Quick Answers
If the App Store app is missing from your iOS device, here are some quick things to try:
- Check your home screen pages – swipe left to see if it’s on another page
- Try searching for ‘App Store’ on your device
- Reboot your device by turning it off completely and back on
- Check to make sure you’re logged in with the proper Apple ID
- Update your iOS software in Settings if an update is available
- Try resetting your home screen layout back to default
If none of those work, don’t worry – there are a few other things you can try to get the App Store app back on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
Check Your Home Screen Pages
One of the easiest things to check is to make sure the App Store app didn’t get moved from your home screen. Here’s how to check all your home screen pages:
- On your iPhone or iPad, swipe left from your first home screen page. This will reveal the next pages of apps.
- Keep swiping left to view all your home screen pages.
- Look on each page to see if you spot the App Store app.
- If you have a lot of pages, try searching for ‘App Store’ using the device’s search feature (see next section).
The App Store app icon looks like an blue ‘A’ on a white background. So scan all your home screen pages and see if it may have gotten moved from its usual spot.
If it’s nowhere to be found, don’t worry – move on to the next steps below.
Using Your Device’s Search
Your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch have a built-in search feature that searches your entire device for matching apps. Here’s how to use it to try and locate the App Store:
- Swipe down from the middle of any home screen to reveal the device’s Search bar.
- Type in ‘App Store’ and tap Search on the keyboard.
- Your device will show results for any matching app. If you see the App Store in the results, tap it to open.
If App Store does not show up in Search results, that likely means the app is no longer installed on your device for some reason. Not to worry though – it can easily be reinstalled.
Reboot Your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
Rebooting your device is always a good troubleshooting step if apps are acting up or gone missing. Here’s how to reboot your device:
- Hold down the Power/Side button on your device until the “Slide to Power Off” prompt appears.
- Drag the on-screen slider to turn your device completely off.
- After 30 seconds or so, hold down the Power/Side button again to turn your device back on.
Once it has fully booted back up, check your home screen again for the App Store. Rebooting will refresh your device’s memory and reload all your apps.
Forcing a Hard Reboot
If the standard reboot doesn’t work, you can try force rebooting your device as well:
- Hold down the Power/Side button and either Volume button at the same time.
- Keep holding until you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.
- This will forcibly reboot your device and refresh all apps and services.
The App Store app should reappear after successfully rebooting your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
Check You’re Logged Into the Right Apple ID
Your apps on iOS devices, including the App Store, are tied to your Apple ID. Make sure you’re logged into the proper account.
Here’s how to check:
- Open the Settings app on your device.
- Tap on your name at the very top of Settings.
- Confirm it is the Apple ID you expected.
If you’re not logged into the right account, tap Sign Out, then sign back in with the proper Apple ID and password. Once logged into the correct account, restart your device and look for the App Store again.
Troubleshooting Your Apple ID
If you’re unable to sign into the proper Apple ID for any reason:
- Make sure you have the correct password by resetting it if needed.
- Check for any alerts about your account being disabled or requiring verification.
- Touch ID or Face ID may need to be re-enrolled if they are not recognizing your fingerprint/face.
Getting into the right Apple ID should allow the App Store app and other purchased apps to reappear properly on your device.
Update Your iOS Software
Having the latest iOS software installed can sometimes remedy missing apps like the App Store.
Here’s how to update your device’s iOS version:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General, then tap Software Update.
- Your device will check for available updates. If one is found, tap Download and Install.
- Enter your Passcode if prompted.
- Tap Agree to accept the Terms and Conditions.
- Tap Install to proceed with the software update.
- Your device will reboot once complete. After rebooting, search for the App Store again.
Updating iOS may resolve app issues, so it’s worth trying. The latest iOS version will also have security fixes and improvements.
What If No Update is Available?
If your device says it’s already up-to-date with the latest iOS version, then your software likely isn’t the problem. Please move on to the other troubleshooting steps.
Reset Your Home Screen Layout
If your App Store app suddenly went missing, resetting your iPhone or iPad’s home screen may help resurface it. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings > General.
- Scroll down and tap Reset.
- Tap Reset Home Screen Layout.
- Tap Reset Home Screen to confirm.
This will return all your home screen app icons back to their default placements. Any apps that got moved around or buried in folders will be put back in their usual spots.
Once your home screen resets, check to see if the App Store reappears. This has resolved app issues for many users.
Beware This Will Reset Folders
Do keep in mind that resetting your home screen will remove any folders you’ve created to organize your apps. Your apps will remain installed, but any custom folder arrangements will need to be remade.
Delete and Reinstall the App Store
If you’ve checked everywhere and tried all the usual troubleshooting to no avail, deleting the App Store and reinstalling may be required. Here’s how:
- Hold down on the App Store app icon until icons start wiggling.
- Tap the X icon displayed on the top left corner of the App Store icon.
- Tap Delete to confirm removal of the App Store app.
- Press your device’s Home button to stop the wiggle mode.
This will delete the App Store from your device completely. Next:
- Open the App Store on another iOS device signed into your Apple ID.
- Tap your profile picture, then tap Purchased.
- Locate App Store in your list of purchased apps and tap Install.
- The App Store will begin downloading on your device.
- Once finished, you can open the newly installed App Store app.
By fully removing the App Store and re-downloading, you essentially get a fresh copy installed, which should hopefully resolve any issues.
Alternative: Restore From a Backup
If you have an iTunes or iCloud backup available, you can also fully erase and restore your device to get a fresh OS install with the App Store.
Contact Apple Support
If you still cannot get the App Store to reappear after trying all troubleshooting steps, your last resort is to contact Apple support:
- You can call 1-800-APL-CARE in the United States for phone support.
- Initiate a chat session at getsupport.apple.com for real-time messaging support.
- Schedule an appointment at your local Apple retail store’s Genius Bar.
Apple experts can further look into your issue and hopefully determine why the App Store is missing and how to get it back.
As a last resort, a complete restore and refresh of your device using a computer may be required by Apple. Back up your data first before pursuing this option.
Prevent the App Store From Disappearing
To avoid the headache of the App Store going missing again, here are some tips:
- Don’t delete or move the App Store icon from your home screen.
- Leave the App Store in its default location on the dock.
- Make sure your iOS software stays up-to-date via regular updates.
- Don’t jailbreak your device or alter system files.
- Use trusted lightning cables and chargers to avoid issues.
- Don’t overload your device with more apps than it can handle.
Following best practices for iOS and being careful when organizing your apps can prevent problems like having to recover the App Store down the road.
Backup Regularly
One other great tip – backup your device regularly via iTunes or iCloud! Backups give you the ability to recover from major issues quickly.
Conclusion
Having the App Store app vanish can be annoying, but thankfully there are a number of different troubleshooting tactics you can employ to get it back. By searching your home screens thoroughly, rebooting your device, checking Apple ID settings, updating iOS software, resetting your home screen layout, reinstalling the App Store, or contacting Apple support, you should be able to restore this crucial application. With some diligence and patience, your App Store app should be back allowing you to browse, search and download amazing iOS apps once again.
Troubleshooting Step | Details |
---|---|
Check home screens | Look on all home screen pages for the App Store. |
Search device | Use search feature to look for App Store app. |
Reboot device | Power off and back on. Force reboot if needed. |
Check Apple ID | Make sure logged into correct account. |
Update iOS | Install latest iOS software version. |
Reset home screen | Restore home screen apps to default placement. |
Delete and reinstall | Remove App Store app and re-download. |
Contact Apple | Get support via phone, chat, Genius Bar. |
Prevention Tips
- Don’t delete or move default apps like App Store.
- Keep iOS updated.
- Don’t overload device storage.
- Backup regularly.
The App Store is a key part of any iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Be sure to take steps to prevent it from going missing. But if it does disappear for some reason, this guide will help you get the App Store back on your device quickly!