The iOS App Store is the only way to get apps on your iPhone and iPad. Naturally, this will likely be a frustrating experience if for some reason you can’t use the App Store. Well, if you have been facing the infamous “Cannot connect to App Store” error on your iPhone and iPad, don’t worry. Here are 9 ways to fix the annoying “Cannot connect to App Store” error on your iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 devices.
Steps to Fix “Cannot Connect to App Store” Error on iPhone and iPad
Having encountered the “Cannot connect to App Store” issue a few times (everyone once in a while) on iOS, I can say that the problem is mostly due to poor internet connection. However, there are times when it occurs even if the internet connection seems pretty stable.
While the good thing about this is that you can easily get rid of it, the bad thing is that it just keeps coming up every now and then. Therefore, it is always better to be prepared for the problem with quick fixes.
1. Turn Airplane Mode Off/On
When I run into connection problems on my iPhone, the quick solution I go after is toggling Airplane mode. And guess what, it helps me fix the problem – most of the time it doesn’t. So, I’m going to bet on fixing the “Cannot connect to App Store” issue as well.
Basically, you just have to force quit the App Store and then toggle Airplane mode on/off.
On iPhone/iPad equipped with Face ID: Swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to access the control center.
On iPhone/iPad equipped with Touch ID: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the control center.
Now, tap on the Airplane mode button to turn it on. Wait for a while and then tap the Airplane mode button to turn it off. Now, launch the App Store to check if the issue is resolved. Continue with your daily work, if any. If not, keep reading.
2. Turn Off/On Mobile Data/Wi-Fi (Also Restart Your Device)
Another simple but highly effective trick you can try to fix slow internet connection is to turn off/on mobile data/Wi-Fi. If the App Store is not working due to a bad internet connection, it may fix the problem.
- Open Settings app on your iOS/iPadOS -> Wi-Fi/Mobile Data. Now, turn off the toggle 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 the same time. Then drag the shutdown slider to restart your device.
To restart your Touch ID equipped iPhone/iPad: Press and hold the power button to bring up the shutdown slider. After that, drag the slider to restart your iOS device.
Once your device restarts, go to Settings -> Mobile Data/Wi-Fi (or access control center) and then turn it on.
3. Check the Date and Time
Make sure the date and time on your iOS/iPadOS device are set correctly for your time zone. If the date and time are incorrect, you can fix the problem by correcting it. go Settings app -> General -> Date & Time. Now make sure Set automatically transition is on.
It will automatically set your date and time according to your time zone. If there is a time zone update available, iOS will notify you about it. If this is due to a time zone issue, it can usually fix the “Cannot connect to the App Store” error.
4. Forget and Reconnect WiFi Network
If the airplane mode trick didn’t work in fixing the “Cannot connect to App Store” issue, forget the WiFi network and then reconnect.
- Open Settings Go to 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 operation. When done, reconnect your device to the Wi-Fi network.
5. Check Apple’s System Status for App Store
When Apple’s servers experience an outage, a number of features and services (e.g. iCloud backup, iCloud Drive, App Store, Siri, etc.) are affected. So, if the App Store is still not working on your device, it would be a good idea to check the system status of the App Store.
Set route to Apple’s health 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 the App Store. And in such a situation, you can do nothing but wait for the problem to be resolved.
6. Reset Network Settings
Resetting the network settings to their factory defaults is another reliable solution you can rely on to fix the “Cannot connect to the App Store” issue on iOS. So, if the problem seems persistent, it wouldn’t hurt to give it a shot.
Go to Settings -> General -> Reset. Here, tap on Network Settings Reset. Next, you need to enter your device password. You may also need to enter your Screen Time passcode to continue. Finally, tap on Network Settings Reset to finish.
7. Sign Out of Your Apple ID and Sign In Again
Several times, I’ve been able to troubleshoot App Store issues on my iPhone by signing out of my Apple ID and signing back in. While this solution may seem irrelevant, it does work in solving App Store issues.
Hungry Settings app On your iPhone or iPad, tap and . your profile. Next, tap on Sign out and then follow the instructions to sign out of your iOS device. Next, launch the Settings app on your device and then sign in again.
8. Reset All Settings
Whenever I find myself afflicted with complex iOS issues, the solution I’m almost always looking for is to factory reset the device. And I must say it has successfully saved me on many occasions.
Note that resetting device settings to factory defaults will delete all current settings including VPN and Wi-Fi passwords. However, all your media and data remain untouched. Hence, you should proceed with this solution keeping these in mind.
get over your head Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset All Settings. Next, enter your device’s passcode and reset all settings again to confirm the action.
9. Update Software
Apple offers frequent software updates to prevent various bugs and improve performance. So, in most cases, you can get rid of random iOS issues by updating the software. If none of the above-mentioned solutions worked in resolving App Store issues, updating the software might be the right answer.
Go to Settings -> General -> Software Update. Your iPhone will check for updates and allow you to install any pending updates that may be available for your iPhone.
Once your device is updated to the latest software version, open the App Store on your device to see if the “Cannot connect to the App Store” error is fixed. Most of the time, it needs to be resolved.
Note: If nothing else seems to be working, Contact Apple Support and see if they can assist you in finding a viable solution to the problem.
Troubleshooting Solutions Cannot Connect to App Store Error on iOS and iPadOS
That is all! Hopefully, the App Store is up and running as usual once again. Since the “Cannot connect to App Store” error usually occurs due to an inconsistent internet connection, the first few methods we mentioned should fix the problem in most cases. However, it can also happen due to bugs and App Store outages.
So, which of these tricks managed to fix App Store issues on your iPhone or iPad? Let us know in the comments.
