Icons are dark and "waiting" after restore from back-up

I found the solution! This happened to me, too, after restoring from iTunes backup: most of my apps were stuck in a "dark" status and if I clicked on one then it would change to a "waiting" status. I did a lot of tapping and restarting and Google searching, and here's what fixed it for me:

Open iTunes, go to the Apps in your LIBRARY (in the top left toolbar of iTunes) -- not on your iPhone/iPad/iPod -- make sure you're in the "icons" view not the "list" view, and then up top (in iTunes v12 anyway) click the filter above the icons that says "Updates" (to show only apps in your iTunes library that have updates available), then in the bottom right click the [Update All] button. You can also update individual apps by right-clicking on them, or you can drag a box around a group of apps and then right-click.

Once all your apps in your iTunes library are updated, then [Sync] your iPhone/iPad/iPod and the sync process will install all the gray and "waiting" apps to your device.

I had the same problem after restoring my iphone6s from my iTunes backup. Many of the app icons on my iphone were black. I tried to find the Apps in my iTunes Library but nothing was listed. What worked for me: I went to the Apps icon on my iphone, and it listed all the apps that were supposed to be available on the iphone including the ones that were black. The ones were black were waiting to be downloaded and reinstalled, so I just went through each one and re-downloaded and installed them. MAGIC! Thanks for the idea from bargz1!

IOS is a goner with steve! i never felt so fed up before till i changed my iphone 6 plus to iphone 7 plus! It had become the worse nightmare having to go thru so many steps to gets all my apps back. all my whatapps pics and documents are gone!!! I am giving up ios for good...is a **** unfriendly and the most troublesome operation system ! iphone suk!!!!

Hello Fredrik I hope I have the solution you need... Maybe you've found out by now but It's because the apps are 'refreshing'. I think this is new to iOS 7 because I don't remember it happening before...

If you go into your settings-->general--> and about halfway down the list is BACKGROUND APP REFRESH.

I wish I could include a picture to make it easier but if you go into this setting you will see a list of all the apps that will refresh and also the master switch that turns them all off.. I'm not sure what it's doing when it's refreshing tho, maybe checking for updates or location?

Hope this helps,

Mister

It doesn't work. I had the same problem.

I just upgraded to iOS 7.1.2 the day before, and had the same problem.

And I just sorted it out today.

Here's what I did:

1. Go to App Store
2. Then Update
3. Then go into Purchases, and you will find all those Apps, just click the cloud icon to download again.

Hope that helps you.

go to setting - general - background app reflash and mark on

and go back , go back,- app and itune store - click on update

and go front display check it out..

wifi must be working first

mine was working now..

hope helpful

that works, thanks man

That worked for me after so many other suggestions failed- thanks so much!