If the App Store icon seems to be missing from your Apple iPhone or iPad, give these steps a try to find it.
Fix 1 – Double Check Everywhere
Be sure the icon is not in a folder. Check every Home screen and every folder. Also use search to see if you can find it. From the Home screen, swipe all the way to the left screen, then search for “App Store” to see if it appears.
Fix 2 – Check Restrictions
- Open “Settings” from the Home screen.
- In iOS12 and higher choose “Screen Time” > “Content Privacy & Restrictions” > “Content Privacy” > “Allowed Apps“. In iOS 11 and lower, choose “General” > “Restrictions“.
- Ensure “iTunes Store” and you will want to set it to “On“.
Fix 3 – Reset Home Screen
It is possible that the icon is on a different home screen or in a folder. Look on other screens and within folders. If you still can’t find it, try resetting the home screen by selecting “Settings” > “General “> “Reset” > “Reset Home Screen Layout“. This should return your icons to default settings and restore the App Store icon.
Note: If your iPad was provided to you by the organization you work for or a school, it is possible there is software on the device that locks access to the App Store. Ask your IT department for access if you feel this might be the case.
Bran P says
“Screen time” does not exist- iphone 7 with IOS 12. My first iphone given to me by work for business uses… and I can’t install anything I need for work! Another reason I’m a droid person…
vlad3368 says
Solution!!!
Tried Parental Screen Time Allowances… Didn’t work.
Tried Updating iPad… Didn’t work.
Tried Resetting just Home Screen… Didn’t work.
Tried Resetting Everything… WORKED!!! YEAH!!!
used advice from Aw’s comment :)
“settings, general, reset, reset all settings”
Li Jo says
Worked for me!!! My “App Store purchase” was turned off. Thank you sooo much for helping me locate the problem!!!
Claire Nichols says
I tried everything but it still the App Store wasn’t appearing on any of my home screens.
I did turn my restrictions off but still nothing. I reset my iPad home layout but still back were I started from!!!! Very frustrating!!!!!! sorry you couldn’t help.
Robert SCHMITZ says
I thought I had tried everything….
The ReSet home screen (Fix 3) worked!!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Yuxin (Ruby) says
I tried this but it’s still gone after I updated my iPhone
Shadi says
I did not put restrictions on my ipad, i did reset my homescreen layout and nothing happened. It is very frustrating. Could u give me any advice other than reseting my device to factory setting?
Nicole Ventura says
I have tried the above method under screen time as well and my App store and Itunes are both still missing after the update and I can’t update any apps or buy any in app purchases or new apps for my kids. Super frustrating. Any advice?
Lisa Wells says
Thank you thank you thank you!!! I had tried everything and was tearing my hair out!! The Screen Time method worked, something in there was checked as Don’t Allow…I switched it to Allow and the icon is back!
Catherine Berghauser says
i cant find the app for app store cant put any new apps on my sons ipad and i have tried all things on the net nothings works said for the safari one all gone help
Graciela says
Thank you Thank you Thank you!!
JCS says
Hey Mitch!…Thanks for this Info!
I try to keep a pretty tight rein on the apps the kiddos have on their ipods. I *FREAKED* out when I couldn’t find the restrictions…since I disable them during app updates and re-enable them after the updates are finished. Your concise info did the trick!
Thanks!
JerGisi says
Thank you so much. my problem solved with “Screen Time “ metod. I have iPhone 8plus and update iOS 11.4.1 to 12.0.1 but App Store missing from home screen now it’s back 😉😉
thanks for helpful.
Aw says
Had the App Store app disappear on two different iPhone/iPads. Only way I’ve found after trying all the stuff and NOTHING worked I went to settings, general, reset, reset all settings…. brought back my App Store app. On both devices.
Slate says
The app store did disappear after last update, so did the general |restrictions tab. I went under screentime and that will bring back iTunes but not the app store.
Lisa says
This did get my Wallet app back, but the App Store is still missing! This is very frustrating. Seems like it must’ve happened at the last update. Argh.
Mitch Bartlett says
It’s under “Screen Time” now. I posted that in the info in this post.
M J Rob says
Same thing happened to me, my app icon is gone. Usually When I go to general then restriction and App Store opens up, but there’s no restriction to go on, its completely gone after I updated the iPad.
Karen says
Hi, I have tried every instruction as per above. I still cannot reinstate the App Icon. What else can I do – this is a very important icon for my oPad Pro.