in your iPhone but if you’re the type who doesn’t really care about such thing, it’s time that you check. App updates can sometimes take a huge chunk of storage space. Make sure that there’s enough storage space before you attempt to update the apps in question.
To check if there’s enough storage space:
- Open Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Tap iPhone Storage.
- Check if there’s any recommendation that you can do to make some room in your storage device.
Alternatively, you can simply delete any unused apps that may be taking up space. Games usually require huge GBs to work so get rid of them if you’re seriously running out of space. To easily delete an app, just tap and hold the icon of the app until the it shakes. Then, tap on the X to delete it.
ALSO READ: How to fix App Store not working on iPhone
Update using another wifi
If you’re using the same wifi when updating, it’s time to switch to another one to see if that’s where the problem lies. The current wifi connection may be buggy or slow, or has some issues.
Use mobile data when updating
If you have no restrictions when it comes to how much data you can use, try to see what happens if you use it to update the apps in question. App updates that are more than 100MB may only update thru wifi.
Reset network settings
You should consider resetting your iPhone’s network settings if nothing work at this point. Performing this troubleshooting step will erase wifi networks and passwords, cellular settings, VPN settings, and Bluetooth settings. Be sure that you know how to reconfigure all them before doing this step.
- Tap Settings to open the app.
- Tap General.
- Tap Reset.
- Select the option to Reset Network Settings.
- If prompted, enter the device password.
- Confirm action.
Check if there’s on-going App Store outage
Apple’s App Store has proven itself to be reliable but just like any online service, it can bog down. To check if there’s any temporary App Store problem, you can visit the official Apple System Status page.
Quit and restart App Store
You can also try to deal with the App Store app directly by restarting it. To close the App Store app, open up the App Switcher, press a finger on an app until the red “-” appears in the corner, and then tap that – to close it.
Or, you can go to the Home screen, or while in an app, swipe up and hold from the bottom of the display. When the App Switcher comes up swipe through the different app cards to find the app that you want to close. Then use a quick swipe upwards to close the app.
Ensure Apple ID is correct
Using another Apple ID may prevent the system from downloading app updates. Make sure that you are signed in to the correct Apple ID.
For this purpose, you can also try to sign out and sign back in to your Apple account. Here’s how:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap iTunes & App Store.
- Tap on your Apple ID at the top of the screen.
- Tap Sign Out.
- Close out of the Settings app.
- Reopen the Settings app and tap iTunes & App Store -> Sign In and sign back in to your Apple ID.
Clear App Store Cache
If the App Store still won’t update, you can also clear its cache. Like any other app, the App Store can be affected by cache issues. To clear the app’s cache, just open it and then tap on one of the tabs at the bottom of the screen 10 times in a row. Be sure to tap the same spot ten times in order to successfully clear the App Store cache. If you get a flash on the screen and app restarts, that means you’re doing it right.
Engage with us
If you happen to have a problem with your own iPhone, let us know about it and we will do our best to post them and their solutions in our upcoming articles. You can use this link to contact us for assistance. We can’t guarantee an answer to every question but rest assured that we will exhaust everything on our end to help you.
Be as detailed as possible when describing your problem to help us diagnose your issue easily. If you can include error messages, popups, attempted troubleshooting steps, and circumstances leading to the problem, that would be very helpful.