I just got an ipod touch 6th generation and while many apps are sadly telling me they won't work with ios 11 (wish I knew about that before buying) I also get many "Unable to install "app name here" you must purchase this app to install it." What do I do? Obviosly I own it, so why does it say this.
iPod touch (6th generation), iOS 11.0.3
If you bought them with a different Apple ID, you have to log into App Store using that ID in order to re-download or uppdate those apps.
Redownload music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books from the iTunes Store, iBooks Store, and App Store
Nope all under the only Apple id I have. They are physcially on my new ipod as they were downloaded from the cloud. They all either download when touched, tell me it's incompatible with the new ios or tells me I have to get the app which is bizarre because it's right there.
I am having the same issue having just upgraded from an iPhone 5 to 8. (I resisted giving up a headphone jack.) Several apps no longer work. Some are no longer in the store, but several also say "you must purchase this app to install it". It offers to let me "view in app store", but then says "Cannot Connect to App Store." This is even though I am connecting to the store. In fact, I can click on any app store tab and it loads, so clearly I am connected.
Update: I just did a long and unhelpful chat with Apple support. Short version is that it appears to be that the apps I am being asked to repurchase are no longer available in the app store. The rep was unable to explain why some apps say they are no longer available and others (which are also unavailable) say I should repurchase. I don't think the rep ever really understood what I was asking. Rep was also unable to explain the "unable to connect to app store" thing, but wanted me to call tech support for that. I thought that's who I was talking to...
Immediately upon updating to iOS 11, I had this same incredibly frustrating problem ("iPad can't connect to App Store"). After 20 hours of vain attempts to fix the problem, including 10 factory resets and conversations with 10 different Apple tech support people, someone at a local Apple Store finally figured out a solution:
1) Plug the iPad into a Mac.
2) From iTunes, do a backup, then do Restore (to factory settings).
3) After the iPad restarts, set it up as a NEW device. Do not restore from backup.
4) Now here is the most important part. When the iPad asks you to enter your apple ID, do NOT enter any ID. There is a fine print option at the bottom of the screen that will let you continue to the main screen without entering an Apple ID. If you enter an Apple ID when the iPad starts up, you will go right back to "iPad can't connect to App Store".
5) When you get to the main screen, open up the App Store. This time it should load properly.
6) Download any app you like. When the App Store asks you to login, now it's OK to use your Apple ID.
7) Restore from backup.
This bug in iOS 11 caused me so much hassle that I am not updating any other devices to iOS 11 -- once around the block was enough. I hope the solution above is helpful to other people.
Unable to install but own app?
