You may receive an iOS alert message stating “unable to download application” when attempting to buy or download free or paid Apps from the App Store. This error can be caused by various reasons. Some of the more common reasons for this include, but not limited to, (a) your device (iPhone, iPad or iPod) does not have enough storage space for this update/download (b) you are experiencing network, internet connection issues or (c) your device does not meet the minimum iOS version requirement, e.g. the app requires iOS 5 or later but your device is running iOS 4.
Please try the following steps to fix your problem. After each step, check whether you are still having this problem.
1. Simply double tap the icon of the app that you are unable to download and wait for a few seconds. Your download should resume.
2. Tap Settings > General > Date and Time > Set Automatically > and slide to turn off “Set Automatically”. Manually set the date one year ahead. Now try to re-download the apps. If you get an error message, go back to turn on “Set Automatically” then try to download the apps again.
3. Restart your iOS device. Simply press and hold the on/off (sleep/wake) button until you see the red slider and slide the slider to turn your device off. To turn back on, press and hold the on/off button until the Apple logo appears.
4. Settings > iTunes & App Store > Your Apple ID > Sign Out. Restart your device, then Settings>iTunes & App Store>Sign in and then try again.
5. Tap Settings > Wi-Fi and turn Wi-Fi off and then on again.
6. Reset Network Settings by tapping Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings, and then your iDevice will restart. Note that will reset all network settings including your Wi-Fi passwords.
7. Reset your device by pressing and holding the sleep/wake button and the Home button together until you see the Apple logo.
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.
Had this problem on my iPad
The app downloaded without problems on my iPhone
Nothing mentioned above worked
I disconnected from my wifi And connected to my iPhone hotspot instead
App downloaded without any problems
Reconnected to my wifi
Hope this helps
Get this message all the time on iPad. Have done everything suggested without success. No idea what app is having trouble, or even if it is an app. Happened since went to – have the latest update but no fix.apple really screwed up this time!
I’ve had a problem since the IO8 update. None of the updated IO8 releases did anything to fix it. This is the message I get. “Unable to download item. Please try again later. ”
I have gone through many of the Apple forums and many people are experiencing this.
This is really getting annoying. I’ve noticed on Apple forums that other people are experiencing this.
Opeyemi says
it saying unable to download app due to an error
Melnuj says
Pls apple help i tried all the steps but it didn’t work at all i was only downloading clash of clans and my unit is ipad mini 4. Pls reply asap.
Nelskie says
Mine is still getting the “unable to download/install application” please help me I’m tired to to get any answer of this issue. 🙁 🙁
Dennis says
it worked i,am really satscfid
Fahad Qureshi says
Which one Step you applied ?
C says
I have tried everything above but still no joy on an iPhone 4.
Any more ideas?
F says
Had this problem on my iPad
The app downloaded without problems on my iPhone
Nothing mentioned above worked
I disconnected from my wifi And connected to my iPhone hotspot instead
App downloaded without any problems
Reconnected to my wifi
Hope this helps
Rob says
I did steps 1-3 then retried and it’s working. I was just trying to get a free game off the App Store for gods sake.
Karan says
it doesnot work
Lloyd Armstrong says
Get this message all the time on iPad. Have done everything suggested without success. No idea what app is having trouble, or even if it is an app. Happened since went to – have the latest update but no fix.apple really screwed up this time!
Riri says
This is very annoying. Experiencing this problem on my iPad mini. Gotta try all the steps above. Hope it works.
alice Johnson says
I’ve had a problem since the IO8 update. None of the updated IO8 releases did anything to fix it. This is the message I get. “Unable to download item. Please try again later. ”
I have gone through many of the Apple forums and many people are experiencing this.
This is really getting annoying. I’ve noticed on Apple forums that other people are experiencing this.