How to clear your App Store cache and force a reload

By Rene Ritchie
last updated

Not seeing new apps? Updates that just won't go away? While the App Store isn't technically a web page, sometimes it feels like you just want to force it to clear the cache, reload, and make absolutely sure you have the latest, greatest, most up-to-date information available. Well, Apple built in a mechanism to do just that. It was simply a well-kept secret... until now!

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How to clear the App Store cache and refresh your content

  1. Launch the App Store app from your iPhone or iPad Home screen.
  2. Tap ten times on any of the tab buttons at the bottom (Featured, Top Charts, Explore, Search, Updates)

That's it. The App Store app will purge its cache and reload everything fresh and updated. You can do it any time you think you're not seeing the latest content, but there's no need to overuse it.

iOS

HomeKit

○ iOS 14 Review
○ What's new in iOS 14
○ Updating your iPhone ultimate guide
○ iOS Help Guide
○ iOS Discussion

Rene Ritchie
Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.

11 Comments
  • Really. Tap ten times? Needs a pull to refresh.
  • It does need a pull to refresh, but I just followed the instructions on the post, and it refreshed with new items not there prior to the refresh. Nice tip, thanks!
  • I just double tap the home button and swipe up to close the app, then relaunch. Seems to have the same effect for me.
  • This should be a pull to refresh.
  • Should just implement a pull to refresh like above posts but this was a helpful tip regardless. :)
    Side note: how did anyone even discover this workaround?? Sent from the iMore App
  • Doesn't work for me. It refreshes as it should, but I still have the update badge icon saying there are apps to update when there aren't. Which, interestingly, doesn't match the number of the red icon on the update tab in the store. I only have this problem with my iPad Air 2, and it's a regular problem. It usually clears the next time there are actual app updates. Any way to force it to recognize there are no pending updates?
  • Looks like this works for the iTunes Store too.
  • Great tip - thanks! Sent from the iMore App
  • Thanks for the tip!
  • It works on my phone-Thanks!
  • Is Very Good thx