Several iPad and iPhone users have reported a problem in which applications get stuck waiting or loading when installing or updating. Here is what you can do to download and update apps that are stuck at “waiting..”. After each step, check to see if the problem still occurs:
- Reboot your iPhone or iPad by pressing and holding the on/off (sleep/wake) button then slide the red slider. Then turn your device on by pressing and holding the on/off button until you see the Apple logo.
- You may try downloading the apps on your computer using iTunes and then sync to transfer the apps to your iOS device; iPhone /iPad.
- Tap Settings > iTunes & App Stores > and tap the Apple ID to sign-out. Then restart your device and navigate Settings -> iTunes Apps Store and sign-in again.
- Tap the app’s icon (app that is stuck); this will pause the download. Then re-tap to resume the download.
- Tap and hold the app’s icon (app that is stuck) until icons begin to shake. Delete the “waiting” app by tapping the “x” in the corner of the app. Then reinstall from the App Store.
- Toggle Airplane mode On, wait a minute and Off.
- Tap Settings > iTunes & App Stores and turn off Automatic Downloads.
- Reset your iPad/iPhone by pressing and holding the sleep/wake button and the Home button together until you see the Apple logo.
Related:
- Apps update / download not working: Frozen or “Waiting”; how to fix
- Unable to delete/remove apps from my iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
- How to turn on & turn off Genius for Apps on the iPad, iPhone or iPod touch
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the 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.
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I have tried everything said to do with no results. Help
apps on i podtouch stuck on waiting after factory reset. please send suggestions how to fix these
I have tried all of the above and more,mine started when I accidentally paused download.It wouldn’t play again and now it’s stuck and I can’t delete,the x won’t show up and when it does I select yes to the slide saying it will delete data yet nothing happens.does anyone know how to fix this?!?I have been on an official apple website but the advice was useless! I don’t think that anyone has a clue what’s going on,I certainly don’t!❓
Hi Catlover (Danielle)!
It must feel awful to be in this situation. I am so sorry for this frustration. It totally sucks, so hopefully some of our strategies work for your situation.
We have a couple of additional ideas. For more info, check out this article on stuck or crashing apps
Before you start, please make sure you are signed in with the same account that made the initial app purchase.
Keep us posted if any of these tips worked for you or if you found alternative solutions. We hope the best for you and your iDevice!!!!
LiZ
First, go to Settings>General>Storage & iCloud Usage. Then navigate to STORAGE section and select Manage Storage. Make sure you are in Storage and not in iCloud. Find the app in the list that is giving you problems, tap on it, and choose Delete App (highlighted in red). Confirm Delete App. Now completely shut off your iDevice, wait 20-30 seconds, and power up. Check that the problem app is not longer there. If this worked, return to the app store and download the latest version of the app. With this method, you lose any connected data. If after deleting in storage management and restarting, the app is still on the home screen but without the “waiting,” delete it again from the home screen and then go to the app store to reinstall it.
To Sum Up this method:
Settings -> General -> Storage & iCloud Usage -> Manage Storage
Another method is to connect your iPhone or other iDevice to a computer with the latest version of iTunes installed. First, connect your iDevice to your PC/Mac and open iTunes.
Click on the iDevice in the Devices list
Click on the “Apps” tab on top
Locate the app that are stuck
Click “Remove” button
Click “Apply” in lower left corner to remove the apps from the iDevice
With this method, you lose any connected data.
Now, If your apps are stuck on waiting when downloading from the cloud:
On the iPhone, go to the App Store > Updates > Purchased
You see all your apps there, click on the download from Cloud. Click each one and they start to download. Again, you need to re-install the app from the app store. And you still lose your data.
My app was already installed and just went to waiting! I have tried all the help tricks and nothing is working.
Two days ago, I tried to return my iPad Air to its original settings. I can’t remember exactly how the change was described. I began the change, and my iPad went to the Apple logo with the download bar beneath it. Only a minuscule portion of the bar filled in, and the change stalled. After waiting quite a while, I attempted to back out of the freeze using the technique described above to no avail. The screen remains lit and there is no response. Yesterday I allowed the iPad to run down in hopes that it would reboot when I began recharging, but that hasn’t happened either. Any thoughts? Does anyone know a fix for this? I simply cannot turn the iPad off to get back to the active screen.
When I use the instructions to undo apps stuck on “waiting” when they have been updated, will it delete my data within the apps?