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stedwick Author

Level 1

46 points

Downloading apps stuck on waiting...

For the past few days I've been unable to download any apps from the App Store on my iOS devices, including the iPad and iPhone. I click "install", it asks for my password, it goes back to the home screen and the icon pops up and it says "waiting…" underneath, and then nothing ever happens. It's just stuck on waiting forever. It's basically what you would expect would happen if the store was down or my internet was down, except neither is the case.

I called Apple support and the only thing they had to offer was to do a factory reset on both my iPad and iPhone. I'd rather not do that because it's a pain. Plus, how can it be a hardware problem when it's happening on BOTH of my devices? It sounds like a problem with my account on their end, but they had no idea.

Has this happened anybody else? Anybody have any ideas?

For the record, I can still download apps onto my computer in iTunes and then sync those apps to my devices, I just can't download apps directly from my devices. Very strange.

Thanks for any help you guys can offer! =)

Philip

iPad (3rd gen) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iOS 5.1.1

Posted on Jul 2, 2012 12:59 PM

Best reply

stedwick Author

Level 1

46 points

Posted on Jul 2, 2012 1:07 PM

I fixed it from another post: go into iTunes -> more -> downloads and look for stuck downloads there. It's non-obvious, but it's also not difficult. Delete all the downloads in progress in iTunes and then try downloading apps again.

I guess if you have one download stuck anywhere, it screws up all downloads everywhere.

Anyway, worked for me. Whew.

View in context

141 replies

mischty

Level 1

4 points

Jun 30, 2016 9:09 AM in response to Neto

excellent advice! I happen to find your solution when my google voice app stopped updating and got hung in "waiting". I tried everything short of hooking my phone up to my computer and doing it that way. Your solution fixed it! Thank you so much!!!

jbatesx2

Level 1

8 points

Jul 3, 2016 9:03 AM in response to Demo

I have tried all the above and nothing is working. The app that won't delete or finish installing an update is Color Switch. I really do not want to reset by to factory settings. Is there anything else I can try???

Jul 4, 2016 3:06 AM in response to jbatesx2

Can't you download the apps on iTunes PC and Sync it? Or just reboot the iPad and try update again.

Make sure you are signed in with the same account that made the purchase. When you locate the app in the iTunes Store, you should see “install” or “Downloaded” instead of a price. Download the app or apps to iTunes on your computer.

Jul 22, 2016 8:22 PM in response to Neto

you are quite literally a lifesaver.

Jul 24, 2016 6:26 AM in response to stedwick

1) open setting

2) open general

3)press storage and iCloud storage

4)press manage storage

5)find the app on the list

6) open the app and press delete

--ivan,your welcome!!

Mierdim

Level 1

4 points

Jul 30, 2016 10:18 AM in response to stedwick

Iphone *****! My iphone wont update ios. Wont install or update apps either!

Whenever i update my iOS it says try again later for more than 30 times.

and when i download apps and update the apps, it just stays in waiting... For many hours.

i thought Apple's iOS is great. Its true, its nice before. But now, infact it ***** now!

IM totally angry

Qluvon79

Level 1

4 points

Jul 31, 2016 4:42 PM in response to stedwick

shutdown and restart ur iPhone, comp, or iPad...

Sep 2, 2016 8:17 PM in response to Neto

This answer always works,

Sep 18, 2016 12:51 AM in response to stedwick

Dec 14, 2016 11:18 AM in response to stedwick

I have tried everything in this conversation and NOTHING has worked. I don't know what to do.HELP

Dec 19, 2016 9:53 PM in response to stedwick

Thanks, You are God! :)

Dec 28, 2016 9:35 PM in response to stedwick

How to fix it after back up ??

N the app come not appear

Hahn.211

Level 1

4 points

Jan 4, 2017 9:37 AM in response to Daphne chin

I had that problem, couldn't delete it both in Iphone or Macbook. Then I tried to "Reset all settings" in "Settings" and finally I can deleted it as normal. Hope it will work for you.

Feb 15, 2017 9:44 AM in response to Lersguy

This worked for me! Thanks

Mar 11, 2017 9:04 PM in response to stedwick

Just had this issue on my ipod touch 4g. None of the suggested solutions worked for me.

What worked was deleting the downloads database in /var/mobile/Media/Downloads/downloads.28.sqlitedb

Downloading apps stuck on waiting...