Missing the App Store Icon on iPhone? 3 Ways to Get It Back (2023)

What to Know

• Search for the missing App Store icon in your App Library or Spotlight Search. 
• If you still can’t find it, restore your Home screen to resolve any bugs. 
• Check content restrictions in Settings to make sure you haven’t enabled purchase limits. 

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 your iPhone.

Related: How to Find Hidden or Missing Apps on Your iPhone

Jump To:

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. 

No App Store Icon on iPhone? Get Help from 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. One of the common causes for a missing App Store icon is that it’s inside a folder on your phone or hidden in the App Library. Rather than looking through each of your folders, using the Search tool is an easier way to find or “reinstall” the App Store icon:

1. From the first page of your Home screen or your Lock Screen, swipe from left to right to open 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 “Extras” 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 learn how to view your Apple purchases.

Restore Your Home Screen to Get App Store Back on Your iPhone

If your App Store didn’t show up in your search results, the next option is to restore your Home Screen to its default settings. It should be easier for you to find the missing App Store icon once it’s back to its original location:

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.

App Store App Disappeared from Your Home Screen? Check Restrictions

If you’re still asking, “why is my App Store gone?” it’s likely due to restrictions on your phone. Whether you placed these controls by choice or accidentally, it’s easy to change them back to get the App Store back on your iPhone.

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. 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’ve put the app back on your Home Screen, make a note of its location and your phone’s restrictions to ensure easy access to your App Store in the future. You can also find out how to use the App Store on other Apple devices, like your Apple TV. The Mail app has been known to disappear from your iPhone; fix it here. Accidentally purchased an app? Learn how to get a refund from the App Store.