How to fix iPhone XS Max that cannot update apps after iOS 13

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Updates are being rolled out regularly so that apps can work without any issues. However, there would always come a time that issues occur. Some iPhone XS Max owners reported that they cannot update apps after installing the iOS 13 update. This may become a real problem when apps that aren’t updated would no longer work properly. 

But based on our experience, this problem isn’t really that serious. In fact, you may be able to fix it by doing just a few troubleshooting procedures. So, in this post, I will walk you through in troubleshooting your iPhone XS Max that cannot update apps. We will try to look into all possibilities and then rule them out one after another until we can fix the problem. 

Before we move on to our troubleshooting, if you happen to find this post while looking for a solution to a different problem, then visit our iPhone XS Max Help Guides page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this device. We may have already published articles that could help you fix your problem. Find issues that are similar to yours and feel free to use our solutions.

Troubleshooting iPhone XS Max that cannot update apps after iOS 13

The very first thing that you need to consider when installing new apps updates is the internet connection on your iOS device. When the internet connection is not stable, it is possible that apps updates won’t be successful. Hence, if your internet service is working fine, you also need to check your phone’s storage capacity as having low memory space can also hinder the download and installation of the pending apps updates. But if these requisites are met, and yet you still cannot update apps in iOS 13 iPhone XS Max, then you can start troubleshooting your iOS device to clear out other factors that trigger the problem to become apparent.

First solution: Restart your iPhone XS Max to fix cannot update apps issue after iOS 13.

The basic trick yet can resolve various phone issues including cannot update apps is giving your phone a quick restart. This will eliminate minor software glitches affecting your phone’s system. Since your phone screen is still responsive, perform a soft reset to give your phone a clean start. Here are the steps:

  1. Press and hold the Side/Power button and either Volume button simultaneously.
  2. Release both buttons when the Slide to Power Off command appears.
  3. After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side/Power button again until the Apple logo appears.

Wait until your phone finished booting up. Once it’s completely back on, head back to the App Store and try to download and install the pending apps updates. If still you cannot update the apps, continue troubleshooting your iOS device.

RELEVANT POST: How to fix iPhone XS Max that keeps losing WiFi signal after iOS 13

Second second: Pause the App Download shortly and then continue.

When your phone stops communicating with Apple Store during the apps update, tendency is the process will be interrupted. To reset the connection between Apple Store and your phone, all you need to do is to pause the download process shortly, and then resume. Unknowingly, this has been a great fix for most users who were having the same issue, so it would be better to give it a try. Here’s how you do it: 

  1. From the Home screen, find the icon of the app that is currently updating.
  2. Firmly press the app icon until a menu pops out.
  3. Tap Pause Download from the given options.
  4. Then after at least 30 seconds, tap the option to resume installing the app update.

Observe if there have been improvements with the process. But if you notice that it’s not doing anything and still you cannot update apps on your iOS device, try the next option.

Third solution: Check and verify the Apple ID being used.

The recent iOS update might have just automatically logged you in to a different Apple ID causing your phone to not be able to update apps after iOS 13. Weird as it seems, but this could possibly happen for a fact that major updates have the tendency to automatically alter your phone’s current settings, and Apple ID option is not an exception. To clear this out, check and verify the Apple ID being used using the steps below:

  1. From the Home screen, open App Store.
  2. Scroll down to and tap to select Updates.
  3. Tap your profile icon on the top-right corner of the screen.
  4. Tap on Purchased.
  5. Then scroll down to check if the apps your trying to update are in the list. If you don’t see the apps, this means that they’ve been downloaded using a different Apple ID. Either you login to the other Apple ID to continue the update, or you can uninstall the app/s and then reinstall them using the currently used Apple ID.

If your iPhone XS Max still cannot update apps up to this point, troubleshoot further.

Fourth solution: Disable restrictions on your iPhone XS Max to fix iOS 13 cannot update apps issue.

Certain features on your iOS device can be managed. If you’ve put restrictions for App Store to prevent unauthorized purchase or it’s just that the restriction settings have also been compromised by the recent iOS update, you can disable this restriction to address the cannot update apps issue on your phone. Follow the steps below:

  1. Launch the Settings app from the Home screen.
  2. Select Screen Time.
  3. Then tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  4. Scroll to and Tap iTunes and App Store Purchases.
  5. Then tap Installing Apps menu.
  6. Allow option should have a checked mark. Otherwise, you won’t be able to download and install apps or apps updates on your iPhone XS Max device.

After making necessary changes, reboot (soft reset) your phone. Once it is back on, head back to the Apple Store and check if you’re already able to download and install the apps updates.

ALSO READ: How to fix No Service error after iOS 13 on iPhone XS Max

Fifth solution: Try logging out and in on the App Store.

iOS bugs may have inflicted your Apple ID login information causing them to become corrupted. If the underlying cause is the login being corrupted, this can be easily cleared out by simply logging out and in again on the App Store. If you haven’t done this before, here’s how you do it:

  1. Launch the Settings app from the Home screen.
  2. Then select iTunes and App Store.
  3. Tap to select the Apple ID (email address) that is currently being used.
  4. Tap Sign Out option from the pop-up menu.
  5. Then head back to Settings->iTunes & App and then select your Apple ID (email address). Then follow the onscreen prompts to log in again.

Launch the App Store once you have successfully logged in to your App Store account, and then try to update the apps again and see if it works by this time.

Fifth solution: Set  Date & Time to automatic to fix cannot update apps in iOS 13 iPhone XS Max.

As we all know, Date & Time plays a vital role on your iOS device. Most of the features and apps don’t work properly when date and time are set incorrectly. And the easiest way to ensure that your phone is set with correct date & time even when you’re in a different place with a different time zone, you just need to set the Date & Time settings to Set Automatically. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Settings from Home.
  2. Select General.
  3. Tap Date & Time and select Set Automatically.

Make sure to reboot (soft reset) your iPhone XS Max, so any changes made will be properly applied.

Last resort: Update iOS to latest version available.

If you still cannot update apps on your iOS device, there might be a need for you to install another iOS update on your phone. It is possible that the problem is caused by iOS 13 bugs and the latest iOS updates like 13.1, 13.1.1, and 13.1.2 may include patches and fixes for the apps updates issue you are having with your iOS 13 iPhone XS Max. If you wish to give it a try, here are the steps:

  1. Select Settings from the Home screen.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap to select Software Update.

An update notification will show up whenever a new software update is available for your phone. Read the details regarding the latest iOS version available and make sure to back-up your phone with either iCloud or iTunes before you proceed to Download and Install the new iOS update. 

Don’t forget to reboot (soft reset) your iPhone device after installing the iOS update. Then launch the App Store again to see if the iOS update fixes the apps update issue.

ALSO READ: How to fix iPhone XS that cannot receive phone calls after iOS 13 update

Call for Support

If you still cannot update apps on your iOS device after exhausting all the given solutions, it’s time for you to call for support. You can contact Apple Support for further assistance. There might be something that needs to be done on their end to correct the issue. Just make sure to give them detailed information regarding the nature of your issue and the things you’ve tried to fix the problem prior to calling them.

Connect with us

We are committed to helping our readers fix the problems with their phones as well as learn how to properly use their devices. So, if you have other issues, you may visit our Help Guides page so you can check by yourself the articles we’ve already published that contain solutions to common problems. Also, we do create videos to demonstrate how things are done on your phone. Visit our Youtube Channel and please subscribe to it. Thanks.

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