App Store Icon Missing from iPhone, How to Bring it Back

Here is what to do if you can't find the App Store icon on your iPhone's Home Screen.

By Dave Johnson - Senior Staff Writer
3 Min Read

Recently, I noticed the App Store is missing from my iPhone home screen. At first, I wasn’t sure if this was an iOS bug. The App Store app is probably the most essential app on the iPhone for you. It enables you to download and update apps. If its icon has disappeared from your iPhone screen, you may wonder how you can get it back. The App Store icon looks like a white A with a blue background. You can usually find this on your home screen or in the App Library. If you are not able to find the App Store app icon on your iPhone, do not worry; the fix for this is very simple. Here, I’ll walk you through a few simple steps that helped me get the App Store app icon back, so you can download and update apps without any hassle.

Restart and check for updates

Restart your iPhone. This is easy and fixes the most common issues. First, shut off your iPhone by going to Settings > General > Shut Down, and then after your iPhone has fully powered off, press and hold the Power button (on the top or side of your iPhone) until the Apple logo  appears. After restarting, you may see that the App Store icon has reappeared.

After restarting, ensure that your iPhone has the latest version of iOS. You can go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for updates. And if there is an update available, you can follow the onscreen instructions to update your iPhone.

Use Spotlight Search or Siri to find the missing App Store icon

Even though you may not see the App Store icon in the Home Screen, it is possible that the App Store app is still on one of your screens, but you may have accidentally moved it somewhere. You can use Spotlight Search to locate it and then move it to your Dock again. Here is how:

  1. Swipe down on the Home screen to access Spotlight Search.
  2. Type "App Store" in the search field.
  3. Do the results include the App Store app?
  4. Then you can open the App Store app, or you can touch and hold the App Store app until there is a click and a small menu appears; keep holding and drag the icon. Your Home screen will reappear, and you can drag it to your iPhone screen.

Alternatively, you can use Siri to locate the app. You can launch Siri and ask Siri something like “open the App Store app,” and Siri will launch the app, and then you can update your apps or download new apps.

Check your App Library to bring back App Store

It is not possible to completely delete the App Store app from an iPhone, unlike most of the other built-in apps. It is possible, however, that you accidentally removed the App Store app from your Home screen. When an app is removed from your Home Screen, you can still find it in your App Library. Thus, it is a good idea to check your App Library, find the App Store icon and then drag it to your Home Screen. Here is how:

  1. Open the App Library by swiping to the last page of your Home screen.
  2. You will see all of your apps organized into categories. Look for the App Store app. You can also use Search, located at the top of the App Library screen.
  3. Once you have found it, press and drag it to your Home Screen.

Reset your Home Screen layout

You can restore the default Home Screen layout. Doing this will not erase your content or data. However, your app folders will be deleted (not their contents), and all pre-loaded iOS apps, including the App Store app, will be placed back in their original positions from when you first purchased the device. Also, the apps you installed will be placed in alphabetical order. You may want to take a Home Screen screenshot if you want before proceeding so you do not forget the arrangement of your apps and folders. If you wish to continue, follow these steps on your iPhone:

  • Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset> Reset Home Screen Layout. Then follow the onscreen instructions.

After this reset, you will see your App Store icon is in the Home Screen again.

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Dave Johnson is a staff writer for GeeksChalk based in New Jersey. He covers news, how-tos, and user guides for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.
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