The iOS App Store is by and large the only way you can get apps on your iPhone and iPad. Naturally, that means if you are, for some reason, unable to use the App Store, it will probably be an annoying experience. Well, if you’ve been facing the infamous “Can’t connect to App Store” error after iOS 17 update, fret not. Here are the best solutions to fix the irritating “cannot connect to App Store error” on your iOS 17 device.
Having encountered the “Can’t connect to App Store” issue on iOS 17 a number of times (everyone once in a while), I can say that the problem mostly occurs due to poor internet connection. However, there are times where it crops up even when the internet connection seems pretty stable.
While the good thing about this issue is that you can get rid of it with ease, the bad thing is it will keep coming every now and then. So, it’s better to be always prepared for the problem with quick fixes.
How to Fix an iPhone That Cannot Connect to App Store in iOS 17
There are several ways to fix an iOS 17 device that cannot connect to App Store. If your iPhone won’t open App Store after iOS 17 update, try these fixes, in this order:
1. Turn Off/On Airplane Mode
Whenever I face connectivity issues on my iPhone, the one quick solution that I go after is to toggle Airplane mode. And guess what, it helps me sort out the problem – more often than not. So, I’m going to bet on it to resolve the “cannot connect to App Store” after iOS 17 update issue as well.
Basically, just force quit App Store and then turn on/off Airplane mode.
If your iPhone has Face ID, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to bring up the control center.
If your iPhone has touch ID, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the control center.
Now, tap on the Airplane mode button to turn it on. Wait for some time and then tap on the Airplane mode button to turn it off. Now, launch App Store to check if the problem is gone. If it has, go ahead with your daily chores. If it hasn’t, keep reading.
2. Restart the App Store app
Sometimes a simple force close is all you need when your iOS 17 device cannot connect to App Store! You can do this by simply swiping up from the bottom of the screen and then swiping up on the App Store on the app switcher. After you quit the App, check if your iOS 17 device can now connect to App Store.
3. Toggle Wi-Fi off and on
Just like with Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi problems could be the reason why your iOS 17 device cannot connect to App Store. Not to mention, your network may very well be having simple connection issues. Toggle Wi-Fi on and off, and check if your iOS 17 device can connect to App Store.
- Bring up your iPhone’s Control Center, as mentioned above.
- In the top-left block, check if the Wi-Fi is already switched on and lit up as blue. Tap to turn it off if so
- Wait a few seconds.
- Tap the icon to turn on your iPhone’s Wi-Fi again.
4. Toggle Your iPhone’s Cellular Data off and on
If you are using cellular data to access the App Store, turning your iPhone’s Cellular data function off and back on may fix the issue you are experiencing. It may seem too simple or easy, but refreshing your cellular data connection could solve the problem of iPhone cannot connect to App Store in iOS 17. Try switching mobile data off and on, and see if the problem persists. To do this:
- Launch your iPhone’s Control Center, by swiping down from top right of your screen.
- In the top-left block, check if the Cellular Data icon (an antenna) is already switched on and lit up as green. Tap to turn it off if so
- Wait a few seconds.
- Tap the icon to turn on your iPhone’s cellular data again.
5. Restart your router
In some cases, you can fix the problem of iOS 17 not connecting to App Store by simply restarting your router. It might seem silly, but give it a try, and you might affect the Wi-Fi magic enough to get App Store going again. Some routers allow restarts to be triggered through an app, while others may have a physical button. If yours has neither, you can unplug the router’s power source and plug it back in.
6. Restart your phone
It’s simple, but turning your iPhone off and back on can resolve hidden software issues that may be preventing the App Store from opening. When you turn off your iPhone, the operating system shuts down all the little background programs that help your iPhone to run. When you turn it back on, they all start fresh, and sometimes that’s enough to fix a software glitch that had been preventing the App Store from opening. This will take a minute or two and might work.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Shut Down.
- Press the Side button to power your iPhone back on.
7. Check Apple’s System Status for App Store
Whenever Apple’s servers face an outage, a number of features and services (i.e iCloud backup, iCloud Drive, App Store, Siri, etc.) are affected. So, if App Store is still not working on your iOS 17 device, it would be apt to check the system status of the App Store.
Go to Apple’s system status page and then make sure the circle to the left of the App Store is green. If the circle is yellow, there are some technical issues with App Store. And in such a situation, you can’t do anything but wait for Apple to resolve the problem.
8. Check your date and time settings
Out of sync Date & Time settings can cause all sorts of different problems. It’s possible your iOS 17 device thinks it’s stuck in the past or the future, which could be preventing it from connecting to the App Store.
You can fix the time and date settings of your iOS 17 device with these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Tap on General.
- Select Date & time.
- Toggle the Set automatically toggle to get your time from the internet.
9. Disable your VPN
VPNs are great to work with, but they tend to create connectivity issues for App Store. Plenty of users have reported that their iOS 17 device cannot connect to App Store when a VPN is enabled.
If your iOS 17 device has a VPN installed in it, then you should disable it.
Follow these steps to remove VPN settings on in iPhone running iOS 17:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on VPN & Device Management.
- Disable any active VPN.
10. Update iOS
To ward off miscellaneous bugs and also enhance performance, Apple rolls out software updates frequently. Thus, you can get rid of random iOS 17 issues just by updating the software – in most cases. If none of the above-mentioned solutions has worked in resolving the iOS 17 App Store issues, updating the software could be the right answer.
You can update iOS wirelessly by following the steps below:
- Start the Settings app.
- Select General.
- Tap Software update.
- If an iOS update is available, tap download and install.
11. Reset Network Settings
Resetting network settings to factory default is another reliable solution that you can count on to troubleshoot the "cannot connect to App Store" problem in iOS 17. So, if the problem seems to be persistent, there is no harm in giving it a shot.
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset. Here, tap on Reset Network Settings. Next up, you need to enter your device passcode. You may also need to enter your Screen Time passcode to proceed. Finally, tap on **Reset Network Settings **to finish.
12. Sign Out of Your Apple ID and Sign Back In
On a few occasions, I am able to troubleshoot the App Store issues on my iPhone by signing out of my Apple ID and signing back in. While this solution might seem to be unrelated, it does work in resolving the App Store problems.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on your profile. Next, tap on Sign Out and then follow the instructions to sign out of your iOS 17 device. Up next, launch the Settings app on your device and then sign back in.
13. Reset all iPhone settings
We’re now coming to slightly more drastic solutions. If your iOS 17 device still cannot connect to App Store, then you may need to reset all settings on your device. Doing this won’t erase your data, but it can solve the problem of iPhone not connecting to App Store after iOS 17 update.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Select Reset.
- Choose Reset All Settings.
14. Reset your iPhone to factory settings
If all else fails and your iOS 17 device cannot connect to app store, wipe your iPhone clean and give it a fresh start. At this point, we have no idea what could be causing your App Store discrepancies, but resetting your iPhone to factory defaults will likely fix most of your issues, as it deletes everything on the device and leaves it the way it was when you turned it on for the very first time. You can perform a factory reset by following the instructions below:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Select Erase All Content and Settings.
15. Get help from Apple
If you tried all these steps and your iOS 17 device still cannot connect to App Store, you need help from the experts at Apple. You can get online or phone support at the Apple website, or make an appointment at the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store for in-person help.
Solutions to Troubleshoot Can’t Connect to App Store Error in iOS 17
That’s all there is to it! Hopefully, App Store has once again started to work as usual. Since the “cannot connect to App Store” error usually occurs due to an inconsistent internet connection, the first couple of methods we have mentioned should solve the problem in most cases. However, it can also happen due to bugs and App Store outages.
So, which of these tricks managed to resolve the App Store problems on your iOS 17 device? Let us know in the comments section below.