Fix: iOS 17 Apps Not Downloading

Apple has finally started rolling out iOS 17 beta updates to the eligible iPhone models irrespective of the developer beta and public beta. It’s the 17th iOS release and one of the latest major operating systems for iPhone as the successor to iOS 16. Initially, iOS 17 was announced in June 2023, and publicly released on September 2023 after Apple’s WDC event. Though the upgrade is surely visible over iOS 16, there are obviously some bugs and stability issues present right now. Meanwhile, the iOS 17 Apps Not Downloading issue is one of them.

At the time of writing this article, Apple started pushing the iOS 17.1 beta update with some common bug fixes and improvements. Though updating to the latest operating system can be always interesting and users are eager to do so, it brings some consequences that we can’t deny. Especially, if you’re using your iPhone as a primary device, it’ll be quite difficult to deal with unexpected bugs and common issues. Being unable to download apps on iOS 17 can be a major issue that basically prevents applications from downloading or updating.

Fix: iOS 17 Apps Not Downloading

It’s worth mentioning that there are no specific solutions available yet but you can try following the troubleshooting methods below to fix such an issue. Make sure to follow all workarounds until the problem has been fixed. So, without wasting any more time, let’s jump into it.

1. Force Restart Your iPhone

iPhone users can easily force restart their device by following the steps below to fix any kind of temporary system glitch or cache data issues.

• Your iPhone should be turned on and unlocked.
• Now, quickly press the Volume Up (+) key and release, then quickly press the Volume Down (-) key and release, then quickly press & hold the Power (side key) button for a few seconds until the Apple boot logo appears on the screen.
• After the Apple logo appears, you can release the Power (side key) button.
• You’ll need to wait for your iPhone to boot to the system.
• Once done, you should check for the issue again.

2. Check the Internet Connection

The chances are also high that somehow your internet connection becomes poor or unstable and your iPhone can’t download or update. Cross-check with the internet connection no matter whether you’re using mobile data or Wi-Fi. In case, you’re facing any app-related issues such as the app not downloading or being unable to update then you should ensure your internet connection is running well. Try using any other Wi-Fi network or mobile hotspot to check for the issue.

3. Ensure the Storage is Free Enough

If your device is low on free storage space, it’ll automatically free up space while installing an app, updating iOS, downloading music, etc. You can also manually try deleting unnecessary applications, media files, documents, etc. to keep the maximum storage space free. To make more storage available, your device may also remove items that can be downloaded again or aren’t needed any more. This includes things such as apps that you don’t use and the local cache for files in iCloud Drive. Your device will also remove temporary files and clear the cache on your device.

• Go to Settings > Tap on General > Choose iPhone Storage.
• You may see a list of recommendations for optimising your device’s storage with a list of installed apps and the amount of storage each one uses.
• Tap on the specific app name from the list for more information about its storage.
• Next, you can manage the app data by tapping on ‘Offload Unused Apps’ or ‘Optimize Photos’.

Please Note: Cached data and temporary data may not be counted as storage usage.

4. Sign Out and Sign In to the App Store

The connection of the Apple ID and your iPhone might get disrupted sometimes which can directly affect the App Store syncing or app updates. It mostly stays temporarily and signing out of the Apple Store and signing back into the App Store might resolve such an issue. To do so:

• Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Tap on Apple ID on top > Navigate to the iTunes & App Store.
• A pop-up will appear and just tap on Sign Out.
• Next, you’ll need to tap on the Apple ID again to Sign In.
• Now, you can run the App Store again, and try downloading or updating the problematic app to check for the issue.

5. Disable Restrictions for App Installation

If you’re having issues with the app installation restrictions on iOS 17 then make sure to disable the specific restrictions by following the steps below.

• Go to the Settings menu > Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.
• Turn On the Screen Time > Tap the Continue.
• Now, locate the Installing Apps option.
• Set it to Allow.

6. Try Refreshing App Store

If something goes wrong with the App Store then it won’t be able to download or update multiple apps/specific apps. In case, the iOS 17 app store not downloading then try refreshing the App Store. In case, force restarting or signing into the App Store didn’t help then try refreshing the App Store manually. To do that:

• Go to App Store > Tap on an icon on the navigation tab like Featured or Top Charts 10 times.
• The App Store application will automatically relaunch and it’ll be refreshed.

7. Add a Payment Method

You might need to set the valid payment method on your iPhone to make a purchase for the paid app or game that you want to install. Sometimes renewing the app subscription can also require issues with downloading or updating the file. Do keep in mind that making purchases from the App Store and using subscriptions such as iCloud+ and Apple Music will require one payment method on file.

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap your name or Apple ID.
• Tap on Media & Purchases > Tap on View Account.
• If prompted, sign in with your Apple ID.
• Now, tap on Manage Payments.
• Tap on Add Payment Method.
• Next, enter the payment method details.
• Finally, tap on Done.

8. Check for iOS Updates

You should also check for the available software updates on your iPhone. Even if you’re running on the latest iOS 17 version, Apple releases monthly patch updates or new build version updates for its iOS. Installing the latest update should fix multiple bugs or crashes in most cases. To do so:

• Go to the Settings app on your iPhone > Tap on General.
• Tap on Software Update > Make sure to select Automatic Updates to On for your convenience.
• At the same time, the system will automatically start checking for the available software update.
• If available, it’ll notify and then you can tap on Download and Install. [It’ll also ask you to enter the device passcode]
  • If there is no update available, you’ll see the ‘iOS is up to date’ notification on the screen.

9. Uninstall and Reinstall the App

You should also uninstall and reinstall the particular problematic application on your iPhone to ensure there is no issue with the installed app.

• Tap and hold the problematic app icon from the home screen on your iPhone.
• Now, select Remove App from the pop-up menu > Tap on Delete App.
• The system will again ask you whether to delete the app or not.
• Select the Delete button to uninstall it.
• Then open the Apple App Store application on your iPhone.
• Tap on the Search icon and search for the app.
• Finally, tap on the Get button or simply tap on the cloud download icon.
• Wait for it to install completely and then start using it.

10. Remove the Screen Time Limit for the App

Another thing you should do is simply remove the screen time limit for the specific problematic application by following the steps below. It’ll eventually restrict app installation and certain features will get disabled somehow.

• Go to the Settings menu > Scroll down and tap on the Screen Time.
• Turn On the Screen Time > Tap on the Continue button.
• Now, locate the Installing Apps option and set it to Allow.

11. Reset All Settings on iPhone

Ensure to reset all settings on your iPhone by following the steps because not only the networking settings but also some other incorrect settings on the device can trouble you a lot. It’s better to reset all settings on the iOS 17 device to check if the problem is still bothering you or not.

Note: Make sure to note down all the saved Wi-Fi passwords and other user-configured settings because resetting all settings will wipe out all settings to the factory default.

• Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Go to General > Scroll down and tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Now, tap on Reset > Select Reset All Settings.
• If prompted, enter the lock screen passcode to confirm it.
• Wait for the process to be completed.
• Now, you can force restart your iPhone to apply changes.

12. Restore iPhone from iCloud or iTunes Backup

Sometimes you may need to restore your iPhone to recover the system from the iCloud Backup or iTunes Backup. However, do keep in mind that this method will completely reset the iPhone system, and you might lose some data if not properly backed up. So, make sure to take a full backup before performing this method.

Note: This method will only apply if you’ve previously backed up your data on iTunes or iCloud. If there is no previous backup made then you can skip this method.

Restore iPhone with iTunes:

• Open iTunes on your computer > Now, connect your iPhone to the Windows or Mac via the USB cable.
• Connect iTunes to the iPhone and the device will get detected.
• Next, click the iPhone icon from the left pane > Click on Restore Backup.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restore process.
• Once done, your iPhone will boot into the system automatically. It’ll take some time so please be patient.
• Finally, your device will boot into iOS, disconnect the iPhone then complete the initial setup process.
• You’re good to go.

Restore iPhone with iCloud:

• Go to the Settings app on your iPhone > Tap on General.
• Scroll down to the bottom of the page > Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap on Reset > Select Erase All Content and Settings.
• If prompted, enter the device passcode to confirm the task.
• Your iPhone will restart automatically > It may take some time to complete.
• Once the iPhone boots into the system, go through the initial setup process.
• Next, sign in to your Apple ID > Here, you’ll have to select Restore from iCloud Backup.
• Once the backup data is selected to restore, confirm the task to proceed.
• Wait for the process to complete> Finally, your iPhone will reboot again to load the backup.
• Enjoy! You’re good to go.

13. Contact the App Developer

If the above workarounds didn’t help then make sure to contact the specific app developer from the App Store page with the required details so that devs can investigate the issue further and work on it. For example; if you’re unable to download or update the WhatsApp app specifically, just open the WhatsApp page on the App Store and then write a feedback review with all points.

14. Submit the Feedback to Apple

Apple always provides a Feedback application pre-installed on all iOS versions. So, once you install or update the iOS version on your iPhone, you’ll be able to find an app installed called ‘Feedback’. Just find it out from the home screen pages and then open it. Make sure to sign in to your Apple ID using the same credentials inside the app, provide all the required information, and submit the feedback. Apple devs surely will work on it.

If the Feedback app isn’t installed on your device or you did uninstall it, you can reinstall it from the Apple App Store directly. Otherwise, just visit this official Apple iPhone Feedback link to submit the bugs or issues properly.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.