App store icon shows 21 updates but no updates avail

Same issue. Appstore keeps telling me I have an Itunes update. I click on update and it tells me its already up-to-date but red notification icon still remains

This thread is getting old -- last previous post was in Nov 2014

I just experienced (on Sat, Feb 21, 2015) this same issue of the iOS App Store icon showing a number indicating updates are available, but when I go to the App Store, I can't update anything.

This occurred on a new iPad 4 Retina which I had tried to setup by doing a restore from an iPad Mini I had backed up in iTunes. This seemed to be a easy way to get all of my apps downloaded on the proper screen in the proper groups. The restore appeared to go well.

After finishing in iTunes is when I noticed the App Store icon issue.

I have tried all fixes offered in this thread, but to no avail. I must have killed the App Store app and restarted my iPad at least 5 times.

After have tried everything in this thread and other fixes found from an extensive Google search, I gave up.

So, I reset my iPad, and did a manual selection and organization of Apps in iTunes.

Now, the iPad is running fine -- no issues.

I had the same problem; soft reset didn't work, hard reset didn't work. What did work was toggling the Automatic Downloads button (in the itunes & App Store menu) from on to off and back again. Simple as that.

thank you! This is the only thing that helped me solving the issue in my case.

Add me to the list - problem started with the last IOS update. Resets didn't work - neither did toggling off and on updates in settings, nor signing out and back in again to the App Store.

Facing same issues with my iPhone 4S and 5.

Both have latest ios 9.0.1.

I update the app in iTunes in synced my phone with it. Now apps are updated but app store on my iPhone has number of updates available badge not working. Sharing screens hot for same.

if you haven't solved the problem yet. you might want to tap the tab 10 times for it to refresh. or you could go to your settings -> app and itunes store -> turn off installed apps. turn on automatic downloads for updates and apps. make sure you turn Use Mobile Data off just in case. 😀

I've tried everything suggested here and my App Store icon still says I have one update. I'm a first-time poster/user here, so I don't really know how all this works. Does Apple have an official fix for this, or are these suggested fixes things that people figure out on their own? This is really aggravating.

Tapping to refresh has not helped mine (5S, 9.0.2 iOS). I am still showing a notification of 2 apps needing updating. The Update All is grayed out and the the usual "Update" button is showing "Open". I have reset my phone a couple times but with no success. The apps in question are UPS Mobile and Starbucks.Yes, I have tried tapping the "Open" button in hopes it was mislabeled and working; however, it is correct, it actual opens the app.

quick update to my post...going to General Settings and then to the Background App Refresh and turning it off seems to have "fixed" the problem for now. I can go back to the apps and now they show "Update" properly. Workaround for now...

Settings>iTunes & App Store toggle updates off and on. Worked for me.

your advice is good! it solved my problem. thanks!