When a download gets stuck on an iPhone (spinning, “Waiting…”, or restarting), it’s rarely “just the app.” iOS has a few built-in rules around network, storage, battery, and background activity that can quietly pause a download.
Let’s cover the common reasons first, then walk through fixes in an order that avoids risky changes.
1. Understand what’s actually stuck (app download vs file download)
iOS downloads fall into a few buckets, and each one fails for different reasons:
- App updates / installs (App Store): can pause due to Apple ID, payment verification, Screen Time limits, or network rules.
- Files in Safari (Files app / iCloud Drive / On My iPhone): can stall due to storage, iCloud sync, or a flaky connection.
- In-app downloads (music, podcasts, offline maps, videos): often depend on background refresh, low power mode, or “download over cellular” settings.
If you’re not sure which it is, check Files (Browse → Downloads) and also the App Store (your profile page shows update progress).
2. Why “Waiting” happens on iOS (the usual causes)
“Waiting” is iOS telling you it intends to download, but something is blocking it right now.
- Network rules: captive portals (hotel/airport Wi‑Fi), VPNs, DNS blockers, or weak Wi‑Fi can prevent a stable connection.
- Low storage: iOS may start, then pause when it can’t allocate space for the full file + temporary cache.
- Battery / background limits: Low Power Mode and background restrictions can pause longer downloads, especially in-app.
- Account checks: App Store downloads can wait while Apple verifies sign-in or billing.
- Queueing: multiple downloads can stack; one stuck item can stall others behind it.
3. Quick fixes that solve most stuck downloads (safe order)
- Pause and resume: tap the stuck item (App Store icon progress ring, or in-app download list) to pause, wait 10 seconds, then resume.
- Switch networks: try cellular (if allowed) or another Wi‑Fi. Captive portal Wi‑Fi is a frequent culprit.
- Toggle Airplane Mode: on for 10 seconds, then off. This refreshes radio connections without “resetting everything.”
- Restart the iPhone: it clears stuck network tasks and background services that can block downloads.
After restarting, try downloading just one item first (not a whole queue).
4. Check the iOS settings that quietly block downloads
These settings commonly cause “it works sometimes” downloads.
- Low Power Mode: Settings → Battery → turn off temporarily while downloading.
- Low Data Mode (Wi‑Fi and Cellular): Settings → Wi‑Fi → (i) → Low Data Mode, and Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Options → Low Data Mode.
- Background App Refresh (for in-app downloads): Settings → General → Background App Refresh → allow for the specific app or Wi‑Fi & Cellular.
- Cellular download limits (App Store): Settings → App Store → Cellular Data → enable if you want downloads over cellular.
5. Storage: the most underestimated reason downloads never finish
Even if you “have some space,” iOS may need extra headroom for temporary files.
- Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage.
- If you’re under roughly 2–5 GB free, create space before retrying large downloads.
- Prefer deleting big items first (offline videos, large message attachments, old downloads in Files).
Tip: if a download repeatedly fails at the same percentage, it’s often storage or a corrupted partial file. Delete the partial download (in the app or in Files) before trying again.
6. If it’s App Store: fix Apple ID, billing, and restrictions (without guesswork)
- Confirm you’re signed in: Settings → your name → Media & Purchases. Sign out/in if it seems stuck.
- Check billing holds: a failed payment method can stop updates. (You don’t need to change anything yet—just look for alerts.)
- Screen Time restrictions: Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → iTunes & App Store Purchases.
- Try one app: if one specific app won’t download, it may be a regional/age restriction or a corrupted install—delete and reinstall (only if you’re sure you won’t lose local-only data).
A single stuck update can block other updates behind it. Cancel the stuck one, run the rest, then retry.
7. Network “deep” fixes (still privacy-safe)
If downloads work on one network but never on another, the network is the issue—not the phone.
- Disable VPN temporarily (Settings → VPN): some VPNs break large or multi-connection downloads.
- Disable iCloud Private Relay (if enabled): Settings → your name → iCloud → Private Relay.
- Try a different DNS only if you intentionally changed it: remove custom DNS profiles or set DNS back to automatic for that Wi‑Fi network.
- Forget and rejoin Wi‑Fi: Settings → Wi‑Fi → (i) → Forget This Network → rejoin.
If it’s public Wi‑Fi, open Safari and try visiting any plain website first—sometimes you must accept terms on a captive portal before downloads are allowed.
8. When to reset (and what to reset)
If you’ve tried the steps above and downloads are still stuck across multiple apps and networks, these are the least-destructive resets to try:
- Reset Network Settings: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings. (You’ll re-enter Wi‑Fi passwords.)
- Check date/time: Settings → General → Date & Time → Set Automatically. Incorrect time can break secure connections and stall downloads.
If the issue started right after installing a VPN, security app, or content blocker, remove it temporarily to test.
Final thoughts
On iOS, “Waiting” usually means a rule is being enforced: network stability, battery/background limits, storage headroom, or an account check.
Work from the simple toggles outward, and you’ll usually fix it without factory resets or sketchy “cleaner” apps.