"Unable to download the app at this time"

Please try the following steps to fix your problem. After each step, check whether you are still having this problem.

1. Simply double tap the icon of the app that you are unable to download and wait for a few seconds. Your download should resume.

2. If you are presented with a button with the option to "try again," note the download progress up to the point where the error occurred, and tap "try again." The error may return, but if the progress has advanced, then keep tapping "try again" over and over until the app is fully downloaded. After doing so, the problem may not return at all for future app updates.

3. Tap Settings > General > Date and Time > Set Automatically > and slide to turn off “Set Automatically”. Manually set the date one year ahead. Now try to re-download the apps. If you get an error message, go back to turn on “Set Automatically” then try to download the apps again.

4. Restart your iOS device. Simply press and hold the on/off (sleep/wake) button until you see the red slider and slide the slider to turn your device off. To turn back on, press and hold the on/off button until the Apple logo appears.

5. Settings > iTunes & App Store > Your Apple ID > Sign Out. Restart your device, then Settings>iTunes & App Store>Sign in and then try again.

6. Tap Settings > Wi-Fi and turn Wi-Fi off and then on again.

7. Reset Network Settings by tapping Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings, and then your iDevice will restart. Note that will reset all network settings including your Wi-Fi passwords.

8. Reset your device by pressing and holding the sleep/wake button and the Home button together until you see the Apple logo.

Try connecting to a VPN and then retry downloading or updating.

I was having trouble updating an app. It would appear to work, then failed with this message:

I had tried many of the suggestions found here, as well as on discussions.apple.com, none of which worked for me. Some suggestions recommended fiddling with wifi, resetting network settings and setting the DNS to 8.8.8.8. I couldn't imagine what most of those suggestions would have to do with the problem. But, I noticed that the common denominator to many suggestions revolved around networking. So, it gave me the idea to try the VPN app on my phone. I tried that and Bingo! Just connecting to the VPN allowed me to complete the update.

To be clear about how I connected to a VPN, I used the PIA app from Apple's App Store. I'm sure there are many VPN options. But, the point is that the connection was made to a VPN server from a VPN client residing on my iPhone. This is an iPhone 5S, by the way.