App Store notifications are missing on my Mac Studio

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Level 1

14 points

App Store notifications are missing on my Mac Studio

I have a Mac Studio M2 running Sequoia 15.3. The App Store app is not listed in Notifications in System Settings, no matter if App Store auto update setting is on or off. Therefore, there are no app update notifications or App Store update badges. .. I removed the Notifications preference file (~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.ncprefs.plist) and restarted - didn't work. .. This issue occurred in Sonoma as well.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Mac Studio

Posted on Feb 2, 2025 2:37 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

James Brickley

Level 5

5,686 points

Feb 20, 2025 1:06 PM in response to AxisOfBeagles2

Creating a new user resolved the issue, indicating the user profile is corrupt / damaged in some way. If you have a Time Machine backup you could restore your data via Migration Assistant when you login to the new Mac admin user and run Migration Assistant while the Time Machine is attached and ready. Recommend only restoring user data as the Applications are likely all installed globally for all users. It's possible you could have some Apps that run from your user home directory but it's not likely.

I would do it all by hand but that is tedious for most people. All I would really care about is the data. I can recreate all the user configurations, settings, and software.

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Answer 2

gvmelbrty Author

Level 1

14 points

Feb 2, 2025 1:33 PM in response to gvmelbrty

As suggested, I created a test admin user account. After launching the App Store app I was immediately presented with notification options and App Store appeared in the Notifications settings panel. Yeah :).

I assume the best course of action now is to just use this new admin account and begin the process of reinstalling everything - or - start from scratch with “Erase All Content and Settings…”?

Thanks for your help.

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Answer 3

dialabrain

Level 10

136,079 points

Feb 2, 2025 4:25 AM in response to gvmelbrty

Try creating a new Admin Account, log into it and see if it shows up in the new account. FWIW, I've never seen an App Store notification as long as I've owned a Mac, over 10 years.

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Answer 4

gvmelbrty Author

Level 1

14 points

Feb 20, 2025 3:43 PM in response to AxisOfBeagles2

I hear you.. But it's not too painful (and way easier than a clean install) since you don't have to reinstall all your apps (assuming they were installed for all users). The way I look at it, if my current user profile is so corrupt to the point that things like notifications no longer work, it's time for a fresh start. .. And in my case, a new user profile transition is made easier because all of my user files, documents, photos, iTunes music, iPhoto library, etc. are stored on an external SSD; the internal drive is used exclusively for system files and applications. .. PS: Like you, I've had this App Store notification issue off and on for several years, starting all the way back to Big Sur.

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Answer 5

dialabrain

Level 10

136,079 points

Feb 2, 2025 5:55 AM in response to gvmelbrty

FWIW, I noticed Family Sharing is enabled. It's possible the App Store is disallowed for your account.

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Answer 6

Owl-53

Level 10

102,949 points

Feb 2, 2025 5:36 AM in response to gvmelbrty

It Apple Apps Store >> Notifications << certainly shows up on all 3 machines with Sequoia 15.3 I use

It did not show up in macOS 14 Sonoma too ?

It would apparently there is / are some Modification(s) to the Operating System that carried through to Sequoia

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Answer 7

Feb 20, 2025 12:41 PM in response to gvmelbrty

I've had the same problem for a very long time. Currently running Sequoia 15.3.1 on a Mac Studio M1 Max - but this issue long predates Sequoia. I do not have family share set up, and have tried innumerable reconfigurations of other system settings all to no avail (including turning off notifications from my iPhone on this device). App Store simply does not show up on the Notifications panel. Which is an annoyance as numerous apps frequently need updating. No way am I creating a new admin account and "starting over".

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Answer 8

dialabrain

Level 10

136,079 points

Feb 2, 2025 1:53 PM in response to gvmelbrty

You're welcome.

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