How to fix “Mac cannot connect to App Store” [2025 update]

Apple is trying to corral all apps into one central location, much like we find on iOS and iPadOS. The Mac is simply becoming a lot more like its mobile counterparts.

That’s why we all must have a reliable connection to the App Store on our Macs. When I need an app, and it’s hosted in the App Store — well, that’s soon going to be my only option! 

I’ll answer your most common questions, like why it says “cannot connect to the App Store,” and highlight some amazing apps and tips so you can connect to the App Store without any issues.

Can’t connect to App Store issue	Do this
No internet connection	Check if your Mac is connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network. Go to System Settings > Network and ensure Wi-Fi is marked as Connected. Try turning it off and on again.
App Store is down	Visit Apple’s System Status page to check if the App Store is experiencing outages.
macOS is outdated	Go to System Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest update.
System is under heavy load	Use iStat Menus to monitor CPU, memory, and system usage.
Wi-Fi issues or poor signal	Use WiFi Explorer or NetSpot to analyze your network and switch to a more stable and secure connection.
Random/unexplained system issues	Reset the System Management Controller (SMC).
Updating apps without using App Store	Use CleanMyMac to update apps and clear app caches quickly, bypassing the App Store.

Why my Mac cannot connect to the App Store?

If you’ve ever had issues getting into the App Store and wondered ‘Why can't I connect to App Store?” there are a few key reasons your Mac would be unable to connect to the App Store. Here are some common issues:

• Connectivity issues. When you cannot connect to app store Mac computers are often showing that message because there is a connection issue. Make sure your connection to the internet is reliable first.
• The App Store is down. You can also check Apple’s System Status page to see if the App Store is having issues. It actually may have nothing to do with you!
• You need to sign in. It’s possible that your Mac needs you to sign into the App Store, even if you’ve signed into your Mac using the same Apple ID as your App Store utilizes. If you can’t sign into Apple App Store on Mac, try signing into your Mac with your Apple ID again, which may require signing out and back in. This is a common answer for the question ‘why can’t i sign in to App Store?’
• Some random issues you can’t detect. There are times when you might run through all the fixes, and your Mac is still not connecting to the App Store. While you could go with the classic “turn it off and on again” method, a better option is to force restart your computer to reset system states and clear out those frozen processes. To do so, press and hold the Power button until it reboots. It’s also worth resetting your SMC — and for newer Macs, it’ll automatically do this for you when you reset your device

Ways to fix “Mac Cannot Connect to App Store” problem

If you’ve been left asking yourself, “Why does it say cannot connect to the app store?’ and ‘Why can’t I download apps on Mac?”, I’ve already prepared the best 2025 solutions next.

Checking for software updates to fix App Store issues

Software updates are easy to ignore. A quick click of the “install later” button will allow you to push the task off until later. I know this tactic all too well. But in reality, software updates are extremely important. These updates come with security patches and bug fixes that keep your system compatible with programs and apps, which is why an outdated macOS version can cause problems with the App Store connection.

To check for macOS updates:

1. Open System Settings.
2. Click General > Software Update.
3. Click Upgrade Now to initiate the update.

Occasionally, you might see the software update recommendation right when you open up your System Settings under your Apple Account name.

If you’ve successfully completed the software update and the App Store still isn’t accessible, it’s worth updating your apps manually. To do so, open each app directly and search for the option to update it either upon launch or somewhere in the menu bar.

Monitor your Wi-Fi 

If you’re experiencing Wi-Fi connectivity issues when trying to log onto the Mac App Store, the first thing you can do is try switching your Wi-Fi. To do that, follow these steps:

1. In your Mac menu bar, click the Apple logo.
2. Choose System Settings > Network.
3. Make sure the Wi-Fi is marked as Connected..
4. Click Wi-Fi, then turn it off and on.
5. Click the button again to turn your Wi-Fi back on.

If this doesn’t help you, and your Mac still cannot connect to the App Store, use WiFi Explorer or NetSpot. Both of these great apps are far better than your Mac at monitoring and identifying the best network available. 

In many cases, your Mac is simply on an unreliable connection; WiFi Explorer and NetSpot both keep close tabs on your network, and can tell you in short order what may be going wrong, and which network is the fastest available for your Mac. They also tell you which connection is the most secure.

Random issues you can’t detect

When your Mac can’t connect to the App Store, but you know everything is fine with your connection, there may be a problem with other things. 

If your Mac is acting up for no clear reason, try restarting it. On newer Macs, you can force restart by holding the Touch ID/power button.

Still glitchy? Consider resetting the SMC (System Management Controller), which can resolve deeper, persistent issues. Here’s a detailed guide on how to reset SMC on Mac.

So, if you are still wondering “why can't I connect to App Store”, that’s where iStat Menus and CleanMyMac come in handy.

“Mac cannot connect to App Store” issue? Fixed

Your Mac may be unable to connect to the App Store for a variety of reasons. Most often, it’s something local you can control. 

That’s why it’s critical to have great apps that can manage your system, and keep an eye on its performance so you never have to guess and waste time doing things that don’t need to be done in the hopes it will fix your connection. 

All four of the great apps we’ve mentioned here today — iStat Menus, WiFi Explorer, NetSpot, and CleanMyMac — are available for free as part of a seven-day trial of Setapp, the world’s best suite of productivity apps for your Mac. In addition to these apps, you’ll get immediate and unlimited access to nearly 250 other great Mac apps during your trial!