after ios 5.1 update apps won't download

Confirmed.

Originally, tried resetting all settings. Didn't work. Then I restored my iPhone 4 OTA with the iCoud backup. Didn't work.

Last night I said screw it and restored my phone through iTunes on my computer with the full iOS 5.1 package. So far it has worked. Everything, including apps and iTunes music, is downloading properly.

Looks like we all have two options:

A. wait for apple to issue an OTA update to fix this. (don't hold your breaths)

B. restore your phone through iTunes on your computer.

Either way, I've emailed the editors at AppleInsider, PCWorld, MacWorld, MacRumors to suggest they report on this mess. Feel free to do the same.

Couldn't have said it better. This issue applies not just to iPhones, but iPads and iPods (I think). It is a pervasive software problem and needs to be addressed AND fixed by Apple. Historical references are great, but Apple has set the bar very high, especially to those of us who are using Apple products for the first time after years of being traumatized by Microsoft. In any case, we should NEVER lose functionality or have it degraded by an upgrade/update. That's why they are called "up..." right?

Glad most are getting thru the issue one way or another. But just to set the record straight, my problems (iPad) started occurring immediately after downloading 5.1. I downloaded via iTunes, not OTA. The "log-out, log-in" fix has worked so far. I have had zero issues since doing it.

Tony, the problem is that we pay alot of money for a product that is supposed to work. Not only should Apple be addressing these issues but we shouldn't have to wait hours, and in some cases NEVER, for our apps to download. Alot of people depend on their phones and ipads to do business. So suggesting that we all go outside and play is very immature. I for one don't have the time to sit and stare at my devices screens as you said as I have a full time job. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't be ****** at my devices not working as they should. Apple did the new upgrade and it affected our devices, plain and simple. When they will address this issue is anyone's guess. I'm starting to feel like I"m dealing with Kobo here but that's another story.

Add me to the list of waiting for anything to download!!! Both my iPad 2 and iPhone 4S were updated OTA via the delta update and ever since then, it takes sometimes days to get anything. That includes, iTunes Match songs from the cloud, app updates, even brand new purchases. All stuck at waiting for several hours and sometiems days. I am going to try doing a restore to see if that fixes anything on my iPad 2 first as it doesn't have any music on it. However if that works and I have to do it on my iPhone, that *****!!! It tooks several weeks to finally get all my songs loaded onto my phone from the cloud and now I have to do it all over again?? bandwidth is not cheap!!

For a product that is supposed to "Just work", I for one have not had that experience since the iPhone 4. I've already had my 4S replaced once as well. Apple, please address this obvious problem!

Could PAZFORA provide some good email address for Macworld and Macrumor I am more than happy to send an email.

I can confirm that my issues with apps stuck in "Waiting" trying to be downloaded from Apple has been resolved by just doing a "Restore from Backup"

1. Plug iOS device in using USB.

2. iTunes in left column, right click on your Device and select Sync.

3. iTunes in left column, right click on your Device and select Backup.

4. iTunes in left column, right click on your Device and select Restore from Backup.

This worked on both my iPhone 4S AND iPad 2. I just tested single app purchase, single app update, single song download from cloud, multiple app update, multiple cloud song download.

Since a restore from Backup doesn't change anything in the firmware, I doubt the problem was anything to do with the delta OTA update to iOS 5.1. In my case I'm more apt to think there was just a stuck app somewhere and the restore eliminated it.

I've also been having the "Waiting..." issue on all of our iPhones and iPad. The problem started approximately last Friday. I've discovered the fix. Wait! Yes, it's as simple as waiting for the app update to finish. Often times waiting overnight will complete the installation.

Last week millions of people started to download iOS 5.1 to their iPhones, iPods and iPad 1 & 2. Then last weekend 3 million iPad 3rd generation devices were sold. Those devices started to download iCloud restores and apps.

Apple's servers are congested. As the initial onslaught of downloads of iOS 5.1 and iCloud backups and restores wanes, things will improve. It's not an excuse for Apple's lack of server capacity, it's just the unfortunate fact. Maybe they should use some of their cash reserves to build another data center.

wirelessguru: Sorry don't agree. I have 2 Iphone and Ipad. I only loaded IOS 5.1 on one device. I am able to download application instanlty on the non updated devices and on the update devices 12 hours later it still said waiting (and it was the same application)

wirelessguru wrote:

I've also been having the "Waiting..." issue on all of our iPhones and iPad. The problem started approximately last Friday. I've discovered the fix. Wait! Yes, it's as simple as waiting for the app update to finish. Often times waiting overnight will complete the installation.

Last week millions of people started to download iOS 5.1 to their iPhones, iPods and iPad 1 & 2. Then last weekend 3 million iPad 3rd generation devices were sold. Those devices started to download iCloud restores and apps.

Apple's servers are congested. As the initial onslaught of downloads of iOS 5.1 and iCloud backups and restores wanes, things will improve. It's not an excuse for Apple's lack of server capacity, it's just the unfortunate fact. Maybe they should use some of their cash reserves to build another data center.

Nope!

That's exactly what I thought as well. After I simply did a restore from backup everything is back to normal on both my iPad 2 and iPhone 4S. I don't believe this is a congestion issue. I tried to do an update before restoring and it stuck at "Waiting". After restore, I updated all 20 apps in under 10minutes.

The restore from backup is painless and takes less than 30 minutes on my iPad 2 and less than 10 minutes on my iPhone 4S.

scottfromleesburg wrote:

wirelessguru: Sorry don't agree. I have 2 Iphone and Ipad. I only loaded IOS 5.1 on one device. I am able to download application instanlty on the non updated devices and on the update devices 12 hours later it still said waiting (and it was the same application)

Try what I did a couple of posts up. I don't think this is an iOS 5.1 issue delta update or otherwise. Worked on both of my iOS 5.1 devices. Both updating like normal now. I will definitely report back if it starts acting up again.

Problem with full reset and restore from backup is, that I usually have to manually sort all my apps on the screen again. Can be painful with 180+ apps on the device. Happened to 3 iPhones I updated to iOs 5 last autumn.

I am just afraid that'll happen again

Ookpic One more question: Does the restore from your PC or pull the backup from icloud? My Iphone backup to icloud.

@dhaunsch

If you backup to PC first then restore from backup you will not have to re-arrange your apps. Everything remained the same on both my iOS devices.

@scottfromleesburg

I don't use backup to iCloud but I would suggest turning it off first then backup and restore using the procedure in my previous post. Then if you wish, turn iCloud backup back on and do another backup to iCloud so your cloud backup is most current..

cmomgowood

I'm having an issue with downloading and updating apps on my iphone 4. It did not start immediately after updating to iOS 5.1. Just started a couple of days back and is driving me nuts. Any apps that I have tried to update or install new apps will go under the waiting mode and wont do anything. I've tried to delete some of them and re-installed but like the others have mentioned in other post the app installation again goes under waiting and nothing happens.

I've checked my settings, wi-fi, and I've tried several restarts on the phone but still no good.

Any suggestions???

I sent this to http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone with a copy of the this thread hoping to get their attention

@cmomgowood

Read a few posts up. If you have backup to iCloud enabled turn it off then follow the instructions on my previous posts. It worked for me on both my iOS devices