Oops! Accidentally Deleted the App Store
We’ve all been there – deleting an app or program by mistake. But what happens if you accidentally remove the entire Apple App Store from your iPhone or iPad? At first, you may panic thinking you’ve totally broken your device or lost access to apps forever. However, with a few steps, you can get the App Store back up and running again.
In this article, we’ll walk through what to do if you inadvertently delete the App Store app. We’ll cover the immediate effects, how to reinstall the store, accessing already-installed apps, getting new apps, updating existing ones, and backing up your data. Read on to find out how to recover from this common mishap!
Explain How App Store Deletion Happens
The most common way the App Store gets deleted accidentally is when organizing apps on the iPhone home screen. When moving apps into folders or rearranging the home screen layout, it’s easy to accidentally remove the App Store icon.
Specifically, if you press and hold on the App Store icon, you can then tap the “Remove App” button that appears in the top left corner to delete it. This removes the icon from your home screen, but does not actually uninstall the App Store app itself.
Other ways you might inadvertently delete the icon include tapping the “X” while in jiggle mode or using the App Library to remove the App Store from your home screen organization.
In all these cases, the App Store app remains installed on your iPhone, but the access icon is deleted from your home screen layout.
Immediate Effects
If you accidentally delete the App Store from your iPhone, the immediate effect is that you will no longer have access to any apps. The App Store is the portal through which users can download, purchase and update apps on iOS devices. Without it, you will not be able to get any new apps onto your phone (Source).
However, apps that are already installed on your device will continue to function normally. Deleting the App Store does not delete or disable the apps you already have. You just won’t be able to install anything new or update existing apps.
Overall, losing App Store access cuts you off from getting new apps and updating old ones. But your existing apps remain unaffected in the short term.
Getting the App Store Back
Reinstalling from Purchase History is the most straightforward process to get the App Store back on your device. This works because even though the App Store app itself may have been deleted, your purchase history and downloaded apps are saved on your Apple ID.
To reinstall the App Store app this way, go to the App Library on your iOS device and search for ‘App Store’. Then tap on the download icon to reinstall it from your purchase history. The App Store will download like any other app. Once installed, you will have full access to the App Store again including app updates and new purchases.
If you don’t see the option to download the App Store from your purchase history, you can also go to App Store settings on a different device signed into your Apple ID, find the App Store app, and tap on ‘Install on My Devices’.
This process leverages your purchase history to easily get the App Store back with just a few taps. As long as you are signed in with the Apple ID originally used to download apps, reinstalling from your purchase history will restore the App Store on your device.
Accessing Already-Installed Apps
Even if the App Store has been deleted, all apps already installed on the device will continue to function normally and can still be launched and used.1 The deletion only prevents the App Store from being accessed to download updates or new apps. So in the short term, there should be minimal impact to your normal iPhone/iPad usage. Any app you already have downloaded remains unaffected.
However, over time as developers release new app versions and updates, the apps on your device will become outdated since there’s no App Store access to download the latest releases. So eventually you may start encountering bugs, compatibility issues, or missing features. But initially, all your current apps can still be launched and used like normal without the App Store.
Purchasing New Apps
Unfortunately, you will not be able to purchase new apps without having access to the App Store on your device. The App Store is the only official and authorized way to get new iOS apps onto your iPhone or iPad [1]. When you try to purchase an app from another source, you will get an error message that the app cannot be installed as it is not from the App Store.
This security restriction is in place to protect users from potentially harmful or malicious apps. Apple carefully vets and approves each app submitted to the App Store to ensure it meets their guidelines. Allowing installation of apps from outside the App Store would bypass these safety checks.
So while you can re-download previously purchased apps through your Apple ID account, or sideload free apps under limited circumstances, you cannot buy and download new paid apps without access to the iOS App Store. Getting the App Store working again on your device should be a top priority if you want to purchase the latest apps.
Updating Existing Apps
One of the biggest issues when the App Store is deleted is that you can no longer update your existing apps. The App Store is the only official way to deliver updates from developers to iOS devices 1. Without access to the App Store, your apps will become outdated and lose support over time as new versions are released. This means you’ll be missing out on new features, performance improvements, security patches, and bug fixes.
Unfortunately, there is no way around this on an iPhone or iPad. You cannot manually install app updates from outside the App Store like you can on Android devices. Your only option is to re-download the App Store app to regain the ability to update your apps. If you wait too long, some apps may even stop working properly or crash frequently since they are too outdated. It’s highly recommended to restore the App Store as soon as possible after accidentally deleting it to avoid issues with your apps.
Backing Up Data
It is crucially important to maintain regular backups of your iPhone data. Backups ensure you can restore your data if something goes wrong, like accidental App Store deletion. According to Apple Support, “Back up iPhone using iCloud. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Turn on iCloud Backup. iCloud automatically backs up your iPhone daily when connected to power, Wi-Fi, and a screen lock” (https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/back-up-iphone-iph3ecf67d29/ios). You can also back up manually at any time by going to Settings, tapping your name, selecting iCloud, and choosing Back Up Now.
It’s best to back up iPhone data regularly either to iCloud or a computer. That way, if the App Store gets deleted, you can use the backup to restore your device and apps. Maintaining an up-to-date backup provides peace of mind if anything ever goes wrong.
Alternative App Sources
While Apple’s App Store provides the most seamless and secure way to download apps on an iPhone, there are some alternative methods if you’ve accidentally deleted the App Store app and need a workaround. These include:
Direct downloads from a developer’s website – Some apps allow you to download the app file directly from their website rather than going through the App Store. However, this is not available for all apps and requires extra steps to trust the developer on your device (Source).
Third party app stores – There are third party app marketplaces like TutuApp that provide apps outside of the official App Store. However, these come with risks like malware and are not as well regulated or maintained (Source). Apple does not recommend using these.
While these alternatives provide options for getting apps without the App Store, they have limitations around security, convenience, and accessibility of apps. The App Store still provides the best overall experience for finding, downloading, and managing apps on an iPhone.
Conclusion
In summary, accidentally deleting the App Store on your iOS device can cause issues with accessing, updating, and installing apps. However, there are some solutions to restore App Store functionality. These include signing back in to the App Store, accessing already-installed apps in offline mode, using iTunes or third party app stores to install apps, and backing up your data. While an App Store deletion may be inconvenient, the impacts are usually temporary if the proper steps are taken to restore it. The key is acting quickly before major updates or new app installs are needed. Overall, with some patience and the right troubleshooting, you can recover from an accidental App Store deletion.