Can’t Download Apps From the Mac App Store? 7 Fixes to Try
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Most Mac users rely on the Mac App Store to find and download new apps. For starters, it’s safe and convenient. Then, there’s the fact that it never fails until, for some of us, it does.
Not being able to download from the Mac App Store can be puzzling, not to mention frustrating. If you encounter this problem, don’t panic. We’ve got a few things you can try to solve it.
1. Check Your Internet Connection
The first thing to try when you’re able to’t download from the Mac App Store is to check your internet connection. You must use a fast internet connection to download apps from the App Store. If you can’t access the App Store, check if your Wi-Fi is turned off. However, if you can’t connect to Wi-Fi, there are severalsteps you can take to get back online.
If you can access the App Store but cannot download apps, you may be facing poor connectivity issues. It could be that the apps begin downloading but stop at some point, or you can’t initiate downloads at all.
Other things to try include turning your Wi-Fi off and then on, restarting your router, and checking if other devices on the network are working fine. You can also try switching to a different network. But if you think your Wi-Fi router speed is affecting your internet connection, we have tips onimproving your router speed.
2. Check if App Store Servers Are Down
Servers are important data storage and processing powerhouses, but sometimes they experience downtime; this includes App Store servers. So, if you cannot download apps from the Mac App Store, the problem might not lie with you but with Apple’s servers.
To check if App Store servers are down, go toApple’s System Status page. On this page, you may check if any of Apple’s services are facing issues. A green circle means the service is available, while a red one means it’s unavailable.
If App Store servers are down, you’ll have to wait until Apple fixes the issue before you can download apps from there. For certain apps, you can get them from their developer’s website.
If you download an app from somewhere other than the Mac App Store, you may not be able to open it, thanks to Apple’s Gatekeeper. The good news is that it’s possible todisable Gatekeeper in macOS, allowing you to launch non-Mac App Store apps without hassle.
3. Force Quit the App Store
Sometimes apps can stop working correctly on your Mac. When this happens, you can force quit and then relaunch them.
If the Mac App Store isn’t letting you download apps, try force quitting and then relaunching it. The simplest way to do this is by pressingCommand + Option + Shift + Escwhile the App Store is open.
Alternatively, you can follow the simple instructions below:
You can also force quit the App Store from the Activity Monitor. To do this:
4. Sign Out of the Mac App Store
You can’t download apps from the App Store unless you have an Apple ID. If you’re signed into the App Store on a Mac but can’t download apps, try signing out and then signing back in. To do this, follow these steps:
Now, check if you can download apps without any issues. If not, try the other troubleshooting steps below.
5. Restart Your Mac
Sometimes, minor software bugs and glitches may prevent you from downloading your favorite apps. So, if you cannot download apps from the Mac App Store, restart your Mac and see if it solves the problem. To restart your Mac, click on the Apple icon in the menu, then select Restart.
If you don’t want the App Store to open when you restart your Mac, quit the app or deselectReopen windows when logging back inoption in the Restart popup menu. Doing so will prevent the App Store and other open apps from reopening after restarting your Mac.
6. Update Your Payment Method
Unpaid balances can prevent you from downloading apps, whether they’re free or paid. An outdated or invalid payment method might be the cause. So, updating your payment method can fix this issue. To update your payment method on your Mac:
After updating your payment method, remove the old one. Any unpaid balances will be charged to the new payment method automatically. You should be able to download apps again once outstanding balances are paid.
If youuse Family Sharingand have purchase sharing enabled, change your payment method if you’re the family organizer. If you’re not the family organizer, ask the family organizer to change their payment method.
7. Contact Apple Support
If you’ve tried the above fixes and still can’t download apps from the Mac App Store, it’s time to get in touch with Apple Support. If you own an iPhone or iPad, you can easily gettech support with the Apple Support app.
However, if you don’t, you can visit theApple Support site, choose the appropriate topics, and get the available support options, which usually include a live chat or a phone call.
Resume Downloads on Your Mac App Store
If you cannot download apps from the Mac App Store, consider our suggestions on what to do about it. After all, what better place to get apps you can trust than from the Mac App Store? One of these troubleshooting steps should be able to help you out.
Once you solve your app download issue, you can resume downloading apps from the Mac App Store at your convenience.
Want to see everything you’ve purchased from the App Store recently? This guide will show you how to track and manage your app purchases.
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