It’s one thing to be able to do the different things that are possible when using an iPhone or iPad. But as we quickly learned following the release of the original iPhone, the device is nothing without the apps that you can use with it. The App Store is filled with millions of apps that can be downloaded and installed to enhance the experience on a daily basis. But one of the most annoying things about our devices is when you find an app not working, which can bring your workflow to a grinding halt.
If you are having problems with an app (e.g., the app not responding, not opening, closing unexpectedly or freezing, etc.) that you downloaded from the App Store, try the following tips to troubleshoot your issue.
Is The App Compatible?
One of the most common reasons why you’ll find an app not working is because it’s not compatible with the version of iOS or iPadOS that you are using. Sometimes this is done on the developer’s side, as new features are implemented to take advantage of new software versions and/or hardware.
However, the problem could also be on the opposite end, especially if you are using an app that’s been on the App Store for years. No matter the reason why, it’s actually pretty easy to check to see if an app is compatible if you find the app not working.
Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
Search for the app that you are having problems with.
Open the App Listing.
Scroll to the bottom until you reach the Information section.
Look for and tap the Compatibility drop-down button.
From there, you’ll be able to see any of the compatibility information that the developer has provided. In many instances, you’ll see sections for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple Watch, if performing these steps from an iPhone.
Check For An Update
Provided that your iPhone or iPad is updated to the latest version available, you could simply be running into problems because there’s an app update in-waiting. Most developers are regularly implementing new features or releasing bug fixes that have cropped up since the last update or release.
Open the App Store on your iPhone.
In the top right corner, tap your profile image.
Under the Upcoming Automatic Updates section, tap the Update All button, if applicable.
Alternatively, you can go through the list of pending app updates and install specific ones first by tapping the corresponding Update button.
If you don’t want to be concerned about an update making it so that the app not working problem occurs, you’re in luck. Apple has made it possible to automatically update apps in the background. This is done when there is an app update
Open the App Store on your iPhone.
In the top right corner, tap your profile image.
Under the Upcoming Automatic Updates section, tap the Update All button, if applicable.
Alternatively, you can go through the list of pending app updates and install specific ones first by tapping the corresponding Update button.
If you don’t want to be concerned about an update making it so that the app not working problem occurs, you’re in luck. Apple has made it possible to automatically update apps in the background. This is done when there is an app update available, you are connected to Wi-Fi and your iPhone is connected to power.
Restart The App
On iPhone X, iPhone 11, or an iPad with iOS 12 or later, swipe your finger up while on the Home screen and hold your finger there until your iPhone or iPad’s multitasking view appears. From there, you can simply scroll left or right to locate the app that you want to close, then swipe up to close the app until the next time that you open it.
On an iPhone 8 or earlier, click on the Home button twice to show your most recently used apps. Next, swipe right or left to find the app that you want to close. You can then swipe up on the app’s preview to close the app. Most iPhone operating systems will allow you to freeze the apps automatically when you’re not using your phone as well.
Restart Your Apple Device
The process for restarting your iPhone or iPad is no different from what we’ve seen since the iPhone X was announced. Just pressing and holding the Side Button will not do anything but invoke Siri, so you’ll need to also use one of the volume buttons.
Press and hold the Side Button with either the Volume Up or Volume Down buttons at the same time.
Once the Slide to Power Off slider appears, slide the toggle to turn off your iPhone or iPad.
In the event that you need to force restart your Apple device, here’s what you’ll need to do:
Press the VolumeUp button and release.
Press the Volume Down button and release.
Press and hold the Side button for 10-15 seconds until your iPhone reboots.
If you followed the steps above and your iPhone or iPad doesn’t force restart, you might want to try pressing the buttons in a faster sequence. The timing is key, as you’ll need to make sure the iPhone recognizes what it is that you’re trying to do.
Delete and Reinstall the App
An easy way to try and get the app working again on your iPhone or iPad is to simply delete and reinstall it onto your device. Chances are, if you were able to install it in the first place, it’ll still be available even after you delete it. There are really only a few instances where this might not be the case, especially if the app not working was transferred when you got an upgrade to a new iPhone.
Unlock your iPhone or iPad.
Locate the app not working.
Long-press on the app icon until you enter Jiggle Mode.
Tap the – in the top left corner of the app icon.
From the window that appears, tap the Delete App button.
When prompted, tap the Delete button.
If you want to be “extra careful”, you can go through the steps above to restart your iPhone or iPad. This should help clear out any cache or “cobwebs” that are hanging around that could have been the reason why you found the app not working.
Once restarted, just fire up the App Store, search for the app that you want to re-download, and tap the Cloud button. Then, go back to your Home Screen, locate the app and open it to see if it’s working.
Review Screen Time Restrictions
Screen Time is part of a digital wellness program from Apple. The idea is to keep you from spending too much time on your device and to get you back to experiencing life. If you end up finding that you are using apps like Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter too much, you can actually set time limits.
However, Screen Time could also be the culprit if you find your app not working. Here’s how you can access the Screen Time settings and restrictions:
Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Scroll down and tap Screen Time.
Tap App Limits.
When prompted, enter your Screen Time passcode.
Another option that might be causing the app not working issue is found within the Content & Privacy Restrictions within the Screen Time settings. These are another roundup of tools designed to block potential inappropriate content from being viewed or consumed on the iPhone or iPad.
Do You Have An Internet Connection?
The Wi-Fi button in Control Center disables nearby Wi-Fi networks temporarily.
Unfortunately, there just aren’t very many apps on the App Store that don’t require an internet connection. Even something as simple as a solitaire game could need to be connected to the internet and you’ll find the app not working if there’s no network connectivity.
The easiest way to double-check to see if you have an internet connection is to open the Safari app and then navigate to any website. Our preferred website, if this happens to us, is to use Fast.com, which is a lightweight internet speed check.
If you’re still having issues, you could follow these steps:
Open Control Center and toggle Airplane Mode on and off.
Restart your Wi-Fi router and reconnect to your network.
Go to Settings > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This deletes your saved Wi-Fi passwords so make a note of them first.
Sign Out of the App Store
Updates and apps download through the iOS App Store. If an app is stuck waiting to update or download, it could be because there’s a problem connecting to your App Store account.
Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store then tap your Apple ID address at the top of the page. In the pop-up window, choose to Sign Out.
Follow the instructions above to restart your iPhone before returning to the iTunes & App Store settings to Sign In again.
Reset Your Apple Device Settings
This method essentially resets all of the preferences that you might have tweaked over the duration of owning your iPhone or iPad. This literally means that if you’ve tapped a toggle to turn something on, performing this reset will put things back to the way that they were when you first took the iPhone or iPad out of the box.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap General.
Scroll to the bottom and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone (iPad).
Tap the Reset button at the bottom of the page.
Tap Reset All Settings.
Enter your passcode if prompted.
There’s no guarantee that choosing the “Reset All Settings” option will help the problematic apps begin to work properly again. And you’ll have to go back and set your iPhone or iPad back to the way you had it before. But it’s better than needing to perform a Factory Reset, which would require you to download, install, and log back into all of your apps again, and not just one.
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.
In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
If an app doesn’t function as advertised on your App Store-It should be a very simple process to get a refund.
It should be as simple as “when purchasing” .
If I uninstall the App within 30 minutes of purchase my refund should be as “Hey Presto” Funds returned.
It’s not as though I have a choice to shop somewhere else.
You do operate a “Oneopoly”
The app I purchased was of very low quality
I purchased 1 month subscription to Sundance Now through apps on iPad. Neither app on iPad or Apple TV allows me to stream. My Apple account confirmed purchase, but Sundance Now not recognizing the purchase
Jacqueline H says
If an app doesn’t function as advertised on your App Store-It should be a very simple process to get a refund.
It should be as simple as “when purchasing” .
If I uninstall the App within 30 minutes of purchase my refund should be as “Hey Presto” Funds returned.
It’s not as though I have a choice to shop somewhere else.
You do operate a “Oneopoly”
The app I purchased was of very low quality
Heather Carpenter says
I purchased 1 month subscription to Sundance Now through apps on iPad. Neither app on iPad or Apple TV allows me to stream. My Apple account confirmed purchase, but Sundance Now not recognizing the purchase
Sharon Jones says
I need help to recover my devices, and google play service
josh says
I just bought an iPad (4days ago, iPad Air 32gb), but now App Store is not working (for 2 days now), what should I do?
d r kelkar says
Apps was in operation till 17th of this month .. now not functioning ..pl help.
d r kelkar says
Apps was in operation till 17th of this month .. now not functioning
titi says
Cant download apps from app store used to be able to but now cant plz help