Downloading apps stuck on waiting...

Thanks RDYRD! No other recommendations worked for me until your I read your recommendation. I would never have suspected I could delete an app by accessing "Usage". Now if I could only get iTunes to work. Unfortunately cannot delete and reinstall since it is a native program on iPhone.

My fix for this problem in iOS 7.1 - Connect to iTunes on computer by cable, then on iPad go to Settings, General, iTunes Wi-Fi Sync, click on Sync over Wi-Fi. This checks all apps already purchased in iTunes and reinstalls them to the iPad.

Correction to my last post: on iPad go to Settings, General, iTunes Wi-Fi Sync, click on 'Sync now'.

Many thanks Neto, it solved the problem for me today in my iPad 2 updated to 7.1 yesterday.

Didn't read every single post so sorry if already said: I solved this problem on an iPad mini by holding Down the power button and home button at the same time. After mini shut down, I turned it back on and waiting apps were gone. Just had to re instal them and everything was fine.

I have not gone back to read the while thread, but found a fix:

* Open Settings

* Select General, then Usage

* Select the stuck app from the 'Storage' list (you may need to tap 'Show All Apps')

* Tap 'Delete App'

* Confirm by tapping 'Delete App'

* Reinstall the app from the App Store

Many thanks Subhash, this worked for me (setting DNS to 8.8.8.8). I am using Airtel broadband in India, with the Indian iTunes store. iOS 7.1.1.

I had tried re-setting my iPad many times (including the 2 button version), but the stalled apps were all saying "Waiting" even after doing that.

I had noticed that when trying to update the apps in the Updates screen of App Store, the download wasn't even starting - I would immediately get the msg about not being able to download at this time, with the "Done" / "Retry" buttons.

This to me sounds like something was preventing the download connection being created in the first place, which would fit with a DNS issue.

I've just been through the stalled apps one by one in App Store (there were 39), downloading them individually by tapping on the circle with the square inside. Not one of them failed after changing the DNS setting to 8.8.8.8 (which incidentally I had already been using on my Macbook for a long time because I find Airtel's DNS to be flakey).

I also went into Settings earlier and turned off permission to update apps in the background (Settings > General > Restrictions > Background App Refresh: Don't Allow Changes). Doing this on its own didn't help earlier, but I'm going to leave it switched off, so I can manage the updates myself. I don't have this iPad synced with a computer.

Thanks again - this had been annoying me for months!!

I solved it by searching the app name in App store and download it. Then delete it.

ANother way to solve this is to plug your phone or iPad into your computer and remove the app from the device using iTunes and then reinstall it via iTunes. This worked for me without me needing to reset my settings.

me too , help meee

Thank you the Cradle Mob. This resolved my issue of podcast downloads hanging on "waiting" status on my iPad mini Retina running iOS 7.1.2 (I noticed this issue in the iTunes app on the iPad itself, and it happened after I upgraded from the iPad 2 to the iPad mini with Retina likely due to restoration of iPad backup from iCloud). All I had to do was connect the Lightning USB cable to my iPad, and then on my Mac (it would probably work on a Windows computer too) on the left sidebar of iTunes under the Library section I clicked on Podcasts. There I noticed an option to sync my podcasts. I did not realize that my Mac was not yet set to synchronize the podcasts! Once I selected that option to sync my podcasts with the Mac, under Devices I clicked on the icon representing my iPad and then performed a Sync. All of the above resolved my issue...no more stuck downloads in iTunes on my iPad mini. Thank you again for getting this started for me! 🙂

Note: if one wishes to perform this by plugging the Lightning USB cable from the iOS device into the wall rather than into the computer, then iTunes WiFi sync would need to be configured; see KB article # HT1386 iOS: Syncing your data with iTunes for details.

Hi, I have an IPhone 5 and yesterday I wanted to access instagram but I got logged off and wasn't able to log back in again so I decided to try and delete the app. The problem is that when I tried to install it again I got the, "unable to download item please try again later" message. This has never happened before. I am also unable to log into instagram even on my laptop.

I tried rebooting all devices, logged out of iTunes, I changed my password and all of my software is up to date.

How can I fix this problem ?

Thanks 🙂

On my mid 2013 MBP retina, two games paused and were waiting. I tried a number of things without successes. Finally, I went to the App Store>Store>Check for unfinished downloads. Clicked on the app - a few seconds passed -maybe 10, then the the games started to download again.

other things i tried prior to the above.

1.turn wifi off then on.

2.restart

3.deleted files using Finder

Search for a likely file i.e., Batman Arkham City ( search for Batman or Arkham) then move it to trash.

You may have to use some or all of the above to get the result.

I'm wondering if the launch of iOS 8 and the iPhone 6 may be why you are unable to download the app. I had a similar issue...it took me much longer than normal to do iOS backup as well as on my Mac the software update. Downloading was taking hours! Hope it goes back to normal soon.

GGo to settings. Then storage then usage then see all apps. Delete the app. Then go to App Store and reinstall.