Most of the praise for Mac comes from how powerful its hardware is, and macOS adds to that. You also get the iPhone’s integration, so you can use features like AirDrop to send files and Continuity to scan documents. Still, the ecosystem of apps for the macOS keeps growing every year.
Even though apps make the Mac more useful, it’s important to keep them up to date so you can use the latest features. But sometimes, your Mac apps just won’t update. The file will be downloaded, but it will not be installed. If you’re having trouble with your Mac’s apps not updating, here are some easy fixes.
Ways to Fix Apps Not Updating on Mac
1. FORCE QUIT THE APP STORE AND REOPEN IT
Most of the time, when there’s a problem with the App Store, your Mac’s apps won’t update correctly. To fix this, force quit the App store and then open it back up. Here’s what you need to do.
Step 1: With the App Store open, click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your Mac.
Step 2: Select Force Quit.
Step 3: Click on App Store to select it.
Step 4: Then, click on the Force Quit button to close it.
Step 5: Relaunch the App Store and try updating your apps again.
2. MANUALLY UPDATE THE APP FROM APP STORE
If your apps aren’t automatically updating, you can always go to the App Store and update each one individually. Just go to the app’s page and click the button that says “Update.”
Do this for all the apps that have pending updates.
3. SIGN OUT OF APP STORE AND SIGN BACK IN
It’s possible that the App Store can’t get in touch with your Apple account. This can stop your Mac from updating apps. Signing out of your Apple account on the App Store and then back in is a simple way to fix the problem. Here’s what you need to do.
Step 1: Open the App Store on your Mac.
Step 2: Click on the Store option on the menu bar at the top.
Step 3: Select Sign Out.
Now, close the App Store and reopen it. Sign in with your Apple ID and you should now be able to update your apps.
4. CONNECT TO A FAST AND STABLE INTERNET CONNECTION
For big apps to download, you need a lot of bandwidth. This is why it’s recommended to connect your Mac to a fast and stable internet connection, either via a good Wi-Fi connection or via an ethernet cable. Avoid using a mobile hotspot since the speeds will be considerably lower and it’s possible that the connection is metered so your Mac won’t download the updates.
5. ENSURE ADEQUATE FREE STORAGE ON YOUR MAC
Apps take up a lot of space on your Mac’s hard drive. Your Mac’s internal storage is also used to download updates before you install them. If your Mac doesn’t have enough space, you won’t be able to download the update. Here’s how to delete some files on your Mac to make room.
Step 1: Click on the Apple logo on the top-left corner of your screen.
Step 2: Select About this Mac.
Step 3: Navigate to the Storage section using the bar at the top. Wait for your Mac to calculate the remaining storage.
Step 4: Click on Manage to get an overview of the files occupying storage on your Mac.
Step 5:If you’re using more than 90% of your storage, you should delete some files to make room. Use the left column to see what kind of files are taking up space. Choose a category to see the files in that category.
Step 6: Select files you don’t require anymore and then click on the Delete button in the bottom-right corner.
Step 7: Restart your Mac and try updating the apps.
6. DELETE THE APP THAT’S NOT UPDATING AND REINSTALL IT
There might be a problem with a certain version of the app that keeps it from updating. The best way to fix this problem is to delete the app and download it again from the App Store. This way, the app will always be updated to the most recent version.
7. UPDATE MACOS TO THE LATEST VERSION
There may be bugs in some versions of macOS that make it hard for apps to install or update correctly. These problems can be fixed by getting the latest version of macOS. Here’s what you need to do.
Step 1: Click on the Apple logo on the top-left section of your screen.
Step 2: Select the About This Mac option.
Step 3: You will now see a pop-up window with the details about your Mac. Click on Software Update.
Step 4: Wait for your Mac to scan for the latest update. If an update is available, it will be displayed.
Step 5: Click on Update Now and wait for the process to complete.
After installing updates and restarting your Mac, try updating your apps.
KEEP YOUR APPS UPDATED
Follow these steps to fix problems with app updates, and you won’t have any more trouble with updates. It’s always a good idea to keep your apps up-to-date so that any bugs can be fixed and any new features can be added.