iOS 16.7.4 Update Fixes Issue That Prevented Built-In Apps From Being Reinstalled

Tuesday December 19, 2023 1:19 pm PST by Juli Clover

Alongside iOS 17.2.1, Apple today released iOS 16.7.4 and iPadOS 16.7.4 updates that fix an issue with built-in apps. In some cases, if a user deleted a built-in Apple app on a device running iOS or iPadOS 16.7.3 or earlier, the app would not be able to be reinstalled.

General iOS 16 Feature Yellow
From Apple's release notes for the update:

This update fixes an issue where built-in Apple apps that may have been deleted may not reinstall.

While we haven't heard many complaints about the issue, that is likely because the majority of users have transitioned over to iOS 17. For those who are having a problem with reinstalling a deleted app in iOS 16 or iPadOS 16, the new update will address the problem.

Apple's iOS 17.2.1 update also included bug fixes, but Apple did not provide specific details.

Related Forum: iOS 16

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Top Rated Comments

Populus

37 months ago

The fact that you couldn’t install a native app once you delete it for more than one year that iOS 16 has been around, and it only got fixed almost in 2024 is, in my humble opinion, something they should think about on Apple Park.

Also, this and the battery drain problem when you deleted a native iOS app, are a couple of reasons why I’ve never deleted one, hiding them on a folder instead.

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

JOLoughlin

37 months ago

Oh my god, glad there’s a fix. Essentially had to start over on two iPad Pros (not eligible for iPadOS17) to resolve the issue.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

tgdbowler

37 months ago

Update limited to iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad 5th generation, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch 1st generation.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201222

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

JonYo

37 months ago

This is the exact issue I'm having right now with an iPhone 8 Plus that I restored from an iPhone 6s Plus, and afterwards the iPhone 8's native apps all went black and won't run/install, while 3rd party apps are all ok. I was at my wits end after lots of dead end googling. Installing 16.7.4 now, we'll see how it goes.

Nice, all issues appear resolved after the firmware update completed.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

zany.ninja

37 months ago

I’m taking credit for this one. Just yesterday I was unable to install the default apps on my iPad (5th gen) after a device reset. Phoned Apple support, they did a screen share of my device, spent 10 minutes trying everything, then said the problem is from their end and a fix would be issued soon - this year they assured me. So I wake up this morning and wow! Never thought it would be this soon! I’m flipping impressed Apple!…

And say what you want about this being a long-standing problem, I’m still going to take credit for this getting fixed :cool:

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)