App Store is important on your Apple device which allows you to download, purchase, update, and delete applications. However, it can run into problems like “Cannot Connect to App Store”. If you don’t know how to get rid of it, don’t worry. This post from NewsPivot can give you some comprehensive solutions to this issue. Let’s keep reading and try them out.
Why Can’t My iPhone Connect to App Store?
When facing the “Cannot Connect to App Store” error, 3 main factors can be to blame:
- Poor and unstable internet connection.
- Software issues and system glitches.
- The Apple Store server is down.
Also read: [Full Guide] App Store Download for iPhone/iPad
How to Fix the Cannot Connect to App Store Error?
Before trying those solutions, you should hit the Retry button under the error message. If the App Store doesn’t get back to normal, then try restarting your iPhone. It is a simple way to fix most of the issues on the iPhone quickly.
Force Quit and Relaunch App Store
Like any other app, App Store is prone to generating small glitches and connectivity errors. Therefore, you can force quit and relaunch App Store to refresh it and re-establish a network connection.
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen or double-press the Home button to access App Switcher. Locate App Store and swipe it up to close it. Then launch it again to check if the iPhone not connecting to App Store issue disappears.
Clear the App Store Cache
Not clearing the App Store cache for a long time may lead to the “Cannot Connect to App Store” error. To address it, it is a good option to clear the App Store cache and make it start fresh. Here is a guide below.
Open App Store, and then tap on any of the five tabs at the bottom (for example the Today tab) 10 times quickly. It will remove the cache from App Store automatically without a notification. After that, close App Store and reopen it to see if that error disappears.
Check Internet Connection
When you are connecting to the internet but the App Store not loading issue happens, you need to check whether the internet connection is stable and strong. To do so, here are some tips:
- Go to Settings > Wi-Fi > tap on the “i” icon next to the connected W-Fi > Forget This Network > reconnect it after a few seconds.
- Head to Settings > toggle on Cellular > scroll down to locate App Store > check WLAN & Cellular Data.
- Turn off Wi-Fi, Cellular Data, or Airplane mode in the Control Center, and then turn them on again.
If the error still exists when opening App Store, try resetting the network settings. Here are simple steps below:
Step 1: Navigate to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Step 2: Click Reset > Reset Network Settings > type your passcode > tap Reset Network Settings to confirm the reset.
Related article: VPN Not Connecting? Try These Five Solutions to Resolve It
Change DNS Server
Another solution to the can’t connect to App Store problem is to change the DNS (Domain Name System) from your ISP to a third-party option. The alternative DNS is faster and more reliable to establish a connection to App Store than the one you are using by default.
Step 1: Go to Settings > Wi-Fi > hit the “i” icon next to your network > Configure DNS.
Step 2: Switch Automatic to Manual, select Add Server, and type the DNS server address you want to use.
Check Apple System Status
Occasionally, the App Store not working problem may happen due to the server’s issue. You should visit Apple System Status and have a check. On the System Status page, you can see whether the App Store service is operating normally. If not, wait for Apple to resolve it.
Sign Out and Into Your App Store
Signing out and signing in to App Store is worth a shot to solve the “Cannot Connect to App Store” problem. Go to Settings > tap on your Apple ID > Media & Purchases > Sign Out. Wait for a moment, and then resign to your account. After that, open App Store to check whether your problem is solved.
Perform a Software Update
Apple releases new updates frequently to resolve the issues caused by system glitches. Therefore, it is a good choice to perform a software update to fix your iPhone not connecting to App Store. To do this:
Step 1: Open Settings > General > Software Update.
Step 2: Your iPhone will verify whether there is an available update. If yes, hit Update Now to get the newest iOS version on your device.
Related post: 7 Effective Ways to iOS 17 Update Not Showing up on iPhone.
Reset All Settings
If none of the above methods work, consider resetting all settings to solve the App Store not loading problem. To do so, follow the step-by-step instructions:
Step 1: Head to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Step 2: Select Reset > Reset All Settings > input your screen passcode or verify your Face ID to confirm your action.
#Other Useful Tips
- Disable VPN: go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > turn off your VPN.
- Check the date & time: on the General page, tap on Date & Time, and then toggle on Set Automatically.
- Check App Store restrictions: go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > toggle it off.
Also read: 7 Effective Ways to Fix App Store Disappearing from iPhone.
Wrapping Things Up
This post offers you several comprehensive methods to fix the “Cannot Connect to App Store” error message. You should have an idea of how to deal with it after reading it. When you encounter the same issue, hope you can fix it successfully with the solutions mentioned above.