“Unable to purchase” error message on restart iPhone 11 iOS 13.3

Question

Level 1

7 points

“Unable to purchase” error message on restart iPhone 11 iOS 13.3

I am restarting my iPhone because because some apps fail to start and all app updates stop. Accessing iTunes & App Store settings causes the settings app to freeze. Restarting the iPhone fixes the problem for a few days. The only other clue is that on every restart I get the Unable to Purchase message, it clears when you press ok but no other indication of what is causing this. I have done some searches and see that message for other people but no solutions and no link to the other symptoms I am seeing. I upgraded from an iPhone 6s about three months ago and as far as I can recall this started soon after. The frequency of the issue is now increasing. Whereas it was happening after a couple of weeks, now it’s every couple of days. Any ideas?

iPhone 11

Posted on Jan 9, 2020 1:53 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

MrBill3

Level 10

103,852 points

Jan 9, 2020 3:18 PM in response to dino242

Hello,

Do you have apps on your phone purchased with another Apple ID? If so, the solution is to delete the apps and to download them again with your current Apple ID.

Also see:

If your payment method is declined, or you have a billing issue with a previous purchase in the iTunes Store

Good luck.

Reply

Answer 2

dino242 Author

Level 1

7 points

Jan 9, 2020 4:05 PM in response to MrBill3

I've never used another ID but perhaps it has something to do with Family Sharing which I am using. I don't have the automatic install of apps made on other devices active. I will go through the apps though and see if I can find a suspect.

Thanks

Reply

Answer 3

dino242 Author

Level 1

7 points

Jan 19, 2020 2:20 PM in response to dino242

It may be too early to tell but the issue looks resolved. I have gone more than a week now without the "unable to purchase" issue. I re-entered my payment details - no effect. I deleted a bunch of apps that I have not used for a long time - that looks like the solution. There is no way to tell what app was causing the issue in the first place so there has been a bit of luck involved.

Reply

Answer 4

dino242 Author

Level 1

7 points

Jan 23, 2020 12:32 AM in response to dino242

No, not resolved. Still no closer to figuring out why it is happening. There seems to be no pattern to how long it takes before it fails. Sometimes a day, sometimes a week. Absolutely no information as to what is causing it.

Reply

Answer 5

dino242 Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 11, 2020 4:36 PM in response to dino242

Updated to 13.3.1 and still getting the problem although the "unable to purchase" seems to have gone away but the App Store settings still causes Settings to freeze and no updates of apps are possible. Restarting the phone fixes the problem for a few days. I have been avoiding wiping the phone and reloading all the apps again but it seems like the next step.

Reply

Answer 6

SRC2000

Level 1

18 points

Mar 18, 2020 11:29 AM in response to dino242

I am getting the same on iPhone 11 iOS 13.3.1

I do not have automatic updates enabled and selecting ‘Update All’ just spins. I have logged out, logged back in, switched off and an and then get the message ‘Unable to purchase’.

I have logged out, switched off/on and logged in again and still the same. The count of Apps to be updated still continues. Meanwhile, iPhone6 and iPad are updating fine.

any fresh ideas?

Reply

Answer 7

dino242 Author

Level 1

7 points

Mar 18, 2020 4:26 PM in response to SRC2000

It seems to be solved on mine now. I found an app on my phone showing the cloud download icon. This seems to be something left over from my phone upgrade. It was an app I have not used for months. When I tried to download it said "unable to purchase" and then took me to the app store where it said the app no longer existed. I deleted the app (edit home screen) and the problem went away. Look through your apps and see if you have any that are showing as not downloaded.

Reply

Answer 8

SRC2000

Level 1

18 points

Mar 19, 2020 6:58 AM in response to dino242

Thanks for the advice. I have deleted all Apps that had the Cloud symbol and stating that the developer needs to update or no longer available in store. However the problem remains with an increasing number of updates pending. I have logged out switched off and on and logged back in again. Still seeing the message.

@applesupport any idea?

Reply

Answer 9

SRC2000

Level 1

18 points

Mar 23, 2020 6:36 AM in response to SRC2000

I spent an hour and a half on the phone with Apple support yesterday, removing my VPN, deleting Apps, resetting settings, logging out and force closing the App Store and Settings. Still unable to download Apps or update. The oldest App waiting to update was ’Words with Friends 2’, which I deleted and was unable to download. Before going for a full reset, I logged out and forced closed the App Store and settings, logged back in one more time and the 33 Apps updated. I’m not directly blaming Words with Friends 2, all seems to be OK now. I suggest that the App at the bottom of the list is deleted/removed, logout, force close App Store and setting , restart phone and log in again. Fingers crossed.

Reply

Answer 10

Jan 17, 2020 12:46 AM in response to dino242

Same problem. And no, I have only one App store account, and yes, this was working a few months ago so is a new-ish bug.

Reply

Answer 11

Jan 23, 2020 10:04 AM in response to dino242

Yup, still happening on my iPhone XR. My iPad Air (latest version) is updating fine.

Reply

Answer 12

Jan 23, 2020 10:53 AM in response to dino242

This is exactly what is happening to me too and I can’t access Apple support either to ask how to resolve it because it freezes..

Reply

Answer 13

Apr 1, 2020 12:02 AM in response to dino242

ok

Reply

Answer 14

Apr 12, 2020 9:45 AM in response to SRC2000

I did something similar. After manually triggering all pending updates, suddenly the pending app downloaded.

Reply

“Unable to purchase” error message on restart iPhone 11 iOS 13.3

Similar questions