Downloads via App Store takes a lot of time on Mac, how to fix?
The App Store is built-in to the majority of Apple products, including the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. And all Mac computers operating macOS and OS X Mountain Lion and above for OS X feature the mac app store too! And the Apple Watch now has its own unique App Store as well. The easiest solution would be to empty your App Store’s temporary download cache folder. This solution works most of the time and it is easy to do. But before you start fixing your Mac download problems, run a scan of your computer first to make sure there are no corrupt files or cache affecting your App Store.
The App Store application offers access to all available apps for Apple macOS or iOS operating systems. To find any type of program, simply use the search field to deliver all associated results. When the store works properly it is very useful, but since the storage is vast and contains countless apps, various issues are unavoidable.
One issue is very poor downloading performance, resulting in a wait of several minutes when downloading even a small application of just a few MB. Some people report that this issue appears even when they try to update their operating systems. There are a number of causes of this problem, such as wrong DNS server, router or Internet service provider issues, Apple server crashes, and others. Below we describe the most common issues and possible solutions - how to improve App Store downloading speed.
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Ensure Apple's service servers are working properly
Crashes and maintenance works are often unavoidable when dealing with electronic systems, and might be reasons for low downloading speeds. Apple has created a status web page for users to check if their preferred servers are working properly. To ensure that the server that you are trying to connect to is working properly, visit Apple's System Status web page and see if a green indicator is displayed bedside it. If you find a yellow or red indicator, there is not much you can do, since this is Apple's issue.
Reboot the device
Restarting the device is often a solution for many issues, including low downloading speeds. For example, minor crashes within the operating system can result in decreased performance. Rebooting is useful for Mac computers and any mobile iOS device. Restart the Mac by clicking the Apple logo in the menu bar at the top of the screen and select Restart. Restart the iOS device by holding the lock button until the slider appears - slide it to turn it off and then hold again to boot up the mobile device.
Try downloading a different application
There are cases when download speed is related to particular applications - a decrease in speed is a result of miscommunication between the developers and App store. So, if a developer removes a product, but the App Store has not updated its storage area, you may receive various error messages and an inactive progress bar. To check if this is the case, try downloading any free app from the store.
Apple ID related problems
Issues can sometimes be related specifically to the Apple ID account. In this case, there is a very simple solution: simply sign out of your account, wait a few seconds, sign back in to the App Store application, and try to download the app again. Open App Store and click on Store in the menu bar at the top of the screen. In the list, select Sign out. Repeat the steps to Sign in.
Troubleshoot your network connection
- First, ensure downloading speed issues are not caused by your Internet Service Provider or particular wireless network. Begin with checking the download speed by visiting speedtest website. Minimum speed requirements for smooth downloading are above 10Mb/s.
- Next, switch between cellular and wi-fi networks on mobile devices. Or, switch between Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections on Mac computers. If possible, test all three networks.
- If speed is low when using a Wi-Fi network only, reboot the router. Turn it off, wait about 60 seconds, and then turn it back on. Check the download speed after rebooting.
- If resetting the router does not solve the issue, try to connect to a different Wi-Fi network (if available). Some routers, especially schools and institutions' networks, block unnecessary ports or App Store servers to keep download bandwidth accessible to anyone.
- If you encounter issues while connected to cellular network or Ethernet, contact the Internet Service Provider (ISP) for possible solutions.
Change the DNS settings
Low downloading speed can be caused by a poor DNS server, since all internet requests must travel through that particular server. Low DNS server performance affects all Internet tasks, including downloads via App Store. To check whether the DNS server is causing problems, replace the existing server with Google's or any other OpenDNS server. We recommend that you try several different servers and use the one that produces the highest download speeds. To change DNS servers on iOS devices, open Settings and tap on Wi-Fi. In a new window, tap the information icon (a blue 'i' in the circle) of your current network, and then tap the DNS field and change the address. To change the DNS server on a Mac computer, open System Preferences and choose Network. In the new window, click the current connection, and then click Advanced. In the new window, choose the DNS tab and click the add (+) under the list of DNS servers.
Apple Mac Apps Store
If you notice problems when connected to the Wi-Fi occur on several devices, there may be an issue in the router's DNS settings. In this case, changing settings for a particular device might improve the situation, so read the router manufacturer guide to change DNS settings.
Turn off VPN, firewall, and security software
VPN, firewall, and anti-virus software can affect Internet performance. Incoming and outgoing connections might be cited as possible threats, thus resulting in blocked or restricted connections to associated servers. Disable and re-enable each software package to see if this affects downloading performance. To disable the firewall on Mac computers, go to System Preferences and choose Security & Privacy. Then select the Firewall tab. Click on lock and enter your administrator account password for permission to make changes. To check that you are not connected to a VPN server, choose Network under System Preferences and inspect the list on left side. iOS devices do not have firewall or anti-virus software by default, so if you have not downloaded any, you only need to check VPN settings. Open the device's Settings and choose General. Scroll down until you see VPN options. Disconnect from any connected VPN and check if download speeds improves.
Video Showing how to fix low downloading speed via App Store on Mac:
Maybe you have just created a new Apple ID and are trying to install all of your favorite apps. Suddenly, a popup appears saying, “This Apple ID has not yet been used in the iTunes Store. Tap Review to sign in, then review your account information.” Worse, when you tap on the Review, nothing but a blank page welcomes you on the App Store. Oh, damn it! If the scenario sounds familiar, you have come to the right place to fix the “This Apple ID hasn’t been used in the iTunes Store” error. So, let’s get it out of the way sooner than later!
How to Fix Apple ID Has Not Been Used in the iTunes Store Error
Finding out the root of the problem is always better before going on to troubleshoot the issue. Moreover, it also goes a long way in clearing out the clouds. So, we are going to do it first up.
So, Why Does This Error Occur in the Very First Place?
In a nutshell, Apple wants you to just verify your payment and shipping address one more time just to ensure everything is correct. Yeah, you can brand Apple hypersensitive. But you can’t deny the fact that when it comes to purchasing stuff, it always pays to be correct and fully informed – rather than pay a heavy price later. So, the tech giant is right in asking you to review your Apple ID info.
The Popup Mostly Appears When…
If you have created an Apple ID using the Apple website, you would most likely encounter this popup after you have signed in to your iDevices like iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Wondering why it happens? Well, it’s because the ID created using the Apple website is a standard one without billing and shipping addresses – unlike the one made using App/iTunes Store. Windows app mac keyboard tutorial.
That’s the reason why Apple reminds you of reviewing your account, making sure you have filled the payment and shipping info so that you can purchase items without any inconvenience.
Mac App Store Parallels
The Solution: Update Your Payment and Shipping Information
First things first, this popup message is simply a reminder to let you update your iTunes Store payment and shipping information; and not an error or anything of that kind. So, the right way to troubleshoot it is by reviewing the account info.
To get it done, head into Settings App → tap on Profile picture at the top right → Payment & Shipping.
Now, make sure to add a credit/debit card even if your purchase isn’t paid. Mac photos app where are my photos iphone. As Apple won’t charge you until you have made a purchase, you shouldn’t worry about anything.
What If the Popup Appears Even After You Have Updated Your Account Info?
Having used iDevices for years, I can say that unexpected error messages like “Cannot connect to iTunes Store,” “Activation error” or “Error 3194 in iTunes,” do arrive out of nowhere. And from what I have experienced, software update proves to be a reliable solution most of the times.
So, if you are getting the alert repeatedly even after updating your account info, be sure to update the software on your device. Simply, open Settings app → General → Software Update. Now, go through the process as usual to upgrade the OS.
Hoping You Have Finally Overcome the Issue…
As this solution has clicked for many iDevice users, I expect you to be on the lucky side as well. Thus, there shouldn’t be any problem with downloading apps, games or other stuff. But just in case the problem isn’t over as yet, contact Apple Support for help.
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Suraj is a digital marketing expert on the iGB's team. He contributes to the social media section along with tips and tricks for iPhone, Apple Watch. Apart from blogging, he likes to work out as much as he can in his gym and love to listening to retro music.
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