If your iPhone App Store is not working after iOS 17 update, here are the steps you can take to troubleshoot and solve the problem.
The iPhone App Store is a useful resource for finding, downloading, and keeping your apps up to date, assuming it’s working correctly.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
If the iPhone App Store is not working after iOS 17 update, possible fixes include: Force quitting it, disabling any running VPNs, restarting your iPhone, updating iOS, signing out, checking the date and time settings, and resetting network settings. It’s also possible that Apple’s iPhone App Store servers are down.
App Store is the only way you can download apps, which makes it all the more frustrating when the App Store is not working on your iPhone after iOS 17 update. Here are some fixes you can try to get the iPhone App Store working again.
11 Ways to Fix App Store Not Working in iOS 17 on iPhone
1. Close And Reopen App Store
It’s possible your iPhone App Store has stopped working because the App Store has crashed. If the App Store app has crashed and is not working, something as simple as closing and reopening the App might fix the problem.
If you have an iPhone with a Home button, double-click it to open the app switcher. If your iPhone doesn’t have a Home button, swipe up from the very bottom to the center of the screen to open the app switcher.
Once the app switcher is open, swipe the App Store up and off the top of the screen to close it. Now that the App Store is closed, go back to the Home screen and open it again. If the App Store is still not working, move onto the next step.
2. Check Your Internet Connection
Are you getting “Cannot Connect To App Store” error when you try to open the App Store on your iPhone? To access the App Store on your iPhone, you need to have a working Wi-Fi connection or good cell reception with available cellular data. Open a web browser and try loading a new webpage to test your internet connection.
If you can’t get online, that will explain why App Store isn’t working on your iPhone. Try the steps below to fix your internet connection.
Toggle Airplane Mode Off And Back On
A quick and easy step that you can perform to fix wireless problems is to quickly turning Airplane mode on and back off again. This will give your phone and wireless network a new start to reconnect.
It’s worth noting that when Airplane Mode is turned on, the App Store won’t load. When activated, Airplane Mode ceases all applications and services on the iPhone that rely on internet. As one of the most accessible settings, it’s surprisingly easy to accidentally switch on. Making sure Airplane Mode is currently turned off is the easiest first step for troubleshooting why your App Store won’t work.
To turn off Airplane Mode on an iPhone SE (2nd generation) and newer, swipe up from the bottom of your screen to open Control Center. If you have iPhone XR or newer, swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen.
Look for the Airplane Mode button. If it’s currently orange and white, that means Airplane Mode is on. Tap it, and if it turns grey, Airplane Mode has been shut off. Flip it on and back off again.
You can also check the Status of Airplane Mode by launching the Settings app on your iPhone. The Airplane Mode switch is one of the first buttons listed on the Settings page. If it’s currently green, tap it to toggle Airplane Mode off. If the switch is white and flipped to the left, Airplane Mode is already off. Flip it on and back off again. This gives your iPhone a chance to re-establish its wireless connection, hopefully fixing the App Store issue you are facing.
Toggle Wi-Fi Off And Back On
Just like airplane mode, a quick and easy step that you can perform to fix Wi-Fi problems is to quickly turning your Wi-Fi off and back on again. This will give your phone and Wi-Fi network a new start to reconnect.
Start the Settings app and go into Wi-Fi, which will take you to a new page displaying a slider at the top of the screen. If your Wi-Fi is on, the slider should be green, and to turn it off all you have to do is tap the switch. Wait about 20 seconds before turning the Wi-Fi back on to make sure it properly resets.
Turn Cellular Data Off And Back On
Another common reason why iPhone App Store won’t load after iOS 17 update is that the Cellular Data setting has been inadvertently turned off. Similar to Wi-Fi, this is feature is easily manipulated via a switch under Settings.
If you are using cellular data, check to make sure it’s turned on in Settings. Start the Settings app and go into Cellular. Check the switch labelled Cellular Data and make sure it’s green, indicating that this setting is is flipped on.
If the switch is off, toggle it on with a tap. If it’s already on, flip it off and back on again. This gives your iPhone a chance to re-establish its Cellular connection, hopefully fixing the App Store problem you are experiencing.
Restart Your Router
I have fixed a Wi-Fi issue or two by simply restarting my router. It may not always make sense, but give it a try, and you might affect the Wi-Fi magic enough to get the App Store working again. Some routers allow restarts to be triggered through an app, while others may have a physical button. If yours has neither, you can unplug the router’s power source and plug it back in.
3. Restart Your iPhone
Restarting your iPhone fixes all sorts of problems, and a dodgy App Store may just be one of them. Sometimes background processes cease working or become unresponsive, which causes problems for applications or services that rely on them. Starting iOS from cold restarts all of these processes, so it’s always worth a shot.
To turn off an iPhone without Face ID, press and hold the power button on the right side of your device. After a few seconds, a display will appear on your screen with a slider labelled “slide to power off.” Drag the power icon, to the right and your iPhone will shut down.
Once your iPhone turns off, wait about 20 seconds. Then, press and hold the power button until the white Apple logo appears. Once you see the logo, let go of the power button and your iPhone will boot back up.
To shut down an iPhone without Face ID, press and hold the side button and either volume button. After a few seconds, a red and white slider labelled “slide to power off” will appear on the screen. Drag the power icon from left to right to turn off your iPhone.
Once your iPhone turns off, wait about 20 seconds, then press and hold the side button again. Keep holding the side button until the Apple logo appears on your screen. Your iPhone will turn back on shortly after.
As soon as your iPhone is up and running, open the App Store and see if everything’s working again. If the App Store is still not working, keep reading!
4. Update Your iPhone
Updating your iPhone software can fix all sorts of problems with the App Store and other things not working in iOS. (Updates can occasionally introduce new problems, too. So, if your iPhone App Store is not working after iOS 17 update, check if there is newer update available.
App Store is a native iOS app, which means it comes pre-installed on your iPhone. The only way to update Native apps is by updating the iOS version on your iPhone.
Start the Settings app on your iPhone and go into General > Software Update. Tap Download and Install or Install Now if an iOS update is available. When the update is complete, open the App Store and see if the problem has been resolved. If the App Store is still not not working, keep reading!
5. Disable Your VPN
A VPN routes your traffic through an end-to-end encrypted "tunnel" to hide your browsing activity from your ISP, hide your IP address, and other privacy-related things. Sometimes a VPN can cause problems, so try turning your VPN off altogether if the iPhone App Store is not working after iOS 17 update.
Some VPN clients even allow you to make exceptions for some apps, where traffic is not encrypted. This depends on which VPN service and client you are running on your iPhone, but if turning your VPN off fixes the issue, you may want to consider it in the future.
It’s also possible that your VPN is making it appear you’re trying to access App Store from a different country or region. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap the switch next to VPN to turn it off.
6. Check iPhone’s Date & Time Settings
Wrong Date & Time settings can cause numerous issues on your iPhone, as they can trick your iPhone to think it’s in the past, future, or a completely different time zone. Start the Settings app on your iPhone and go into General > Date & Time. Check to ensure your iPhone is set to the correct Time Zone, and that the date and time are correct.
It’s also a good idea to turn on the switch next to Set Automatically if it isn’t already. This will help prevent Date & Time settings issues from occurring in the future.
7. Check the Status of Apple’s Servers
Sometimes the problem isn’t on your end but is instead caused by a service outage. Before you proceed with the next step, double-check on Apple’s System Status page that the iOS App Store or associated services aren’t having any problems. If they are, consider waiting it out before going any further.
8. Specific App Won’t Update? Check the Linked Apple ID
Did you know it’s possible to sign in to someone else’s Apple ID by going to App Store > Your Profile > Sign Out, download an app they have purchased, then sign back into your own account? While this may sound like a solid way to share purchases with friends and family, it introduces problems when it comes to updating apps.
This can cause the iPhone App Store to constantly request a password to update an app that is linked to someone else’s Apple ID. If you don’t know the password, the app cannot update, and the relentless requests continue. You’ll either need to know the password associated with the account or simply delete the app from your iPhone.
9. Sign out of App Store and Sign in Again
Signing out of the App Store and signing back in can give the app a fresh start and resolve the problem you are experiencing. Follow the steps below to sign out of App Store on your iPhone, then sign in again.
Start the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on [Your Name]. Scroll all the way down and tap Sign Out. If prompted, enter your Apple ID password to Turn Off Find My. Choose what data to keep on your device—anything you don’t keep is still saved to iCloud—then tap Sign Out.
Now, return to Settings to sign in again. Enter your Apple ID and password, then open the App Store to see if the problem has been resolved. If the App Store is still not working, keep reading!
10. Reset Network Settings
Resetting Network Settings will erase all Cellular, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and VPN settings, reseting them to factory defaults. This means you’ll have to reenter your Wi-Fi passwords, reconnect your Bluetooth devices, and more. While it’s a little inconvenient, it can fix deep network problems on your iPhone. Just keep in mind to write down your Wi-Fi passwords before completing this step!
Start the Settings app on your iPhone and go into General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Enter your iPhone passcode, then tap Reset Network Settings again when the confirmation pop-up appears on the screen. Your iPhone will shut down, reset, then turn itself on again.
Now launch the App Store and check if it’s working. If the App Store is still not loading, move on to the next step!
11. Contact Apple Support And Get Your iPhone Inspected
- Finally, if nothing else fixed your iPhone App Store problem, contact Apple Support and get your device inspected. Make sure to schedule a Genius Bar appointment if you plan on going into your local Apple Store!
Easily Fix iPhone App Store Not Working after iOS 17 Issue!
I hope this article has helped you to resolve the issue you’ve been having with App Store after iOS 17 update. I look forward to hearing from you about your experiences with App Store in the comments section below.