Can't Download or Update Apps From the App Store on a Mac? Here's the Fix

You try to download or update an app from the App Store on your Mac and it fails, gets stuck, or says it can’t connect.

Why: Most App Store download problems come from one of a handful of things: a temporary Apple outage, a sign-in or payment hiccup on your Apple Account, or a network/cache glitch on the Mac. Working through them in order clears the great majority of cases.

Fix 1: Check Apple’s System Status and try again

Before changing anything, rule out an outage on Apple’s side.

1. Open Apple’s System Status page (apple.com/support/systemstatus) in a browser.
2. Find App Store (and Mac App Store) in the list — a green dot means the service is up.
3. If there’s an issue listed, wait and try again later; there’s nothing to fix on your end.

Fix 2: Make sure you’re signed in, then retry the download

A download can stall if your Apple Account session has dropped.

1. Open the App Store app.
2. Click your name (or the Sign In button) in the bottom-left corner.
3. Sign in with your Apple Account. If you were already signed in, sign out and back in.
4. Click Updates in the sidebar, then click Update next to the app — or try the download again from the app’s page.

Fix 3: Clear an unpaid order or fix your payment method

Even free updates can be blocked if there’s an unpaid balance on your account.

1. In the App Store, click your name in the bottom-left, then Account Settings.
2. If you’re prompted about an unpaid order or a billing problem, follow the prompt to update your payment method or redeem a gift card to cover the balance.
3. Once the order clears, return to Updates and try the download again.

Fix 4: Restart your Mac and switch networks

A simple restart clears a surprising number of stuck downloads.

1. Choose Apple menu > Restart.
2. After it boots, open the App Store and try the download again.
3. If it still fails, connect to a different network (for example, a phone hotspot) to rule out a Wi-Fi or router problem. A captive Wi-Fi login screen or a firewall can quietly block App Store traffic.

Fix 5: Re-download from your purchase history

If one specific app refuses to install, get a fresh copy of it.

1. In the App Store, click your name in the bottom-left.
2. Find the app in your list of purchases and click the download (cloud) icon to re-download it.

FAQ

It says “Cannot connect to App Store.” That’s almost always a network or status issue. Check System Status (Fix 1), then try a different network (Fix 4). Also confirm your Mac’s date and time are set to update automatically, since a wrong clock can break the secure connection.

The download is stuck on “Waiting.” Click the app’s “Waiting” button to pause it, then click again to resume. If it won’t budge, restart the Mac (Fix 4) and retry.

Will I be charged again to re-download an app I bought? No. Re-downloading a purchase from your account doesn’t charge you again.

Sources: Apple Support — If you can’t download or update apps on your Mac