iOS App stuck in 'Loading...'

I tried downloading Tumblr yesterday but it never completed. At the moment I have an App icon stuck at 'Loading...'.

I have tried restarting the iPhone (holding down both home and side buttons at the same time) and I have also tried shutting down the iPhone (holding the side button and swiping).

I have also tried deleting it as usual (holding the icon down and choosing delete but it doesn't go away).

Any ideas on what I can do to get rid of this icon?


Go to SettingsGeneralStorage & iCloud UsageManage Storage, select the app from the list, then tap Delete App.


Here is the real solution:

On the surface, some of what others have posted is correct, but may not help you because you don't know which apps are the blockers. The underlying problem is that all available download threads (was 10 for my iPhone SE) are being blocked on apps which either: 1. no longer exist in the app store or 2. are not compatible with the version of iOS installed on the device.

After repeatedly pausing the downloads and going into the AppStore to "reset" the download state and rebooting, you can whittle yourself down to where there are only 10 apps waiting and they are all as I described. From here, after a restart, if you start clicking on them you'll actually get the root-cause error message saying the app can't be installed and it will give you an option to delete it.

Then when there are NO apps in the download queue, reboot one more time and you'll be able to go into the App Store once more and re-initiate downloads for your remaining apps that are still compatible and available.

VERY painful, but this works.


Certain apps might be frozen with a blank icon and their will be no way of removing them for days. By holding down on the home screen to delete the stuck app also won't work..

Here are instructions on how to delete these waiting applications:

  1. Reboot your iPhone normally. See this link for instructions on how to restart your iPhone.

  2. If the apps are still stuck on the home screen, try logging out of the App Store temporarily. Navigate to Settings -> Store -> Apple ID -> Sign Out. Now open the App Store and Navigate to the Featured section. Scroll to the bottom of the page and touch the Sign In -> Use Existing Apple ID. Log in and the stuck apps should reset.

  3. Still have strange icons on the screen or frozen downloading apps? Connect your iPhone to the computer and open iTunes. Navigate to the app store. Install the apps you are having a problem with on the computer then sync your iPhone.