Have you ever encountered a circumstance in which your iPhone was unable to update apps? It’s not very common, so it’s a bit perplexing, especially because upgrading apps on your iPhone is normally so straightforward. There are several solutions to this problem, but they are not evident. You’ve come to the right spot if your iPhone won’t update applications and you know your Internet connection is OK (since you can’t download apps without it!). This article contains 13 methods for getting your iPhone to update applications again.
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1. Restart your iPhone. Restarting the device is a simple action that can cure many iPhone difficulties. Sometimes your phone just has to be reset. Things that didn’t work before start working again, including app updates. To reset your iPhone:
1. Hold down the sleep/wake (or Side) button.
2. When the slider displays at the top of the screen, move it from left to right.
3. Allow the iPhone to power down.
4. When it’s turned off, press and hold the sleep/wake button again until the Apple logo shows.
5. Allow the phone to restart normally when you release the button.
2. Stop and resume the app download. An interruption in the connection between your phone and the App Store might create problems downloading an app. You can reestablish that connection by pausing and resuming the download. This option is a little hidden, but here’s how to discover it:
1. Locate the app’s icon on your homescreen.
2. When you tap it, the app will display a pause symbol.
3. Wait a moment, then hit the app icon again to resume the download.
On smartphones with 3D Touch displays, you have a slightly different option:
1. Find the icon for the app that is being updated.
2. Firmly press on it,tap Pause Download.
3. In the resulting menu,Tap the app icon and resume the download.
3. Update iOS to the most recent version. Another popular remedy to many issues is to make sure you’re running the most recent version of iOS. This is especially crucial when you can’t update applications since app upgrades may demand a newer version of iOS than you have.
If you have iTunes, the process will be slightly different than if you are trying to update iOS without iTunes.
4. Check that you’re using the correct Apple ID. If you can’t update applications, make sure you’re using the correct Apple ID. When you download an app, it’s linked to the Apple ID you used to download it. That implies you must be logged into your original Apple ID to use the app on your iPhone.
Follow these steps on your iPhone to determine which Apple ID was used to obtain an app:
1. Select the App Store app.
2. Select Updates.
3. Tap your image or symbol in the upper right corner (skip this step in iOS 10 or earlier).
4. Select Purchased.
5. Check here to check whether the app is listed. If it isn’t, it was most likely downloaded using a different Apple ID than the one you’re now logged in with.
If you use iTunes (and are using a version that still displays your applications; iTunes 12.7 eliminated the Program Store and apps), you may find out what Apple ID was used to obtain an app by doing the following steps:
1. Go to your app list.
2. Right-click the app of interest and select Properties.
3. Click the Get Info button.
4. Navigate to the File menu.
5. For the Apple ID, see at Purchased by.
5. Make sure Restrictions are turned off. The iOS Restrictions option may be found under the Screen Time settings (in iOS 12 and up). It allows users (often parents or corporate IT managers) to block specific iPhone functionalities such as online access and app downloads. If you are unable to install an update, the function may be disabled.
6. Sign out and back in to the App Store. Sometimes, all you need to do to fix an iPhone that won’t update applications is sign in and out of your Apple ID; it’s easy, but it works. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Select Settings.
2. Select iTunes & App Store.
3. Select the Apple ID menu (it lists the email address you use for your Apple ID).
4. Tap Sign Out in the pop-up menu.
5. Return to the Apple ID menu and sign in using your Apple ID.
7. Examine your storage options. Here’s a simple explanation: Perhaps you can’t load the app update because you don’t have enough storage space on your iPhone. If you have very little free storage, the phone may not have enough capacity to execute the update and put in the new version of the program, especially if it’s a huge app.
If your available storage is very low, consider eliminating some items that you don’t need, such as applications, images, podcasts, or movies.
8. Modify the Date and Time settings. The date and time settings on your iPhone affect whether or not it can update applications. The reasons behind this are complicated, but simply, while talking with Apple’s servers to update programs, your iPhone undertakes a lot of checks. Date and time is one of such checks. If your settings are wrong, you may not be able to update applications.
Set your date and time to be automatically set to remedy this problem by following these steps:
1. Tap Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Date & Time.
4. Move the Set Automatically slider to on/green.
9. Delete the program and then reinstall it. If nothing else has worked, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app. Sometimes a software only requires a restart. This will install the most recent version of the program. Keep in mind, though, that the applications that come pre-installed on your iPhone may not operate in the same way.
10. All settings should be reset. If you are still unable to update applications, you may need to take more serious measures to restore functionality. The first option is to reset the settings on your iPhone.
This will not wipe any data from your phone. It simply restores some of your preferences and settings to their default defaults. After your applications are updated again, you may change them back.
11. Using iTunes, update the app. If an app on your iPhone refuses to update, try updating it through iTunes (assuming you use iTunes with your phone, that is). This method of updating is rather simple:
1. Launch iTunes on your PC.
2. Choose Apps from the top-left drop-down menu.
3. Just beneath the main window, click Updates.
4. Single-click the app icon you wish to update.
5. Click the Update button in the area that appears.
6. When the app has been updated, sync your iPhone as usual and install the new app.
12. Restore iPhone to factory settings. Finally, if nothing else has worked, it’s time to take the most radical step of all: erasing everything from your iPhone and starting over.
13. Get Apple’s help. If you’ve done everything and still can’t update your applications, it’s time to go to the top: Apple. Apple offers phone and in-store technical help. But you can’t just walk inside a business. They’re too busy. You’ll need to schedule an appointment with Apple’s Genius Bar.
