Sometimes when buying an app on the iPhone, you might see ‘The iTunes Store is unable to process purchases at this time. Please try again later.’ In most cases, users experience this problem, after updating their device to the latest iOS version. If you are unable to purchase apps from the App Store on your iPhone or iPad, there are a few simple steps which you need to follow to fix the issue.
Unable to Purchase Apps on iPhone or iPad? Tips to Fix the Issue
If you are unable to purchase apps on app store, follow the steps below to fix the issue.
1. Check Payment Information
If you have several payment methods or a faulty credit card attached to your Apple ID, you may encounter ‘Unable to Process Purchases at this Time’ error. To fix this, try to remove unnecessary cards added to your account. Simply follow these steps:
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap your name at the top of the screen and then Tap the iTunes & App Store.
- tap your Apple ID at the top. Then tap View Apple ID.
- Tap Manage Payments.
- To remove unnecessary cards and payment methods, tap Edit at the top right > tap the red minus icon > tap Remove > tap Remove from the pop-up.
In case you have errors or issues with the payment method, you may want to add a valid working card to your Apple ID.
2. Sign Out from Apple ID and Sign in Again
- Start the Settings app and then tap on your profile at the top of the screen.
- tap iTunes & App Store.
- Tap on your Apple ID > choose Sign Out.
Wait for a moment and sign back in.
3. Restart your Device
To restart your iPhone or iPad, use the buttons as usual. Alternatively, head over to the Settings > General, scroll down and tap Shut Down. Wait for a moment and power your device back on and try to purchase the app again.
4. Check App Store Restrictions on iPhone
Restrictions may prevent you from purchasing or downloading apps. To check if there are restrictions applied for your iPhone or iPad, follow the steps below. If you (a kid) are in Family Sharing, ask the family organizer to remove app restrictions for you.
- Start the Settings app and tap on Screen Time.
- Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- In case restrictions are turned on, tap on iTunes & App Store Purchases and ensure Installing Apps is set to Allow.
- Now, go back and tap Allowed Apps. Ensure the toggle for the iTunes Store is turned on.
- Go back and tap on Content Restrictions and ensure that for Apps, Allow All Apps is checked.
If you find these settings overwhelming, you may also turn off Content & Privacy Restrictions completely.
5. Check Apple Status Page
Head over to Apple’sSystem Status Page and check that App Store, Apple ID, and iTunes Store have a green dot next to them. This is an indicator that everything is working normally. If the dot is not green, then you need to hold on for some time before you can download or purchase an app.
6. Use Touch ID or Face ID for App Purchases
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down and tapFace ID/Touch ID & Passcode and enter your device’s password.
- Turn on the switch next to iTunes & App Store. You may be asked to type in your Apple ID password. From now on, you can make purchases from the App Store using biometrics authentication.
Now, try to download or purchase the app again. If you still cant purchase apps on iPhone, try the next solution.
7. Update Your iPhone or iPad
Make sure your device is running the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Apple often releases new version of operating system to fix existing glitches and bugs. You can either set automatic iOS updates, or follow the steps below to update your device manually.
- Head over to Settings > Tap General > Software Update.
If a new update is available, tap Download and Install.
8. Reset All Settings on iPhone
If you are still not able to purchase apps from app store, consider resetting all settings. Non of your personal data will be deleted, however, it will remove all settings, such as Wi-Fi, VPN configuration, keyboard settings, Notification settings, home screen layout, etc. Simply put, all your iPhone settings will return to default. To be on the safe side, it’s always a good idea to backup your device before you reset it.
- Start the settings app > Tap General > Reset.
- Tap Reset All Settings. Type in your password and confirm the action.
After the process completes, try to purchase the app again. If you are still not able to purchase apps on iPhone, try the next solution.
9. Contact Apple Support
If the problem persist, it’s time tocontact Apple Support. You can do this via chat or call. Alternatively, you can use the Apple Support app if you’ve already installed it on your iPhone or iPad.
10. Fix Unable to Restore In-App Purchases on iPhone
If you are unable to restore in-app purchases, then consider checking your Apple ID. Did you make these purchases from the same Apple ID that you are currently using, or was it a different one? It’s only possible to restore purchases if the Apple ID is the same that was used to buy them. Purchases are attached to your Apple ID and not the device.
Also, launch the Settings app > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
If it’s turned on, tap iTunes & App Store Purchases and make sure that In-app Purchases is set to Allow.
Lastly, if the app doesn’t recognize automatically that you have bought in-app purchases or its pro version, etc. then, you’ll need to do it manually. Simply head over to Settings or Options inside the app and find the Restore Purchases option.
If it still returns an error, restart your device and try again. Lastly, if nothing helps, get in touch with the developer. To do this, you can use the help or contact page inside the app. Or, search for the app in the App Store and tap on it. Next, tap App Support or Developer Website and reach out to them from there.
I trust this article helped you fix the issues related to app purchases on your iPhone and iPad. If you have any other question or suggestion, let us know in the comments section below.
We also have plenty of other articles that I suggest you check right now.