This is a quick step-by-step guide on how to fix when your iPhone can’t connect to the App Store.
There are many reasons your iPhone might not connect to the App Store. Perhaps there’s a problem with your internet connection, Apple’s servers, or the operating system on your iPhone.
This problem causes many frustrations for iPhone users because they can’t download, install or update their apps. By following the tips below, you’ll save yourself this headache.
How to Fix iPhone Can’t Connect to the App Store
If your App Store says “can’t connect to the App Store,” you need to ensure that you have enabled App Store to access your cellular data.
Go to Settings > Cellular > App Store, and check to see if the App Store has access to cellular data. If not, all you need to do to solve the “cannot connect to App Store” problem is to toggle on the Cellular Data option next to it.
Do you still get the error message? Don’t worry. We’ve got more troubleshooting tips to get your App Store working again.
1. Check Apple’s System Status Page
The very first thing you want to do is to check Apple’s System Status page. That way, you’ll know if the App Store is down or under maintenance.
It’s very rare that this could happen, but it has happened before when both the App Store and Apple Music have been down.
The App Store is the very first service listed on this page. A green dot to the left of the App Store means that the service is operating normally. If you see a gray square, it means the service is under maintenance.
If the store is down, there’s not much you can do except wait for Apple to fix the problem. But if the App Store is not down, you know the problem is with your iPhone.
2. Check Your Internet Connection
First, you want to ensure your iPhone has a reliable internet connection. A simple way you can check this is by opening a site through your favorite web browser.
If the page can’t load, your iPhone is not connected to the internet. Follow these troubleshooting tips below.
- When you’re having trouble with connections on your phone and struggling to get a signal turning off and on Airplane mode can help. By doing so, you’ll disable and re-enable your device’s cellular radio, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Depending on your iPhone model, you’ll either swipe up or down to bring up the control panel where you can turn on and off Airplane mode.
- Rebooting your router can fix your internet connection issues. Unplug your router and modem from power, wait 30 seconds and plug them back in.
3. Reset Your Network Settings
If all else fails, you’ll need to reset your network settings and see if that fixes the problem. Go to Settings > General > Reset Network Settings. Remember that this will erase your network settings, such as your Wi-Fi passwords.
If resetting all settings didn’t solve the problem, you can try performing a DFU restore on your iPhone. A DFU restore erases and reloads all the code on your iPhone, so make sure to back up your iPhone first.
4. Restart Your iPhone
This is a basic—but effective—troubleshooting step you should use whenever you experience problems with your iPhone.
Restarting your device can help with many bugs your device may have. To restart your iPhone go to Settings > General > Shut Down.
You can also use these combination buttons depending on your iPhone model. For iPhone X and later, press and hold either the volume button or the side button until you see the power off slider.
For iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 5, and earlier, press the top button until you see the power off slider appear. Wait a few minutes before turning on your iPhone again.
If you own an iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 8, 7, or 6, press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears.
Check our “How to restart an iPhone” guide for detailed instructions on all iPhone models.
5. Update Your iPhone to the Latest iOS Release
An outdated iOS can cause your iPhone not to function properly. That’s why Apple pushes new updates regularly. Ensure that your iPhone is running the latest iOS version. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
If there’s any update available, download and install it on your iPhone. Remember to turn on Automatic Updates, so your iPhone can automatically install software updates overnight.
6. Sign Out and Sign In Again
Sometimes a simple trick can fix big problems. Why don’t you try to log out and then log back into the App Store on your iPhone – and see what happens:
- Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store.
- Tap on Apple ID at the top of the screen, then select Sign Out.
- Log in again using your Apple ID and password.
7. Potential Hardware Problems
If all else fails, your iPhone may have a hardware problem that prevents it from connecting to the internet. In that case, your best bet is to set up an appointment at your local Apple Store. They should be able to narrow down the cause of your iPhone issue.
Wrap-Up: Can’t Connect to App Store
In most cases, the “cannot connect to App Store” error results from an unstable internet connection, so the first couple of methods we mentioned should fix the problem. It can also occur due to bugs and outages on the App Store.
Whatever the cause, we hope you find a fix that works for you in this guide. Let us know if this helped fix the App Store connection problem. If you found success doing something else, leave me a comment down below!
