Where did the App Store go on the iPhone and how to get it back? The App Store on iPhone is missing and you can’t figure out where it’s gone? In this article, we’ll show you how to get the App Store back on your iPhone or iPad so you can install new apps and update existing ones the way you used to.
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Why did the App Store disappear from the iPhone?
Some users think that if the App Store disappeared from the iPhone screen, then it was deleted, but this is not the case. It is important to know that the App Store is an integral part of iOS and it is not possible to remove the App Store.
If you turn on the blocking of the installation of new applications in the settings, the App Store will disappear from your iPhone and you will not be able to find it even in the application library or Spotlight search. Even through Siri, you can open the App Store. Therefore, it may seem that the App Store has been removed from the iPhone. Next, we’ll tell you how to return the App Store.
At the same time, if you or your parents removed the App Store app icon from the iPhone home screen, it only disappears from the home screen, it still remains in the App Store system and can be easily returned to the home screen.
How to open the App Store and bring it back to the iPhone home screen?
Here are a few ways to get the App Store icon back on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Remove the ban on the App Store in iPhone settings
With Screen Time, you can restrict the use of apps according to their age category (4+, 9+, 12+, 17+) or even block the installation of any app!
Here’s how to get the App Store back on iPhone:
1) Open the Settings app and tap on Screen Time.
2) Click “Content and Privacy”.
3) Select iTunes & App Store Purchases. Enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted.
4) Click “Install Software” and select “Yes”.
5) Now go back to the main screen and you should see the App Store icon. If you can’t find the App Store, drag the home screen down and search for the App Store.
Note: If you see the Turn on Screen Time button in the first step, it means that you have no Screen Time restrictions and you can skip all the above steps.
The App Store is open for a limited time
With parental controls, you can limit the installation and use of applications. Basically, parents will activate the time limit for apps like WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, etc. But if they decide to limit the time of using all apps, then the limitation will also apply to the App Store, due to which you cannot download or update applications. In this case, an hourglass icon appears next to the App Store icon and the message “Time limit” appears when opened.
If you see an hourglass icon, it means that the app is blocked until midnight (00-00). You can click “Ask to extend the limit” and hope your parents will extend the limit, or if you know the Screen Time password, you can enter it, this will instantly remove the app’s time limit.
Note: The Screen Time passcode is different from your iPhone passcode.
- Forgot your Screen Time password? Let’s restore it!
To permanently remove the app limit, go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits and turn off App Limit or swipe left on the App Store to remove the limit.
Bring back the App Store via Spotlight search
In most cases, you can find and restore the missing App Store icon simply by invoking search and typing App Store. From there, you can either launch the App Store or add it to your home screen for faster access in the future.
- From the iPhone home screen and swipe down to open Spotlight search.
- Enter App Store.
- In the search results, click on the App Store app icon to open it.
- Or long-press the App Store app icon and drag it down to the home screen to add it there.
Find the App Store in the App Library
In addition to searching, you can also find the App Store in the App Library, which you can access by swiping all the way to the bottom of the home screen pages.
The App Store is located in the Utilities folder in the App Library. Or you can swipe down the App Library screen to see all the apps in alphabetical order. It should be somewhere in the middle of the list after the letter “I”.
In the App Library, you hold down an app’s icon and drag it to the left to add that app to your home screen.
What else to try if the App Store doesn’t show up on iPhone and iPad
Following the advice from the article, the App Store icon should have been restored on the iPhone. If the previous methods did not help, then try this:
- Restart your iPhone. This is especially true if you’ve just turned off the Screen Time app install restriction.
- If you can’t find the App Store in Spotlight search, make sure you don’t hide it from search in Settings. Go to “Settings” -> “AppStore” -> “Siri & Search” and activate the “App when searching” option.
- As a last resort, if the App Store is gone and it is not even in the application library, update your iPhone (Settings application -> General -> Software Update). In addition, you can reset the home screen apps layout (Settings -> General -> Transfer or reset iPhone -> and click Reset Home settings), then all your apps will return to their default positions. Typically, the App Store is on the first page of the home screen, next to other standard Apple apps.
