Menu
Apr 15, 2019 These apps could be fighting for not only CPU power and RAM, but also bandwidth. Close all open apps and relaunch the Facebook app to see if news feeds are showing up or not.
One of the best things about a Mac is the range of free apps that come pre-installed. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t download and install other applications from time to time. It should be easy — like most Apple tasks — but that isn’t always the case. This post explains what you can do if your Mac won’t install apps.
Contents
Related:Quick Tips
Try out these quick tips to update or install new apps on your Mac, or read the full post for more details:
Common error messages when installing Mac apps
When trying to download or update apps, you might get one of the following messages:
If this, or something similar, has happened to you, we have the solution below. But first, let’s make sure you’ve got the basic requirements to install an app.
What do you need to install apps on a Mac?
In order to download, install, or update an app on your Mac you will need the following three things:
![]() Macbook Not Updating
Check your Internet connection by streaming a video online. If the video is slow to load, contact your Internet service provider for assistance.
Check your storage by clicking the button in the menu bar and selecting About This Mac > Storage. Ensure you have at least as much space as recommended by the app developer. Preferably a bit more.
You’ll often need an administrator password to complete the installation of an app. If need be, ask the administrator to log on and install the app themselves. Otherwise, they may need to enter their password when prompted from your account.
How do I open apps that aren’t from the App Store?
Macs benefit from a lot of in-built safety precautions, but when downloading third-party apps they can sometimes appear overzealous. By default, your Mac won’t install apps from anywhere other than the App Store, although this is easy to bypass.
After downloading an app, control-click the file in your Downloads folder and select Open from the menu. You’ll get the same ‘unidentified developer’ warning as before, but this time you’ll have the option to open the app anyway.
You can reduce the frequency of these alerts by going to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General. Click the padlock and enter your administrator password to unlock the settings, then choose to “Allow apps downloaded from: App Store and identified developers.”
Update macOS and reboot your Mac to reduce issues
Update macOS to the latest version, unless it isn’t compatible with the app you’re trying to use. Developers typically list the recommended operating software wherever you download the app from.
Check for updates in macOS by clicking the button in the menu bar and selecting About This Mac > Software Update.
A reboot of your Mac is another effective troubleshooting tool. Shut down your Mac using the button in the menu bar, and leave it powered off for a minute or so before powering on again. After doing so — and allowing all the background processes to close down and start again properly — your Mac is likely to run with fewer issues.
Delete the app and then try to install it again.
Before deleting any apps from your Mac you should make sure you have a recent backup of all your valuable data.
It could be that the app, or the app installer, has become corrupt and this is why your Mac won’t install or update it. The only remedy for this is to remove the app from your machine entirely and download it again from scratch.
Close down any version of the app if it is currently running on your Mac by using the Quit [App] button in the menu bar. Then open Finder and go to the Applications folder, find the relevant app and drag it to the Trash.
You should check the Application folders for individual users on your Mac. This can be done by navigating from your Hard Drive > Users > [User Name] > Applications.
Empty the Trash, then restart your Mac and download the app again.
Temporarily turn off the firewall on your Mac.
The firewall does a great job of keeping your Mac safe, but it can sometimes get in the way of installing or updating other apps. You can turn it off in the System Preferences, but you should remember to turn it on again after so your Mac is not left vulnerable.
Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall. Click the padlock and enter your administrator password to unlock the settings, then click the Turn Off Firewall button.
You should also turn off any antivirus software, as this may also be interfering with app installations.
After your app installation or update is complete, remember to turn your firewall and antivirus software on again.
Restore your Mac to its factory settings.
This is something of a nuclear option, but it’s there if you want it.
If, after all the other steps listed above, you still can’t get your Mac to install or update apps, a complete factory restore may offer the solution. Doing so will erase all your data and reinstall the macOS, so ensure you have a backup first.
You should also be aware that the entire process can take quite a long time, upwards of six hours depending on your internet speed and how much data you have.
Problems with updating your apps
Recently, Mac users have experienced a new problem in the latest version of macOS Mojave. In this problem, users can’t update their stock apps such as Keynote or Pages. They need to click an accept button in their account, but that accept button doesn’t exist!
My Pc Is Not Updating
This doesn’t happen to everyone: some users can find the accept button without any problems. But if yours is missing, you can still update the app by deleting it from your Mac and downloading a fresh copy from the App Store.
The easiest way to delete an app is to move it to the Trash from the Application folder in Finder. Then it might be worth restarting your Mac before you download the app from the App Store again. And once you do, you’ll have the recently-updated version of it.
How to fix app problems in macOS CatalinaWhat to do if you can’t approve new apps in macOS Catalina
Another beta problem in macOS Catalina is the inability to approve new apps from the Security & Privacy System Preferences. We explained one way to do this above, but lots of users running the beta version of macOS Catalina have found it doesn’t work.
It seems the solution is to disable Gatekeeper temporarily while you install the new app. We strongly advise you to turn it on again afterward. You can do this by going to System Preferences > Security & Privacy, click to padlock and enter your administrator password to unlock it. Under Allow apps downloaded from: select Anywhere.
If there is no Anywhere option, open Terminal and enter the following command line:
Restart System Preferences and you should see the Anywhere option. You can undo this at any time using the command line:
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. Lot’s of users are unable to update or download new apps because the App Store doesn’t let them log in.
![]()
Despite entering the correct Apple ID username and password, the Mac App Store still appears as though they aren’t logged in. If this has happened to you, try the following user suggestions to resolve it:
We hope one of those tips let you install and update apps without any more issues. Leave a comment below to tell us which trick worked for you! Or if you’re still having trouble, reach out to Apple directly and tell us what they say so we can help more readers.
Dan is a freelance writer based in South West England.
He spent two years supervising repairs as a Genius Admin for Apple Retail and uses that knowledge to keep our troubleshooting guides up to date.
Long before that, Dan turned to Apple products from a musical background. Having owned iPods for years, he bought a MacBook to learn sound recording and production. It was using those skills that he gained a first-class Bachelor of Science in Sound Technology.
LandlordMax is the #1 Voted EASIEST Property Management Software! Online and Cloud Based. Join thousands of property management companies, property managers, real estate investors, landlords, banks, and more from around the world who trust LandlordMax to manage their real estate rental properties. A rental property management system is software that enables rental property owners and managers to execute a considerable number of essential daily tasks-including managing and tracking tenant information, accounting and billing, maintenance, and posting vacancies online-to help all operations run smoothly for a given property. Rental Property Tracker Plus is easy-to-use, residential rental property management software with which you can: keep track of all your rental units, tenants, rental income and expenses. Search a portfolio of Property Management software, SaaS and cloud applications for Mac. Save time with reviews, on-line decision support and guides. GetApp is your free Directory to Compare, Short-list and Evaluate Business Solutions. Save time with reviews, on-line decision support and guides. Rental property management software for mac.
Related Posts:
A beauty of a MacBook or any other laptop is its portability. You can unplug it and use whenever and wherever you want. Of course, it only makes sense if it holds the charge. That’s why it can be a nightmare when your laptop is not charging hence killing its portability factor.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process to fix your MacBook that’s not charging. But before we start, let’s look at a few possible reasons why your laptop battery won’t charge.
Why my Mac won't charge?
Possible reasons why your computer won’t charge:
How to troubleshoot a MacBook that’s not charging
Here are 5 ways to fix your MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro not charging.
Method 1: Physically inspect hardware
Before you look any further, you need to check the basics. If your MacBook Pro battery is not charging, verify the power cable. Inspect every inch of the cable and look for broken spots or any dark stains on its surface. If you find any damage, there is a chance it’s causing the problem.
The next thing you should do is to verify the ports for any foreign objects or debris. Dust can build up in the charging port blocking the connection, so if you find something, use a wooden object to remove it (you can use a toothpick).
Check whether you are plugged in into the wall socket. Make sure it is turned on or try using a different socket. We know this sounds a bit basic but it’s always better to double check.
⚠ CAUTION To prevent electric shock and other dangerous accidents, be careful when working with wiring and power tools. Never leave electrical appliances somewhere they can easily fall into the water. Always be cautious for your own safety. Method 2: Reboot your MacBook
Just like apps on your MacBook can get frozen, so can the hardware that controls the charging of your notebook. That’s why when your MacBook won’t charge, try to restart it. A simple reboot can reset the hardware and fix the problem.
As simple as that! Now you know what to do before asking yourself, “Why isn’t my laptop charging?”
Method 3: Check your battery health
The MacBook battery may wear out faster than expected if you use it intensively. You should always monitor its status; otherwise, there’s a risk of having a non-working notebook at the most inappropriate time. Checking your battery health is especially relevant when the battery doesn’t charge even with a cable.
To view the state of the battery health, press and hold Option (Alt) key and click the icon of the battery in the Menu Bar. The advanced options of the menu will appear. There are four states your battery may be in:
Can certain apps affect battery health?
In short, the answer is yes. According to security researcher, Charlie Miller, “malicious software may be exploited in various ways, from just causing the battery to stop functioning to auto-installing malware.” The 'backdoor' applications may disguise themselves as alerts to “update your Flash player” or imitate harmless Chrome extensions. If you are unsure about downloading such things in the past, you need to run an anti-malware check. Chances are, your battery will come to life.
Many users on Apple forums recommend using CleanMyMac X as it deals with macOS-specific viruses. This app developed by MacPaw is notarized by Apple, so you are safe downloading it.
Here is the link to get a free edition.
When you run CleanMyMac X, click the Malware Removal tab. This should reveal if any app has highjacked your battery.
Method 4: Reset the SMC
The System Management Controller (SMC) is responsible for the battery management and its status indicator lights. Therefore, if your Mac battery is not charging, resetting the SMC may help.
Note that the process of resetting the SMC for MacBooks with a removable battery and a non-removable battery is quite different. That’s why first you have to determine whether your battery is removable.
Mac notebooks that have non-removable batteries include MacBook Pro (early 2009 and later), all models of MacBook Air, and MacBook (late 2009).
If a battery is non-removable:
RESET THE SMC
Method 5: Cool your MacBook
It may be surprising but the reason of your MacBook battery not charging may be as simple as overheating. If the thermal sensors within your laptop detect a drastic rise in temperature, they block out the access to the battery as a safety measure.
What can you do if your MacBook is hot to the touch? Simply turn it off and let it be for some time, or place a fan near your Mac to cool it down right away. If you work outside, move into the shade — direct sunlight can cause your Mac getting hot.
Method 6. Check for battery-draining apps
Another issue is battery-draining apps. It has been noted that some programs are extremely taxing on battery. There’s a simple way to check it using the tool we’ve mentioned above, CleanMyMac X. It has a system health monitor in the upper bar of your Mac. When you click on it, you will see the apps that drain your battery far too much.
How to find the battery monitor:
When you click on it, you will see the apps that drain your battery far too much:
You may need this tool to do further maintenance on your Mac. Download it here, from the official site.
If all troubleshooting methods fail, consider taking your MacBook to the Apple Store or a certified Apple repair center. Every laptop has its own quirks, and at this point, it’s better to ask a licensed professional to help. More than likely, your MacBook will need a unique fix. To avoid those unpleasant “Why won’t my laptop charge?” surprise, also check our comprehensive guide on “How to increase Mac battery life.” Take care of your battery health!
These might also interest you:Comments are closed.
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |