Dealing with slow app store downloads on the iPhone can be maddening, especially when you’re just trying to update or grab a new app. Sometimes it’s a glitch with the App Store itself; other times, your internet or storage might be playing tricks. Either way, these are fixes that have helped avoid hours of frustration, just a heads-up — some steps might work on one device and not so much on another. But hey, it’s worth trying out these little tricks before tossing your phone out the window.
How to Fix Slow App Store Downloads on iPhone
Relaunch the Apple App Store to Clear Bugs
If your download is stuck or slow, reloading the store might help, since bugs or glitches can sneak in. To do this, double press the Home button (if you have an older iPhone) or swipe up from the bottom and hold (for iPhone X and newer) to bring up the app switcher. Find the App Store card, swipe it away to close it, then reopen it. This refreshes the app, potentially clearing up conflicts that block downloads.
On some devices, the store sometimes lags or gets stuck, so restarting it can be a simple fix. Just make sure to close all and check if things are moving again. After reopening, try downloading or updating again. Sometimes it’s just a refresh that helps clear out temporary bugs that pop up every now and then.
Restart Your iPhone to Fix System Glitches
If relaunching the store didn’t cut it, giving the phone a quick restart is worth a shot. Powering off and on can fix minor system bugs that interfere with downloads. To do this, press and hold the side button and the volume down (or volume up, depending on your device), then slide to power off. Wait a few seconds, then hold the side button again to turn it back on.
It’s kind of weird, but sometimes after a restart, the download resumes normally. Because of course, iOS has to make it harder than necessary. On some setups, this helps the most, while on others, it doesn’t do much. Still worth trying if you’re stuck.
Check Your Internet Speed — Is It the Culprit?
Slow internet is often the sneaky reason downloads crawl or get stuck. Test your connection by visiting fast.com in Safari. If it’s really slow, switching WiFi networks or toggling to mobile data might do the trick.
For some, a poor WiFi connection or VPNs might mess things up — so disconnecting VPNs or switching to a different network (say, a different WiFi or hotspot) can make a big difference. Not sure why it works, but…yeah, my experience is that better internet speed = faster downloads.
Sign Out and Sign Back Into Your Apple ID
Another quick fix that’s worked before — signing out of the App Store, then signing back in. Open the App Store, tap your profile picture top right, scroll down and tap Sign Out. Wait a sec, then sign back in with your Apple credentials. This can reset your connection to Apple servers and sometimes fix download stalls.
Works especially if there was a syncing issue or some weird authorization glitch. Usually, after re-logging, downloads jump back into gear. On some setups, it’s a pain because it might ask for your Apple ID password again, but it can be worth it.
Prioritize Your App Download (If Multiple Are Queued)
If you’ve got a few apps updating or downloading at once, they tend to queue up — prioritizing what you need the most can speed things up. Long-press on the app icon that’s waiting, then tap Prioritize Download. This boosts that specific app to the front of the line, so it downloads first.
It’s a simple little trick, but in practice, it helps clear up the backlog, especially on slower connections or older iPhones. Just keep in mind, Apple usually does them one at a time, so this can be a workaround to get the most urgent app first.
Free Up Storage Space — Space Is the Enemy
Running out of room is often overlooked but can cause downloads to stall or never start. To check your storage: go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If nearly full, delete some apps, photos, or old files. Aim to keep at least a few gigabytes free for smooth downloads.
For example, if you see a game or app you no longer use, deleting it frees up room for new downloads. Also, clearing Safari cache or deleting large media files can help if storage is tight.
Check Apple Server Status — Sometimes the Cloud Is Down
If everything seems okay locally, maybe Apple’s servers are having issues. Head over to Apple’s system status webpage. Check if the App Store or related services are marked as down or experiencing problems. If so, it’s a waiting game until Apple sorts it out.
Locally everything fine but downloads still slow? It probably isn’t on your end.
Switch to Google DNS — Because DNS Sometimes Blames Us
Switching your DNS servers to Google’s public ones can sometimes straighten out slow or failed downloads. To do this, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the (i) next to your network, then tap Configure DNS. Select Manual, delete existing entries, and add:
- 8.8.8.8
- 8.8.4.4
Tap Save, and this might improve your connection stability. On some networks, DNS issues cause slow downloads or timeout errors, so this tweak can help solve those mysteries.
Summary
- Force close and relaunch the App Store.
- Restart your iPhone.
- Check internet speed and switch networks if needed.
- Sign out and back into your Apple ID.
- Prioritize downloads by long-pressing app icons.
- Make sure there’s enough storage space.
- Check Apple’s system status — maybe it’s not your fault.
- Switch to Google DNS for potentially smoother access.
Wrap-up
All these steps are fairly straightforward, but sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference. No magic bullets here, but a combination of restarting, checking internet, and cleaning storage tends to get downloads back on track. If one of these tricks gets you moving again, consider it a win. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours of troubleshooting for someone out there. Fingers crossed this helps!