App Store search not working? Well, it’s not just you. Several other users have been irritated by a similar issue while searching for their favorite apps and games. Therefore, we have prepared this guide to help you.
Although the reason could range from a poor internet connection to a server issue on Apple’s side. The troubleshooting methods below will help you identify and fix the problem with App Store search on iPhone. So let’s get started.
1. Check internet connection
As obvious as it may seem, you should start by checking the internet connection on your iPhone. If your internet connection is poor or inconsistent, the App Store may not retrieve search results.
You can try running a quick speed test on your iPhone to check the internet connection strength.
2. Check App Store System Status
If the Internet is working well, you can check the server status for the App Store. Although rare, the App Store can occasionally suffer from service outages. You can visit Apple’s System Status page for the app store server status.
3. Restart your iPhone
Restarting your device is still one of the most effective solutions while fixing minor issues with your iPhone. Therefore, before diving into the other solutions, you can try restarting your device.
To turn off your iPhone, open the Settings app and go to General. Scroll down and select Stop. Then use the slider to turn off your device.
Wait a minute or two, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button to turn on your iPhone.
4. Check the date and time
If your device is set to the wrong time or date, it may fail to communicate with the App Store servers and display a blank screen. So, it is recommended to set your device to use network provided time to avoid such issues. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap on General.
2nd step: Go to Date and time. Enable the switch next to Set automatically.
Relaunch the App Store and try using the search bar again.
5. Enable Personalized Ads
Surprisingly, several forum users reported that they managed to fix the App Store search issue by enabling Apple’s personalized ads feature. You can also try this.
Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Privacy.
2nd step: Scroll down to tap Apple Advertising. Then turn on the switch next to Personalized Ads.
6. Log out and log in to the App Store
Another way to troubleshoot problems with the App Store is to log out and log back in. This will force the App Store to refresh its connection with the servers, which may fix the App Store search.
To sign out of iCloud on iPhone, open the Settings app and tap your name at the top. Scroll down and tap on the Sign Out option.
Sign in again using your Apple ID credentials to see if App Store search is working properly.
7. Reset Network Settings
Another reason you might have trouble using the App Store search is if the Wi-Fi won’t connect or the signal keeps dropping. In such cases, resetting network settings on your iPhone can help. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open Settings on your iPhone and go to General. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
2nd step: Tap Reset at the bottom and select Reset Network Settings from the menu that appears.
It will ask you for the lock screen password (if any). Once verified, tap the Reset Network Settings confirmation box to begin the restore process.
8. Update your iPhone
The App Store search issue may be related to a bug on the current version of iOS, and the new update has already been released with a fix. So if none of the above solutions work, you can try updating your iPhone to see if that helps.
To check for updates on iPhone, open Settings and go to General. Then tap Software Update.
Also on Guidance Tech
Your search ends here
Although such cases are rare, such inconsistencies with the App Store are never practical. Hope the above solutions fixed the app store search problem and you are back to exploring your favorite apps.
Last updated on January 19, 2022
The article above may contain affiliate links that help support Guiding Tech. However, this does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
