Steps to Fix “Cannot Connect to App Store” Error on iPhone and iPad
Having encountered the “Can’t connect to App Store” issue on iOS a number of times (everyone once in a while), I can say that the problem mostly occurs due to poor internet connection. However, there are times where it crops up even when the internet connection seems pretty stable.
While the good thing about this issue is that you can get rid of it with ease, the bad thing is it will keep coming every now and then. So, it’s better to be always prepared for the problem with quick fixes.
1. Turn Off/On Airplane Mode
Whenever I face connectivity issues on my iPhone, the one quick solution that I go after is to toggle Airplane mode. And guess what, it helps me sort out the problem – more often than not. So, I’m going to bet on it to resolve the “cannot connect to App Store” issue as well.
Basically, just force quit App Store and then turn on/off Airplane mode.
On Face ID-equipped iPhone/iPad: Swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to access the control center.
On Touch ID-equipped iPhone/iPad: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the control center.
Now, tap on the Airplane mode button to turn it on. Wait for some time and then tap on the Airplane mode button to turn it off. Now, launch App Store to check if the problem is gone. If it has, go ahead with your daily chores. If it hasn’t, keep reading.
2. Turn Off/On Mobile Data/Wi-Fi (Also Reboot Your Device)
Another simple yet quite effective trick that you can try to resolve the sluggish internet connection is to turn off/on mobile data/Wi-Fi. If the App Store is not working due to a poor internet connection, it may be able to solve the issue.
Open Settings app on your iOS/iPadOS -> Wi-Fi/Mobile Data. Now, turn off the toggle for Wi-Fi/Mobile Data. After that, restart your iPhone.
To restart your Face ID-equipped iPhone/iPad: Press and hold the volume up/down button and power button at once. Then, drag the power-off slider to reboot your device.
To restart your Touch ID-equipped iPhone/iPad: Press and hold the power button to bring up the power-off slider. After that, drag the slider to restart your iOS device.
Once your device has rebooted, go to Settings -> Mobile Data/Wi-Fi (or access control center) and then turn it on.
3. Check the Date and Time
Ensure that the date and time on your iOS/iPadOS device are set correctly for your time zone. If the date and time are incorrect, you may be able to sort out the issue by fixing them. Go to Settings app -> General -> Date & Time. Now, make sure the Set Automatically toggle is turned on.
It will automatically set your date and time based on your time zone. If there’s an available time zone update, iOS will inform you about that. This can usually fix the “cannot connect to App Store” error if it was due to a time zone issue.
4. Forget WiFi Network and Reconnect to It
If the Airplane mode trick hasn’t worked in fixing the “Can’t connect to App Store” issue, forget the WiFi network and then reconnect to it.
Open Settings app and go to Wi-Fi. Now, tap on the “i” button right next to the WiFi network. After that, tap on Forget This Network and confirm the action. Once done, reconnect your device to the Wi-Fi network.
5. Check Apple’s System Status for App Store
Whenever Apple’s servers face an outage, a number of features and services (i.e iCloud backup, iCloud Drive, App Store, Siri, etc.) are affected. So, if App Store is still not working on your device, it would be apt to check the system status of the App Store.
Navigate to Apple’s system status page and then make sure the circle to the left of the App Store is green. If the circle is yellow, there are some technical issues with App Store. And in such a situation, you can’t do anything but wait for the problem to be resolved.
6. Reset Network Settings
Resetting network settings to factory default is another reliable solution that you can count on to troubleshoot the “cannot connect to App Store” problem on iOS. So, if the problem seems to be persistent, there is no harm in giving it a shot.
Go to Settings -> General -> Reset. Here, tap on Reset Network Settings. Next up, you need to enter your device passcode. You may also need to enter your Screen Time passcode to proceed. Finally, tap on Reset Network Settings to finish.
7. Sign Out of Your Apple ID and Sign Back In
On a few occasions, I am able to troubleshoot the App Store issues on my iPhone by signing out of my Apple ID and signing back in. While this solution might seem to be unrelated, it does work in resolving the App Store problems. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and tap on your profile. Next, tap on Sign Out and then follow the instructions to sign out of your iOS device. Up next, launch the Settings app on your device and then sign back in.
8. Reset All Settings
Whenever I find myself embroiled in complex iOS issues, the one solution that I almost always look up to is resetting the device to factory default. And I must say that it has successfully rescued me on many occasions.
Bear in mind that resetting the device settings to factory default wipes out all the existing settings including VPN and Wi-Fi passwords. However, it keeps all of your media and data untouched. So, you must proceed with this solution keeping these things in mind.
Head over to Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset All Settings. Next, enter your device passcode and hit Reset All Settings again to confirm the action.
9. Update Software
To ward off miscellaneous bugs and also enhance performance, Apple rolls out software updates frequently. Thus, you can get rid of random iOS issues just by updating the software – in most cases. If none of the above-mentioned solutions has worked in resolving the App Store issues, updating the software could be the right answer.
Simply head to Settings -> General -> Software Update. Your iPhone will check for updates and let you install any pending updates that may be available for your iPhone.
Once your device has been updated to the latest software version, open App Store on your device to see if the “cannot connect to App Store” error has been fixed. More often than not, it should be solved.
Note: If nothing else seems to work, you should contact Apple Support and see if they can help you figure out a viable solution to the problem.
Solutions to Troubleshoot Can’t Connect to App Store Error in iOS and iPadOS
That’s all there is to it! Hopefully, App Store has once again started to work as usual. Since the “cannot connect to App Store” error usually occurs due to an inconsistent internet connection, the first couple of methods we have mentioned should solve the problem in most cases. However, it can also happen due to bugs and App Store outages.
So, which of these tricks managed to resolve the App Store problems on your iPhone or iPad? Let us know in the comments.
