anonyme4321,

1. Mac Update Won't Install

Jun 23, 2017  The App Store on my MacBook Pro shows I have four updates that I need to download. I click on the button to update the app, I get a spinning wheel in the upper left corner of the window, but nothing downloads. I used to get progress bars for each item I was updating, but I. Jul 01, 2020  Like a lot of people, my parents never think to open the App Store to update their apps, and with the recent redesign to the way app updates are accessed, I'm sure they wouldn't even know where to look for them. There is an App Store setting that allows for automatic app updates, but this has proven to.

Thank you for your prompt reply!

I read the link to the previous discussion thread that you suggested, and this is what I did that seems to have fixed my problem:

Make sure you’re ready to upgrade. Before you upgrade, we recommend that you back up your Mac. Then, if your Mac is running OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later, you can upgrade directly to macOS Catalina. Learn how to back up your Mac. Aug 13, 2019  Make sure you enable Gatekeeper again after installing your app, or you will leave your Mac vulnerable to attack! What to do if you can’t update or sign in to the Mac App Store If you’ve been test-driving macOS Catalina through Apple’s Beta Software Program, you might have experienced problems using the App Store on your Mac.

From nbar's recommendation I did:

Open Finder, from the menu bar Go.. > Go to Folder...

copy and paste the following path: ~/Library/Preferences/

Deleted the following item:

com.apple.appstore.plist

This item was not there:

com.apple.installer.plist

Then from Carolyn Samit's recommendation I did:

Open Finder, from the menu bar Go.. > Go to Folder...

copy and paste the following path: ~/Library/Caches/

Deleted the following folder:

com.apple.appstore

So actually, thank you to all three of you!

Rambling Joe

Background app downloads work the same as any other background download. Apple looks for opportunities to grab the updated bits from the server in a way that impacts you the least. So, if they do their job right, you shouldn't even notice the bits coming down while you work, watch, or while your Mac power naps.

If you get tight on space, Apple will also intelligently remove an unused installer — which can be reclaimed at any time from the cloud — so it doesn't impact your storage.

In other words, it lets the Mac work the way iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV have been working for a while.

If you want to make sure background app download is on, or you hate the idea and want to make sure it's off, you can do that in your Mac App Store preferences.

How to turn on — or turn off — automatic app update downloads on your Mac

1. Launch the Mac App Store on your Mac.
2. Click on App Store in the menubar.
3. Click on Preferences in the dropdown menu.

4. Check the box to the left of Automatic updates.

To disable background updates, repeat the same process and uncheck the box.

Should I leave Automatic Updates on?

If you hate waiting for app updates to download, then yes. That way, whenever you want to update, it'll be ready and waiting for you. Apple will never install an update without your express permission — or action! — but it'll make sure you don't have to wait when you want to install it.

If you have limited bandwidth or you don't want to update to newer versions of an app — for example if you're running a production system and need to wait for apps or drivers to update first — then no. Leave it unchecked and only download when you're sure you really want to.

Any questions?

Not sure about updates? Drop your questions in the comments below!

macOS Catalina

Main

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

National COVID-19 server to use Apple and Google's API, hosted by Microsoft

Mac Update Won't Install

The Association of Public Health Laboratories has announced it is working with Apple, Google, and Microsoft to launch a national server that will securely store COVID-19 exposure notification data.