App Store not working in Russia: downloads fail and payments don't go through
The App Store won't open or download apps, and purchases fail. What changed in Russia on 1 April 2026, why VPN apps disappeared, and what you can do.
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What changed in 2026. From 1 April 2026 Apple stopped processing App Store and Apple services payments in Russia, and topping up the Apple ID balance from a mobile account was shut down too. Remaining balance can still be spent and existing codes redeemed; past purchases stay available and iCloud+ data isn't deleted. In spring 2026 Streisand, V2Box, v2RayTun, Happ and other VPN clients were removed from the Russian App Store at Roskomnadzor's request.
If the store won't open or download: restart, sign out and back in, set automatic date and time, free up storage, turn off a dead VPN, check Apple's system status. Removed apps remain in other countries' stores (needs another country's Apple ID); installed copies keep working. Beware look-alike fakes. See VPN not working on iPhone.