App Store App gone from phone.

The App Store app cannot be deleted so it is somewhere on your device. It can be hidden by you, or by an administrator if your device is managed by an education or business institution. In the latter case you need to contact the administrator.

See if you hid it with restrictions:

Screen Time - Allowed apps https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201304#allow-apps

- "If you turn off an app or feature, it won’t delete it, it’s just temporarily hidden from your Home screen."

- Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > [Enter passcode] > Allowed Apps

See if it is in your App Library -->

Organize the Home Screen and App Library on your iPhone [iOS14] - https://support.apple.com/HT211345

"Search for it ( https://support.apple.com/HT201285 ). Swipe down from the middle of any home screen and type App Store into the search field at the top of the screen. If it is in a folder, it will show the folder on the right of the app name after you tap on the app when it appears in the search."

"Reset the Home screen layout which will return the App Store to the home screen as long as it isn’t restricted. When you do this, it returns the home screen to out of the box condition and it will destroy any folders you had on the home screen. Settings > General > Reset > Reset Home screen layout."

- Updated from April 2018 Apple Recommended post by Demo about a missing App Store app - https://discussions.apple.com/message/33245486#message33245486

Bill_iPhoneuser Said:

"App Store App gone from phone.: How do I get the App Store App restored? App Store app is gone. Seri cannot find it. iPhone will not recognize any new App Store apps because it cannot find App Store app on my iPhone. Weird huh? ( It is not in a folder. I have none. It is not hidden.$"

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Restore your iPhone from a Backup:

Have any backups of this iPhone prior to the this occurrence? If so, then restore your iPhone from it. 

You did not tell us which iPhone you are using and which iOS version you are using. I am going to guess my answer to your question and it may not be accurate.

The App Store app cannot be deleted from your iPhone. It is still on your iPhone. Look in the App Library. Get to your Home Screen and continue to SWIPE LEFT until you reach the APP LIBRARY which is the last page. Find the App Store app in the App Library. TOUCH and DRAG the app out of the App Library and on to your favorite Home Screen.

Axel F.

In addition to the advice above, while you can't delete the App Store, you CAN turn the App Store off.

Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Make sure Installing Apps/Deleting Apps and In-App Purchases are marked Allow.

Great Point. Glad you noted it.

Axel F.

Thanks. Often, this is why a person's App Store App goes missing.