The world generally knows the iPhone for its smooth, stable, and bug-free user experience. However, even the best products sometimes have their downtimes, and sadly, the mobile device giant is no exception. iPhones occasionally develop issues that frustrate users. For example, iPhone apps may become stuck waiting after installation.
In this article, I will provide a step-by-step and easy-to-understand guide on how to go about the fix if your iPhone app is stuck on waiting.
This problem typically occurs when you download an app from the App Store, but the app stalls while downloading. It neither completes the download nor gets canceled. If that sounds like what you are facing at the moment, keep reading.
I will teach you how to deal with issues such as iPhone apps stuck on “waiting” after a restore, a transfer, or downloading. Let us first consider why iPhone apps are stuck on “waiting.”
Why Are My Apps Stuck in Waiting Mode?
This should be the first question to find answers to before trying to apply any fix. The truth is, several factors may be responsible for this. Let’s consider some of the prominent reasons:
Insufficient storage on your phone: If your iPhone storage space is already full, there will be no room to download more apps, and as a result, the apps you are trying to download will likely be stuck in waiting. To fix this, delete some apps on your phone to make room for the new ones.
Issues with your internet connection: Apps will not download on your iPhone if your network connection is poor or if you have no connection at all. To fix this, switch on your data connection. You may also need to move to an area with a strong internet connection.
Apple server issues: Sometimes, issues with Apple servers can cause apps to get stuck in waiting. In such cases, you should wait for Apple to resolve the server problem.
iPhone settings issue: Incorrect settings on your iPhone can also contribute to apps being stuck in waiting. Ensure that your device settings are properly configured.
iPhone glitches: Several unknown errors are capable of causing your iPhone apps to get stuck in waiting after transfer or download. In such cases, restarting your iPhone or performing a software update may help resolve the issue.
System conflict: The app you are trying to download may have some conflict with the system on the new iPhone you transferred to. Check for any known compatibility issues or try reinstalling the app.
Fixing ‘My iPhone App Stuck on Waiting’ While Downloading
Try the methods below to fix your iPhone apps stuck on waiting after downloading.
Check Network Connection: To download and install apps, your iPhone needs a stable internet connection. Your iPhone apps are likely to stuck on “waiting” while downloading if the connection is unstable or unavailable. Whether you’re using cellular data or Wi-Fi, ensure that you have internet access before attempting to download an app. To check your network connection, follow these steps: Turn Airplane mode on and off to refresh the network connection.If connected via Wi-Fi, try restarting the router.Troubleshoot network errors by going to Transfer or Reset iPhone , and tap ” Reset Network Settings.” Note that this will also delete saved Wi-Fi passcodes. After doing this, check if the waiting apps are now working.
Restart the App Download: While not guaranteed to work, it’s worth trying to pause and resume the app download. This will force the device to re-download the application. To do this, tap on the download icon while the app is downloading to your device. This will pause the download. Tap on the same icon again to resume the download.
Prioritize download for waiting app: It is possible that your iPhone app is stuck on waiting because it can’t download the update at the moment. You should prioritize the download for the waiting app to force the device to download the selected app first before other apps. To prioritize download for waiting apps:
Tap and hold the App icon on the home screen.
Click on ” Prioritize Download.”
My iPhone App is Stuck on Waiting After Transfer
Try the methods below to fix the problem of iPhone apps stuck on waiting after transfer.
Check iPhone Storage Space: Sometimes, freeing up storage space on your iPhone can resolve the issue of “iPhone app stuck on waiting after downloading.” Your phone may not allow new app downloads if your storage space is full. To free up storage space, follow these steps:Tap the Settings icon on your home page.In Settings, select General. Tap on iPhone Storage to check the available space on your device.If there’s not enough space to download the new app, consider deleting apps or other files to free up space. You can also delete apps directly from your home screen by pressing and holding the app icon, then selecting the delete button.
Change iPhone Language: I know it may sound odd, but some iPhone users have resolved the issue of “iPhone app stuck on waiting after installing” by simply changing their iPhone’s language. You should try this, too. To change the language on your iPhone:
Tap the Settings icon on your iPhone’s home page.
Select General.
Tap on Language & Region.
Then, tap on iPhone Language.
Choose any other language you are familiar with, Wait for a few minutes, and change back to the previous language.
Sign Out and Sign In to the App Store: Please note that your iPhone will only download apps if you are properly logged into the App Store. If you are not properly logged in, you may encounter issues with apps not downloading to your iPhone after you restore from a backup. So, confirm that you are logged in to the App Store or try logging out and logging in again.
Fixing My iPhone App Stuck on Waiting After Installing the App
Try the methods below to fix the problem of “iPhone apps stuck on waiting” after installing.
Kill the App: Ideally, iOS apps should work as designed. However, if you encounter a problem with an app, quit the app and restart it. To quit an app on iPhone:
Access the iOS Task Switcher or Multitasking view by double-pressing the Home button.
You will see a list of your currently running apps. Swipe up on the preview of the app you want to remove from the list and kill the process.
Check Apple System Status: Apple servers may experience downtime, which can cause issues with iOS apps. To find out if this is the case, check the Apple System Status page. On the website, you can view the status of each Apple service. Services that are working properly will have a green dot next to them. If the service you’re experiencing issues with has a grey dot next to it, it means there is nothing wrong with your phone, simply wait until the affected server is back up.
Reset the iPhone Settings: If you’ve used your iPhone for a long time without resetting it, the issue of iPhone apps stuck on “waiting” after download could be due to various settings you have unintentionally modified over the years.
Time needed: 1 minute.
To address this, you should reset all of your settings. Here’s how:
Go to the Settings app.
Tap on General.
Scroll down and select Reset.
Choose Reset All Settings.
Other General Fixes for ‘My iPhone App Stuck in Waiting’
Restart Your iPhone: Restarting or rebooting your phone can be a simple yet effective troubleshooting step, especially if the issue is due to a minor glitch. Restarting your device can also help resolve other minor issues. To restart your iPhone, follow these steps:
Press and hold down the power button for about 5 seconds until you see the Apple logo.
Once you fully switch it off, hold the power button down again to turn it back on. After restarting, run the app again.
Update iOS: Check if there are any important updates available for iPhone’s iOS. Apps can misbehave if iOS version is not up to date. To update iOS:
Tap on the Settings icon on your Home screen.
Go to General.
Scroll down to Software Update and check for prompts to install any major updates.
Update the App: To update the app, simply go to the App Store and select “Updates.” This will allow you to check if any of your apps have an available update. When you run the latest version of an app, you ensure the best user experience and minimize issues.
Performing a factory hard reset will erase all data and settings on your iPhone. Only perform a hard reset if you have tried other methods without success and if you are familiar with the process. Make sure you have a backup of your iPhone’s data before proceeding. To perform a factory reset:
Open the Settings icon on your home screen.
Go to General Reset.
Select ” Erase All Content and Settings.”
Why Are My Apps Stuck After Transferring to New iPhone?
In our modern age, transferring data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone during the setup process is typically a straightforward task. However, it can occasionally occur that some apps remain in “waiting” after the transfer is complete.
There are several possible reasons for this issue. Some common factors include poor network connection, iPhone glitches, insufficient storage space, and system glitches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the app icon say “waiting”? When you update iPhone apps from the iOS Store, they are placed in the update queue, and their status changes to “waiting.” Normally, this process runs smoothly. However, there are instances when an iPhone app gets stuck in the waiting state. This could be due to various reasons, such as connectivity issues, lack of storage space, app bugs, Apple server status, or iOS updates.
How do you unfreeze an iPhone app that is stuck? The steps to try in order to unfreeze a stuck iPhone app are: Check your internet connection to ensure you are connected and stable, restart your iPhone, prioritize download for waiting apps, pause iPhone app update or installation, check the device’s storage space and free it up if it’s full, sign out and sign in to your Apple ID, delete and reinstall the stuck app, reset your iPhone settings, and update your iPhone to the latest software version.
Why is WhatsApp not downloading on my iPhone? This is most probably because your iPhone doesn’t have enough space to download and install WhatsApp. To check if you have enough space in your iPhone storage, go to the “Settings” icon on your home screen, tap on “General,” and select “iPhone Storage.” If there isn’t enough space to download the new app, consider deleting apps, photos, songs, or other files to free up space.
Conclusion
I know that your iPhone apps stuck on “waiting” can be a really frustrating experience. I’m glad that you were able to solve the problem by following the methods mentioned in this article.
Tags: apps, iOS, iPhone
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