Apple store app says it can't connect to store.

My apple store app says it can't connect to store even though everything else works. Wi-fi is working. I've rebooted iPad and still doesn't work. Any ideas? I'm trying to download the updates to my apps.

iPad 2

Posted on Aug 31, 2012 5:53 PM

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Posted on Sep 1, 2012 9:19 AM

Ok, I found a solution that worked for me when trying to connect to the iTunes store by tapping the "update" button in the "App Store" app on my iPad 2. Before the solution was implemented I'd always get the error message "cannot connect to iTunes store". Once the solution was implemented I now can connect to iTunes using the "update" button in the "App Store" app and I get the normal message "All apps are up to date". The solution is this: go into Settings, then General, then scroll to the bottom where it says Date and Time. Tap Date and Time and then turn OFF Set Automatically. When you do that a new option will be added that says Set Date and Time. Tap it. You'll now get a drop down feature. Set the Date AHEAD 2 YEARS. The Time you can leave alone.

Once you do that you might get a bunch of reminders and messages that your apps and stuff haven't been updated in two years. Click cancel or close on each of those messages or reminders. Now go back into Settings, General, Date and Time, and turn Set Automatically back to ON. Reboot your iPad. Open the App Store app again and go to the Update button. It might ask you to log back in to your iTunes account. It should now work. If not, close the App Store app completely and open again and try the update button. Hope this helps.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 1, 2012 9:19 AM in response to lindafrombend

Ok, I found a solution that worked for me when trying to connect to the iTunes store by tapping the "update" button in the "App Store" app on my iPad 2. Before the solution was implemented I'd always get the error message "cannot connect to iTunes store". Once the solution was implemented I now can connect to iTunes using the "update" button in the "App Store" app and I get the normal message "All apps are up to date". The solution is this: go into Settings, then General, then scroll to the bottom where it says Date and Time. Tap Date and Time and then turn OFF Set Automatically. When you do that a new option will be added that says Set Date and Time. Tap it. You'll now get a drop down feature. Set the Date AHEAD 2 YEARS. The Time you can leave alone.

Once you do that you might get a bunch of reminders and messages that your apps and stuff haven't been updated in two years. Click cancel or close on each of those messages or reminders. Now go back into Settings, General, Date and Time, and turn Set Automatically back to ON. Reboot your iPad. Open the App Store app again and go to the Update button. It might ask you to log back in to your iTunes account. It should now work. If not, close the App Store app completely and open again and try the update button. Hope this helps.

Sep 1, 2012 7:02 PM in response to lindafrombend

I have a solution that hasn't been posted. Some of you here are able to connect to the app store but are not able to update your apps on both the iPhone and iPad.


Try adding any new app. Once I did this, I was prompted by Apple to add three security questions and add a second email address. After they were updated, I signed back in and was FINALLY (after trying everything posted on every discussion board) able to update my apps.


I don't know if that will work for everyone, but it's worth a shot for those that are out of ideas.

Aug 31, 2012 5:58 PM in response to lindafrombend

Are you sure you're connected to the internet via wifi? Will Mail or Safari open?


The Complete Guide to Using the iTunes Store

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/the-complete-guide-to-using-t he-itunes-store/


Can't connect to the iTunes Store

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1368


iTunes: Advanced iTunes Store troubleshooting

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3297


 Cheers, Tom 😉

Sep 1, 2012 3:29 PM in response to lindafrombend

I wish I knew why these issues occur with the iDevices. Many people would like to know what causes the problem while most don't care what causes the problem, rather they just want the problem fixed for their iDevice. For these people these forums are a great source of information to find a "fix". Apple's next big software release, IOS 6, for all our iDevices, is just a few weeks away. It will probably fix the "can not connect to iTunes store" problem but will probably cause a handful of new iDevice issues. Apple's over-the-phone support system is just as bad as Microsofts has been. I'm sure Apple is aware of many of these issues that arise but you usually have to wait for months for a big iOS software update to fix it. I think these forums and communities are great though to find solutions, if even for a portion of people with the issue.

Sep 1, 2012 5:12 PM in response to Texas Mac Man

IPAD ISSUE--I am having exactly the same issue and the comments advising if we are sure we are connected to the internet etc. just annoys me like I am sure it is with all other users who are having this issue.(thats the first thing to check.) How would Safari work if we were not connected--how would all the rest of the features in the App store work like "Genuis" ,"Top Charts", "Catagories"," Purchased" etc on the base menu if all was not ok and was not actually connected to the store.

Its just the Updates section it keeps saying "Cannot connect to itunes Store" Crazy when all the other sections and menus of the App store works fine.

Does anyone know what is going on here. Yes I have rebooted. Yes I have perfect connection. Yes I linked to itunes on my computer with white cable and tried to get rid of error messages. Nothing seem to work so far. You cant even delete Apps store as it is part of the set up.

Sep 1, 2012 5:28 PM in response to Willrigg

If you don't like the suggestions that are being offered here, look for help somewhere else. There other iPad forums on the Internet. Nobody is twisting your arm and asking you to look here for help.


I realize that Apple suggest coming here to ASC disucssions, but if it doesn't work for you, move on to somewhere else, where you feel the support is better.


Many of the suggestions have helped others reconnect to the iTunes Store and my guess would be that most of those users are happy to be able to connect again and aren't looking for answers above and beyond being able to deal with the issue.


Nobody here knows why this is occurring, we are just trying to offer help with the knowledge that we have at our disposal and the knowledge that we have gained with our own iPad use. If somebody had the definite answer as to why this is happening, it would have been posted by now. Nobody is withholding secret information.

Sep 2, 2012 10:46 AM in response to lindafrombend

Thanks, everyone for your help. I was just about to try the suggested solutions given to my question and lo and behold the app connected to the updates and is now downloading the updates to my apps. I tried all the standard solutions the day I posted my question and nothing worked; rebooting, resetting, making sure all apps were completely off, etc. If it happens again I'll try the solutions listed here.

Thanks again for your help.

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Apple store app says it can't connect to store.

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