Dear All,
I have a MacBook Pro running HighSierra 10.13.6.
I would like to know how I can save the installer file of a software downloaded from the App Store and installed directly
please.
I could copy and paste from the Application folder, but I don't think it's the right way, at least for all the softwares.
Many thanks for your time!
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.13
Hi P. Phillips,
thanks, you have been really straightforward in your explanation.
I have always had the habit to download and save the OS and the applications run, since when I was using Windows.
And to be honest I did it with Apple too.
This was doable until I was using apps which were installed with a simple copying and pasting from the App Store to the Application folder; so the only thing to do was copying and pasting from the Application folder to somewhere else.
Things get more complicated when the installation requires a more complex procedure.
Now you are definitevely telling me that there is no practicable way in the Apple system, so I can stop looking for it in the web.
I am not happy about the answer, because I was pretty sure it was doable, but I need to accept it!
Thsnks a lot for your time
There is no financial transaction between the User and Apple for the macOS beyond the purchase of their computers. Qualifying computer continue to get updates and / or upgrades on Qualifying computer for the life of the computer and / or until Apple decides the computer does not qualify for addition upgrades.
There might be a financial transaction between the user and Apple for the Applications. And, as such, the Applications remain available to the User provided the users Apple ID is associated with said purchase. Bottomline - Apple does not provide a Standalone Installer for Purchased Applications. Why - it is best to ask Apple via their Feedback Site
If the Application ( s) appears in Previous Purchased / Owned Category - it will remain available to re-download post reinstallation of the System macOS. Caution : Pages, Numbers and Keynotes specifically - the versions for these applications are outdated and the Apple Store may or may not present you to re-download them. Personally, run High Sierra on Mac mini circa 2011, iMac late 2012 Catalina and MBA M1 Big Sur. Have done several clean installs of High Sierra on Mac Mini and I have the Pages, Numbers and Keynote Associated with my Apple ID as Purchased. It ( Apple Store ) has presented on the Mac mini High Sierra to download a " Compatible Version " for High Sierra. On the other two machines - the newer version of the same application have been offered and installed successfully.
Hope this sheds some light on your situation and answers your question.
Try getting this in Safe Mode, but not using Firefox as it’ll mess things up…
https://itunes.apple.com/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12
Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at startup).
It should download to the Applications folder.
Just to define Installer. What Application by name ? Installer of Pages, Number, Keynote, etc. ? There are no Installers and thusly can not be saved. That is unless one have a iWorks DVD 2009
My understanding is macOS, by whatever version - Yes can be saved. Yes, Updates of macOSs can be.
But Not for Big Sur as there are No Standalone updates period.
If one is going to Reinstall the same version of macOS ( High Sierra ) - there is a Built-in Application from Apple called Time Machine Backup. Very simple to use and setup as per link provided. If one chooses to available oneself of this application - it can be used to Migrate already existing and installed applications back to the the newly installed High Sierra. Move your content to a new Mac. Thusly, eliminating the need to do what you are trying to do.
Suggest you read both articles completely and understand what the processes are.
As for complicated and complex - new Technology and new directions by Apple are exactly that. It does mean learning and adapting to the further lock - down of the Apple Ecosystem. As for Windows, they too are locking down their EcoSystem.
Right click on the Installer & choose Compress, which will make a zipped copy of it.
Do not think so as Apple is updating the Apple Store Applications all the time. Plus, the Applications(s) in question are Linked / associated to the Apple ID used to purchase said Applications(s).
Hi BDAqua,
I think there was a misunderstanding.
I am not talking about the MacOS, but only about any software of the App Store, which gives you only the option "Get" and once you click on it, it changes into "Install".
Some softwares only download the executable into the Application folder; others, besides the executable, copy other stuff around the system.
I mainly opened this post to get a solution for the second category of softwares.
Many thanks
Hi BDAqua,
don't worry, thanks for your time anyway!
For the record, I downloaded HighSierra and following updates from this website:
https://support.apple.com/en_GB/downloads
So, going back to the subject of this post.
Is there anyone else could help me please?
Many thanks and kind regards
Hi R Phillips,
thanks for your reply.
i don't know if Apple updates the Store application all the time.
Personally I managed to Download HighSiera + all the updates released.
The main point of this post however is how I can save the installer from the App Store.
When you say the softwares are linked to my Apple ID, are you saying there is no way to save them?
Many thanks
Hi P Phillips.
For Installer I mean any software downloaded from the App Store.
When you click on "Install", I don't know if it just memorises the executable in the Application folder; in this case you just have to copy and paste it somewhere else to get a copy of it.
Other times it is a real standalone installer which copies data in the Application folder and in other parts of the system; in this case I would like to know where it is downloaded so I can save it before the system delete it.
Many thanks
Hi P. Phillips,
I understand what you mean. I don't want to trick Apple or anyone.
I just want to know if clicking on the bottom "Install" of any software downloaded from the App Store there is any possibility to save the installer, so I can use it offline if I have to reinstall the whole system.
Many Thanks
Hi BDAqua,
thanks for your reply.
Sorry but it doesn't give you any Compress option if you download a software from the App Store!
Ah, yes, I did misunderstand. :(
Gotta love the modern protection schemes...
Saving Installer File
