App Store scams have recently resurfaced as a developer exposed several scam apps in the App Store making millions of dollars per year. Most of these apps exploit fake ratings and reviews to show. Shop our extensive selection of Mac Software by categories like Business & Office, Children's, Computer Security, Education & Reference, Illustration & Design, Operating Systems, and more. Download apps for your Windows phone instantly to your smartphone. Browse thousands of free and paid apps by category, read user reviews, and compare ratings. As mentioned by Apple, the company had already been requiring COVID-19-related apps to be submitted to the App Store by governments and public health authorities in an attempt to stop misleading. The Mac App Store makes it simple for customers to discover, purchase, and download your apps, and easily keep them updated. Organized around the specific things customers love to do on Mac, along with insightful stories, curated collections, and videos, the Mac App Store beautifully showcases your apps and makes them even easier to find.
Learn how the Mac App Store beautifully showcases your apps and makes them even easier to find, and how Developer ID and notarization make it safer for users to install apps that you distribute yourself.
Mac App Store
The Mac App Store makes it simple for customers to discover, purchase, and download your apps, and easily keep them updated. Organized around the specific things customers love to do on Mac, along with insightful stories, curated collections, and videos, the Mac App Store beautifully showcases your apps and makes them even easier to find.
iPhone and iPad apps on Apple silicon Macs
The Mac App Store brings iPhone and iPad apps to Apple silicon Macs — so your apps can reach even more users worldwide. By default, your apps will be published automatically on the Mac App Store. Confirm that your apps gracefully handle cases where iPhone and iPad features are not available on Mac.
iPad apps that support modern technologies like keyboard input, multitasking, size classes, and SwiftUI will automatically inherit great macOS features like resizability and full screen mode.
Web Extensions
Safari Web Extensions can add custom functionality to Safari 14 using the same WebExtensions API used in other browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. And with a new conversion tool in Xcode 12, you can quickly bring your existing extensions to Safari and make them available on the Mac App Store.
Outside the Mac App Store
While the Mac App Store is the safest place for users to get software for their Mac, you may choose to distribute your Mac apps in other ways. Gatekeeper on macOS helps protect users from downloading and installing malicious software by checking for a Developer ID certificate. Make sure to test your apps with the latest version of macOS and sign your apps, plug-ins, or installer packages to let Gatekeeper know they’re safe to install.
You can also give users even more confidence in your apps by submitting them to Apple to be notarized.
Mac Logo
The Mac logo is designed to easily identify software products and hardware peripherals developed to run on macOS and take advantage of its advanced features.
| Mac App Store | Outside Mac App Store | |
|---|---|---|
| App Distribution | Hosted by Apple | Managed by developer (with Developer ID) |
| Software Updates | Hosted by Apple | Managed by developer |
| Worldwide Payment Processing | Managed by Apple | Managed by developer |
| Volume Purchasing and Education Pricing | Managed by Apple | Managed by developer |
| Advanced App Capabilities (iCloud Storage and Push Notifications) | Available | Available |
| App Store Services (In-App Purchase and Game Center) | Available | Not Available |
| 64-Bit | Required | Recommended |
| App Sandboxing | Required | Recommended |
How to download apps for Mac
- Open the App Store app.
- Browse or search for the app that you want to download.
- Click the price or Get button. If you see the 'Open' button instead of a price or Get button, you already bought or downloaded that app.
In the App Store, if an app has a Get button instead of a price, the app is free. You won't be charged for downloading a free app. Some free apps offer in-app purchases and subscriptions that you can buy. Subscriptions and in-app purchases give you access to more features, content, and more. Learn more about in-app purchases and subscriptions.
How to find apps that you bought
Use Launchpad to open apps that you downloaded. Some apps might ask you to download Rosetta before you open the app.
- If the app that you want doesn't appear in Launchpad, redownload the app. When you redownload an app, you don't have to pay for it again.
- If you want to download an app that a family member bought from the App Store, redownload the app. Make sure that you're both using Family Sharing.
- If you’re using a Mac with Apple silicon, you might be able to use some iPhone or iPad apps that you purchased on your Mac. Determine whether you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, then redownload the iPhone or iPad app onto your Mac.
If you can't find the App Store
In the Dock
In the menu at the top of your screen
If you don't see the icon in the Dock, choose Apple menu > App Store from the menu at the top of your computer screen.
If you have an issue when you download apps
To buy apps from the App Store, you need an Apple ID and a payment method. If you’re only downloading free items, you still might need to keep a payment method on file.
- If you can’t download apps because your payment method was declined, update or change your payment method.
- Can’t sign in to the App Store? Learn what to do if you forgot your Apple ID or your Apple ID password. Or if you don’t have an Apple ID, learn how to set up an Apple ID.
- Learn what to do if you can sign in and your payment method is valid but you still can't download apps.
If an app does not work
- Learn what to do if an app closes unexpectedly or won't open.
- If an app isn't working as expected, you can contact the app developer. Or report a problem to Apple.
Learn more about apps
Mac Apps Store
- You can download some apps from the app developer’s website. But the App Store offers a more secure experience.
- Learn more about using apps on your Mac.