A common problem exists regarding app downloads from the App Store on some iPhones and iPads. When purchasing or updating applications from the App Store, downloads are freezing up and won’t completely download. This problem can arise when updating existing applications, not just when downloading new apps. If you have found yourself experiencing this issue, read on for 7 steps to resolve it.
- Restart Your Device
Start by rebooting your device. To turn it off, hold down the lock button until “slide to power off” shows up on the top of your screen, and slide it to the right.
You can also power off your device by going to Settings, General, then Shut Down. Once powered off, restart your device by holding down the lock button.
- Tap the App
A simple fix is to tap on the app icon. This will stop the download without losing any progress. The app will say “paused.” Wait a few seconds, tap the app icon again, and your download should resume. Wait a minute to see if you notice the progress bar moving at all.
- Check iOS Software Version
The problem could simply be that your device is not running the latest iOS version. To check your software version, go into Settings, click General, then Software Update. Your device will tell you if your software is up to date. If you haven’t already, toggle Automatic Updates on.
If your software is not up to date, you will have an update available. To prepare for the download, if your device’s battery life is lower than 50%, plug it into a power source. Also make sure your device is connected to the Internet.
Once you’ve completed these steps, initiate the download. This will take a few minutes. Once your software is updated, try to download your content again. If it’s still freezing up, you can try step 2 again by tapping the app to pause it, then unpausing. If the issue persists, follow the next step.
- Sign Out and Back In
You can also try simply signing out and back into the App Store. Follow these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on iTunes & App Store.
- Tap on your Apple ID.
- Click Sign Out.
- Close out of the app.
- Launch iTunes & App Store again.
- Scroll down and sign back in by entering your Apple ID and password.
- Delete the App and Retry
If none of the previous steps have resolved your issue, you can try deleting the app and downloading it again.
- Touch the app and hold your finger on it.
- The apps on your screen will be wiggling around. Tap the X in the upper left corner of the app icon.
- Click Delete.
- Press your home button to stop the apps from wiggling.
- Open the App Store.
- Tap the person icon, then your photo located in the upper right corner of your screen.
- Click Purchased.
- Locate the app you just deleted.
- Click the cloud icon to download again.
- Troubleshoot Wi-fi Issues
A wi-fi connection may be required to download larger-sized apps, like Facebook. If your device cannot connect to your wi-fi network, check your router.
- Reboot your router and modem.
- Toggle Airplane Mode on for a few seconds, then turn it off.
- Open Settings, then Wi-fi, and try turning it off for a few seconds, then back on.
- Try resetting your network settings by going to Settings, General, Reset, then Reset Network Settings. Remember, this will erase all your saved Wi-fi passwords.
- Try connecting to a different network.
- Insufficient Space
You may be running into issues because your device is low on storage. Check your storage space by opening Settings, General, then Storage. See if there is enough free memory to download your application. If not, you can delete photos, videos, and apps you don’t use.
To close, frozen app downloads can be frustrating. If you run into this problem, try each of these steps to resolve it. Be sure to check after trying each one so you know which one worked for you. If your issue persists after trying all 7 steps, contact Apple Support so they can evaluate the problem.
