MacBook Pro 2017 can't connect to the App Store

Have seen this issue on newer versions on macOS but not on Sierra. In their case it was a piece of Malware / Adware blocking the connection to the Apple Store.

Suggest downloading from a Trusted Developer and Respected ASC Contributor the application Malwarebytes for Mac. It is free or paid for added features. Run the Application and it should remove the malware / adware. Once done, restart computer and test.

There are no known Viruses in the wild that self replicate and affect macOS. There are Malware and Adware that does affect macOS and are often times downloaded as part of an Application from Third Party UnTrusted Site and get installed along with the Application.

Hi Jkeebler. I wanted to reply directly to you as the other thread in here is actually insane. I believe our issue is with the age of the OS we are using. I have the same issue on two different computers, one using Sierra and other High Sierra. I talked to tech support on the phone today and they "think" that the "Purchased" tab function lost support and is only available on newer OS versions. They weren't sure which one. I don't know if it works on Mojave or not, but definitely in Big Sur.

Hello,

I had the same issue. You described the problem perfectly. I agree with you, the replies here (or anywhere really) have nothing to do with the problem.

I did speak to a few Apple agents and got bounced around a lot. Ultimately, I ended up with some sort of senior agent of the App store division. I got a callback today and behold! the purchases tab was working. I did not update or reinstall or do anything between the time I called them and today.

The agent did not get any details other than the following main points:

1. The OS is old and it may not be supported for future apps. I asked about the apps that ARE compatible or Apple software that is compatible. No satisfactory answer, he just repeated the statement really.
2. It is an OS and "definitely" not a service problem that they can fix. But the service was fixed and it is now working with the current OS.
3. He kept warning me that I should expect that the app store will stop working with High Sierra. He just kept insisting that the software is old but also saying that the App Store is basically a website and it is not compatible with the older OS. Except when it is. Until it isn't.

So he said a lot but at the same time nothing. There are a lot of unknowns/contradictions: why would the App Store stop working if it is just a website? If some software is not compatible, what about the purchases that are compatible? Why is the store itself incompatible? Lots of "we don't know", "your OS is old", etc.

Post if yours is working as well, so at least I'd know if I am on borrowed time. As it is, I am trying to get non-App store versions of my software.

brooksayola wrote:

I am amazed that I can be so careful in these forums to explain my issue in detail and I get responses like this that have nothing to do with what I wrote. Are you just a bot that picks out key words and automatically sends a canned response? This is a serious question.

The application I'm talking about is Apple's App Store app on the Mac, and you just suggested I contact the developer (Apple) to see if they can give me a new license for it? There is no license, per se, it an app that comes with Mac OS.

Crymaracmur Said:

"I can see this person's problem is the same as mine. I'm already connected to the App Store, it's just the "Purchased" tab that gives the error. None of the things in the link provided helped me specifically."

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Remove/Reinstall the Apps:

If it is the purchased apps giving you the problem, then you need to remove them, and then reinstall them, one at a time. See if that fixes this issue.

Crymaracmur Said:

"The application I'm talking about is Apple's App Store app on the Mac, and you just suggested I contact the developer (Apple) to see if they can give me a new license for it? There is no license, per se, it an app that comes with Mac OS."

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I am no bot. I am referring to the Developer of any particular application that is not working. If it is the App Store in-full, then you should take this up with Apple.

I can see this person's problem is the same as mine. I'm already connected to the App Store, it's just the "Purchased" tab that gives the error. None of the things in the link provided helped me specifically.

I am amazed that I can be so careful in these forums to explain my issue in detail and I get responses like this that have nothing to do with what I wrote. Are you just a bot that picks out key words and automatically sends a canned response? This is a serious question.

The application I'm talking about is Apple's App Store app on the Mac, and you just suggested I contact the developer (Apple) to see if they can give me a new license for it? There is no license, per se, it an app that comes with Mac OS.

I'm not sure what to say at this point. You know by my previous replies that I did take this up with Apple. Also, before I did talk to them on the phone, I came here... to APPLE's support forums. I'm so confused by your replies. I never in any of my replies mentioned any developer's product other than Apple's. It was clear from the very first question that this is an issue with the App Store app on the Mac. Everything about the app works fine EXCEPT for the Purchased tab. Have you ever opened the App Store app? It has four tabs/sections at the top...

1) Featured

2) Top Charts

3) Purchased

4) Updates

The original question states that the "Purchased" section gives a "Cannot Connect to the App Store" error. All of the other tabs work fine. We can purchase from the first two, and update from the last one. The only one that doesn't work is Purchases and Apple support says they think it's just because Sierra and High Sierra are too old and lost support for it. So, unless someone who actually knows the answer comes in here to tell us, I'll bow out.

Thanks for trying.

LOL... Yes, mine did start working "randomly" after an hour on the phone while screen sharing with a senior tech, or whatever they call them. I almost feel like one of us sparked this whole fix and someone said.. "Oops! I forgot to turn that back on... Think they'll notice?" :-)

jkeebler Said:

"cannot connect to the app store: [...] How do I address this problem?"

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Go Here: If you can't Connect to the App Store, iTunes Store, or Other Apple Services - Apple Support

Logged in to say I'm having the exact same problem. Can't download the $200 video editing software I bought on an older Mac, it's ridiculous.

That's not it either... It's not that I can't see my purchases in that tab, it's that it can't open a connection on that tab at all.

I spoke with Apple tech support on the phone today and they seem to think this is just an OS issue. At a certain point between High Sierra and Big Sur, they say that the Purchases tab on the App Store app on the Mac stopped working. The only solution is to upgrade to Mojave, then if it still doesn't work, go up to the next one and so on.

Crymaracmur Said:

"That's not it either... It's not that I can't see my purchases in that tab, it's that it can't open a connection on that tab at all.: I spoke with Apple tech support on the phone today and they seem to think this is just an OS issue. At a certain point between High Sierra and Big Sur, they say that the Purchases tab on the App Store app on the Mac stopped working. The only solution is to upgrade to Mojave, then if it still doesn't work, go up to the next one and so on."

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32-Bit-Only being the Culprit:

Catalina and thereafter is 64-bit only. So, in Big Sur, if these are 32-bit applications, then they just will not open. So, contact the developer, requesting a new install package for 64-bit version. Also, perform a reinstall.

In Depth:

Three Things:

A. Big Sur is 64-Bit Only:

The key issue here seems to be compatibility. What did you upgrade from? Was it pre-Catalina(macOS10.14 and before)? If so, note that 32-bit apps are not supported on Catalina and Big Sur. So, you may have 32-bit apps installed.

B. Contact the Developer:

If you don't want to go though the hassle of downgrading, then contact the developer, seeing if they can give you a new license, and if they have 64-bit installation versions to use.

Also...

C. Reinstalling the macOS:

Another option would be to reinstall the macOS. Perhaps the install was not 100% successful? Sometimes, when major changes are made to your Mac(i.e. update installations), system settings (i.e. for Mail) become manipulated, technically. So, when reinstalling, nothing would be deleted. It's just that items that have become corrupted or deleted, would be replaced or reinstalled back to where they should be. Go Here: How to Reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support

Important: First, Back Up your Mac:

Create a Time Machine backup of your Mac, so that you can have something to restore your Mac from, should anything go wrong with the reinstall. Take this as a learning experience, knowing to always create a backup of your Mac, prior to making any major changes to it (i.e. update installation)

I suppose if you have malware that’d be the case. However, at least in this case, Apple did confirm that the problem was the configuration of the web elements of the App Store. As they said, nothing we could do especially if your computer is of an age that does not update past that OS. They fixed the Purchases tab issue themselves as we can do no updates to the OS and the App Store has to be configured, from their end, to work with it. Like they said, when they decide they don’t want to update the App Store web elements anymore, you just won’t be to access your purchases. Interestingly, you’d still be able to re-purchase the apps again and again, just not re-download any of your existing purchases. A feature for them I’m sure.