How to Get the App Store Back on Your iPhone & iPad

If the App Store icon disappeared on your iPhone, it doesn't mean you deleted the app; it's just missing or uninstalled. If your App Store icon is missing and you're wondering how to restore it, here's how to get the App Store back on an iPhone or iPad.

Jump To:

• How to Get the App Store Back on iPhone & iPad with Search
• Get the App Store My iPhone by Restoring Your Home Screen
• App Store App Disappeared from Your Home Screen? Restrictions May Be the Cause
• FAQ

App Store Missing on iPhone or iPad? Here's How to Get the App Store Back

Why is the App Store missing from your iPhone, and how do you get it back? Here's how to get the App Store back on your iPhone; you can find the App Store app hiding in a folder or the App Library, or remove restrictions that prevent you from using the App Store. These steps can be used for other missing or deleted apps as well; here's how to add an app back to the Home Screen. 

How to Get the App Store Back on iPhone & iPad with Search

If you think you accidentally deleted the App Store, don't worry. The App Store cannot be deleted. So, it's just a matter of finding out why the App Store icon is missing. Sometimes, a missing App Store icon is inside a folder on your phone or hidden in the App Library. Rather than looking through each of your folders, use the Search tool to find or "reinstall" the App Store icon. When the App Store is missing on iPhone

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1. If the App Store is missing from your iPhone, at the bottom of any Home Screen page, tap Search.
   
   
2. Type App Store in the Search field. This should reveal the App Store in your search results.
   
   
3. If the App Store app is in a folder, you'll see the name of the folder where it's located next to the App Store search result. Mine, for example, is located in my "Shopping/Payment" folder.
   
   
4. You can tap the App Store icon to open the App Store right from Search, or you can navigate to the folder it's in and open it there.
   
   

You can also check for hidden Home Screen pages to see if the App Store is there.

Missing App Store on iPhone or iPad? Restore Your Home Screen

What happens if you delete the App Store from your Home Screen? You can't fully delete the App Store app itself, but if you delete it from your Home Screen, it can make it look like the App Store is missing. To get the App Store back, add the app again from your App Library. If the App Store has been hidden away in a folder, restore your iPhone or iPad Home Screen to bring back the App Store to its original spot.

1. Open the Settings app.
   
   
2. Scroll down and tap General.
   
   
3. Scroll all the way down and tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
   
   
4. Select Reset.
   
   
5. Tap Reset Home Screen Layout.
   
   
6. Confirm that you want to reset your Home Screen to its factory default.
   
   
7. The Home Screen will be reverted to its default layout, and you should see the App Store icon restored to the first page of apps.
   
   

How to Get App Store Back: Check Restrictions

If you're still asking, "Why is my App Store gone?" or if the Apple App Store won't open or you can't download apps, it’s likely due to Screen Time restrictions on your iPhone. Whether you placed these controls by choice or accidentally, here's how to get the App Store back on your iPhone or iPad.

1. Open the Settings app.
   
   
2. Scroll down and tap Screen Time.
   
   
3. In the Screen Time menu, select Content & Privacy Restrictions.
   
   
4. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases.
   
   
5. If Installing Apps, Deleting Apps, or In-app Purchases are set to Don't Allow, tap on them one at a time.
   
   
6. Tap Allow for each setting currently set to Don't Allow.
   
   
7. That's how to restore the App Store on an iPhone or iPad! When you go back to your Home Screen, you should see your App Store icon again.

Having access to your App Store icon is important. It allows you to download new apps and lets you keep your current apps updated. Once you put the App Store back on your Home Screen, make a note of its location and your iPhone’s restrictions to ensure easy access to your App Store in the future.

Be sure to check out our free Tip of the Day for more great app tutorials. You can also find out how to use the App Store on other Apple devices, like your Apple TV. Accidentally purchased an app? Learn how to get a refund from the App Store.