How do I delete / remove an iPhone app that is stuck installing?

How do I delete / remove an iPhone app that is stuck installing?

Sometimes iPhone applications get stuck waiting or loading when installing. These apps might be frozen with a blank icon and no way to remove them for days. Holding down on the home screen to delete the stuck app won't even show the black circle with an "x" that appears on other icons. Here are instructions on how to delete these waiting applications:

  1. Reboot your iPhone normally. See this link for instructions on how to restart your iPhone.
  2. If the apps are still stuck on the home screen, try logging out of the App Store temporarily. Navigate to Settings -> Store -> Apple ID -> Sign Out. Now open the App Store and Navigate to the Featured section. Scroll to the bottom of the page and touch the Sign In -> Use Existing Apple ID. Log in and the stuck apps should reset.
  3. Still have strange icons on the screen or frozen downloading apps? Connect your iPhone to the computer and open iTunes. Navigate to the app store. Install the apps you are having a problem with on the computer then sync your iPhone.

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Comments

3L1 replied on

If you're on a jailbroken iDevice and you encounter the same issues as this whole article is about, try this tip.
1. Put your iDevice into safe mode (if you don't know how, best way is to Google "how to put my iDevice into safe mode)
2. Go into the AppStore and find that app that is stuck on installing, and install it once again.
3. When the installation is complete, go to the app on your home page(s), hold the app, and delete it.
4. Click the status bar on your iDevice at the home screen and you will have the three options of "OK", "Restart", and "Help".
5. Click the restart button and wait for your iDevice to respring.
6. After process is finished, unlock your device.
7. Enjoy.

Anonymous replied on

Thank you SO much. I tried everything recommended and finally the information in #3 worked ...Connect your iPhone to the computer and open iTunes. Navigate to the app store. Install the apps you are having a problem with on the computer then sync your iPhone.

gwv replied on

The solution for me was to go under Settings/General/Usage/Show All Apps. Then select the stuck app, which in my case was Facebook. Finally, click on the option to "Delete App". Problem solved. Finally.

Anonymous replied on

Yes! That worked for me. Thanks

Anonymous replied on

This is the only thing that worked and the simplest. thanks

petergarlick replied on

Yes that did it, after trying 5-6 other suggestions the settings/general/Usage/show all aps approach was the one that worked. Thanks

bob replied on

dude you rock. I have searched all over the net and your solution was the only one that worked. thank you so much!

Sophie replied on

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! you have literally saved my life and phone i could kiss you right now!!!

EASIEST replied on

Just turn off and on!

Shaz replied on

I just updated my phone, it said it couldn't do it, made me go to Factory Settings, then reinstalled from the backup. Now there are 5 apps that cannot be updated. They do not exist anymore in the app store. They are not on my phone, they aren't even on the list of apps in itunes - well one is on the list but not as an icon, but that will not give me the option to remove it from the list.

I've turned it on and off, I've logged out and back in again, I've updated software again... there is nothing I can do. Does anyone have any other ideas?

Ed replied on

Try going to your local apple shop if possible, they can give you very useful assistance I've had a similar problem like that and they helped me out in no time and dont worry because they won't even charge you. That's all I can think of for now either that or you could completely reset your phone, but doing this will get rid of all it's data so I would recommend the first one.

Ed replied on

Thanks the second one worked you just need to do it several times until it works

Nadia replied on

Rebooting didn't work so I signed out and back into appstore and it helped :) Thanks a ton.

Anonymous replied on

Just adding my experience with iPhone 5. 4 apps were stuck in the Installing state in the AppStore application. As per instructions in this thread, I wanted to go to the home screen icon and touch each of the app icons but I could not find them, neither did Spotlight search.

I then followed this procedure.

1) I touched one of the app icons in App store that is in the Installing state
2) That took me to the detailed app page in the AppStore application itself.
3) On a whim, I touched the icon in that detailed app page. That took me to the home screen where the app was. Hah problem solved, so I thgouht.. not quite so..
4) I touched that app icon. It immediately got to the normal state as if the update was finished. That was short lived. There was an error message saying the app could not be downloaded.
5) I dismissed that and went to the App Store. Now the button said 'Update' and not 'Installing'.
6) I touched 'Update' and it then updated fine.

I repeated the steps for app the four apps.

Hope this helps others.

Khodor replied on

I found an easy step to get rid of the apps getting stuck problem, all I did was enabling the restrictions, then disabled the ability to install/delete apps, disabled both the appstore and iTunes, then enabled all that back again and the problem was solved. If this helps you guys now or in the near future feel free to contact me via email tik_tak-tok@hotmail.com or my Kik "Khodorr".

Treason replied on

Y wen I hold the app it jus shake? No x ever pops up on none off my apps...I have the ipad4 apple..if I try to install sumthn new all it do is send me to general settings so I can manage my apps but there's no way to delete it when I'm n settings..

Anonymous replied on

you can also reset network settings not all of it

Anonymous replied on

This worked thanks so much

Jamie replied on

This worked for me! I deleted the app from iTunes then redownloaded it in iTunes then synced my phone! Thanks!

Anonymous.nigga replied on

the second step worked for me try everything also if ur desperate backup ur phone and restore and dont forget to back up with icloud to get the whatsapp chat history

Anonymous replied on

none worked for me but i figured it out go to app store and find the frozen app it should have a circle with a square in it beside it just click it 2 times to fix the frozen app

Anonymous replied on

Ive tried everything I don't know what to do when I did the last step now its stuck on installing

Dilshard replied on

WOOOW ,,Its Works..
Thank you !

Anonymous replied on

Turning my iPod off and on again worked for me :)

Mikegemai replied on

I mistakenly redownloaded an app from the appstore and i decided not to continue the download and i was stuck on waiting mode. What i did was i rebooted the ipad then finally i was able to delet the app.

Chad replied on

Go to App Store, click updates at bottom, update the app.

carla replied on

nothing worked for me! i have a blank app that is no longer available in the app store. any suggestions for such a case?

Djdiego71 replied on

Same issue with an app thats not longer available in AppStore, then cant delete or update!! I try on iTunes (pc) delete from my iPhone, "apply" and nothing happen, icon still there.

Anonymous replied on

It worked !!! Thank you so much !!!!!

Anonymous replied on

It worked !!! Thank you so much !!!!!

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