Sideloaded App Stuck on “Waiting” or “Installing” on iPhone: How to Fix It

ByScarlet iOS Team Updated on

You start installing an app outside the App Store, an icon appears on the Home Screen, and then nothing happens. The icon stays dimmed with “Waiting…” or “Installing…” under it, or the progress circle stops part way. This guide covers why that happens with sideloaded apps and how to get the install moving, or start it again cleanly.

The Short Version

  • Most stuck installs come from the connection, a full iPhone, or a certificate problem on the installer’s side.
  • Delete the stuck icon, check storage and Wi-Fi, restart the iPhone and install again.
  • If every app from the same installer stalls or fails at once, the certificate has probably been revoked. No setting on your iPhone fixes that.

Why Sideloaded Installs Get Stuck

An App Store download comes from Apple’s servers. A sideloaded app comes from somewhere else: the installer’s own server, your computer, or a signing tool on the iPhone. If that source stops sending the file part way, iOS keeps the placeholder icon and waits. The common causes are:

  • The connection dropped or a VPN or content blocker interrupted the download.
  • Not enough free storage. iOS needs room for the download and for unpacking it.
  • The installer’s certificate was revoked or the installer’s server is down, so the file never arrives or iOS refuses it.
  • A restriction blocks installs. Screen Time can turn off installing apps.
  • The tool lost its link to the iPhone. Computer-based tools need the cable or Wi-Fi sync to stay connected; SideStore needs LocalDevVPN connected.

Fix 1: Delete the Stuck Icon and Start Again

A stalled placeholder rarely recovers on its own. Touch and hold the icon, tap Remove App, then Delete App. Then start the install again from the same source. If the icon cannot be deleted while it is waiting, restart the iPhone first (Fix 4) and try again.

For App Store downloads, Apple suggests touching and holding the app and choosing Prioritize Download. That option is worth a try on a sideloaded placeholder too, but it cannot help if the source has stopped sending the file.

Fix 2: Check Free Storage

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Apple shows the available space at the top. Large apps and games can need several gigabytes while installing. Free up space by removing apps or videos you no longer need, then install again.

If Offload Unused Apps is on (Settings > Apps > App Store), iOS may remove apps you have not used and leave an icon with a cloud symbol. Apple’s reinstall comes from the App Store, so it cannot bring back an app you sideloaded. Reinstall it with the tool you used, or turn the setting off if you sideload often.

Fix 3: Check Wi-Fi, VPN and Content Blockers

  • Use a stable Wi-Fi connection and keep the screen on and the installer open until the icon finishes.
  • Turn off a VPN, DNS profile or content blocker during the install, since these can block the server the file comes from. See also the “Unable to Verify App” fixes, which go through the same settings.
  • SideStore is the exception: it needs LocalDevVPN connected for every install and refresh, and SideStore says mobile data is not suitable. See how to install SideStore.

Fix 4: Restart the iPhone

Apple lists a restart as a basic fix when apps will not download or update. Turn the iPhone off and on, then try the install again. It also clears a placeholder icon that would not delete.

Fix 5: Check Screen Time Restrictions

Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Under iTunes & App Store Purchases, Apple lets you block installing and deleting apps. If installing apps is set to Don’t Allow, installs will not complete. Change it, or ask whoever manages the device, which may be a parent or an employer’s device management.

Fix 6: Tool-Specific Checks

  • Scarlet iOS: if Scarlet itself or every app you install through it stalls or fails, the shared certificate may have been revoked. See what to do when the certificate is revoked. For the install steps, see how to install Scarlet iOS.
  • Sideloadly: keep the iPhone connected and unlocked until Sideloadly reports that it is done. Connection errors and fixes are in our Sideloadly guide.
  • SideStore and AltStore: the install runs from the app on your iPhone, so keep it open until it finishes. If it fails because the app has expired, see refreshing apps after 7 days.

When the Install Finishes but the App Will Not Open

Those are different problems with their own fixes:

FAQ

Why is the app icon dimmed with “Waiting…” under it?

iOS has created a placeholder but has not received the app yet. Either the download has not started or it has stalled.

Can I keep my data if I delete a stuck app?

A stuck placeholder has no data of its own yet. If you are reinstalling an app that was already working, deleting it removes its data, so back up anything important inside the app first.

Is a stuck install a sign of malware?

Not by itself. It is almost always a connection, storage or certificate problem. Still, install only from sources you trust: see how to scan IPA files for malware.

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