Unable to check "automatically download apps purchased on other macs"

Anthony Tomasino wrote:

Open the App Store program. Does it prompt you to sign in? Sign in, make sure it loads, then try checking the box. Worked for me just now, see screenshot.

Edit: To clarify, try checking the box while you're logged in to the App Store and it's still running.

Hey! That worked like a charm!

Here are the steps I took:

1. Launch Mac App Store app.
2. Pull down the "Store" menu. If you are already signed in to the store (the menu will have a "Sign Out" command), sign out, then sign back in again. (If you're not currently signed in to the store, go ahead and sign in using the "Sign In" menu item.)
3. Launch System Preferences, then go to Software Update. Now you should be able to check the "automatically download apps" checkbox and have it "stick."

Edit: Hmm, interesting. This procedure worked on one of my computers (Mac Pro Early 2008), but not the other (MacBook Pro 13-inch Mid-2009). Trying the usual rubber chicken fixes (permissions, clearing caches, etc.) to see if that makes a difference.

Open the App Store program. Does it prompt you to sign in? Sign in, make sure it loads, then try checking the box. Worked for me just now, see screenshot.

Edit: To clarify, try checking the box while you're logged in to the App Store and it's still running.

Glad it worked for you, let me know if you need any more help.

BraytonAK wrote:

I'm having an unusual problem and I'm not sure if it's by design or error.

In the Software Update section of System Preferences, there is a checkbox labeled, "automatically download apps purchased on other macs". It says that I'm logged in as xxx@xxx.com to the Mac App Store. This is the Apple ID that we use in general in our household. However, I have used my personal Apple ID in other areas of my Mac, such as iCloud. If I sign into the Mac App Store using my own Apple ID, say, zzz@zzz.com, this checkbox will remain checked when I click it. The problem is that when signed into the Mac App Store under our household Apple ID this checkbox won't stay selected. When clicked there a spinner appears briefly, something flashes by very fast and then it just says I'm logged in as xxx@xxx.com. In other words, correct but the option is rejected.

Is the computer not selecting this option because the Apple ID doesn't match my iCloud Apple ID or could this just be a bug? I've had my share of Mountain Lion bugs and this is just the low-priority one that has me curious.

I'm having the exact same problem as you, only I only have one Apple ID, which I use for everything (iTunes purchases, iCloud, etc.). However, on both of my Macs (Mac Pro early 2008, MacBook Pro Mid-2009) I cannot check the "automatically download apps" checkbox, with the exact same symptoms as you describe.

I used ScreenFlow to make a screencast of me clicking the checkbox and slowed it down so I could read the messages. The messages I see are "Enabling automatic app downloads...", "Checking if automatic app downloads are enabled..." and "Can't change automatic app downloads due to a network problem." However my network is working perfectly, and in fact I can manually run the Mac App Store and download and purchase apps with impunity (and no technical difficulty).

The only two things I can think would be causing it are not being able to connect to the authentication server or connecting and not properly authenticating. When you re-signed in using the App Store it worked fine? Do you have any other accounts on the computer with an Apple ID set up, maybe it only let's you have auto-update with one apple ID per machine? I'm pulling at hairs here

Still having the same issue with one twist, I was able to log out of the App Store and log in with a differnt apple id that I have not used in quite some time. That apple ID will let me keep the box checked but as soon as I go back to the .me account that I use on all my devices it will not stay checked. Any ideas? looks like it is something with old mobile me accounts,

Same problem here. Finally upgraded my Early 2009 Mac Mini to Mountainn Lion and working through the various bugs.

When I tried clicking the box, it kept unchecking itself. Tried logging out and into the App store with no success. Latest attempt shows a message "Enabling automatic app downloads..." and a spinning progress wheel.

Hmmm.... have to say, nice speedy update, but even buggier than previous versions.

I was having the same problem and may have found the fix. Open iTunes and sign into your account. Then under the iTunes pull-down menu select Preferences. When Preferences open click on Store. Under Automatic Downloads ensure that at least one category is checked. Now return to System Preferences and select App Store. Now check "Automatically download apps purchased on other macs." Within a few seconds you should see "You are signed in as XXXXXX@XXXXXX.XXX in the App Store." Worked for me. Good luck!

I was having the same problem and may have found the fix. Open iTunes and sign into your account. Then under the iTunes pull-down menu select Preferences. When Preferences open click on Store. Under Automatic Downloads ensure that at least one category is checked. Now return to System Preferences and select App Store. Now check "Automatically download apps purchased on other macs." Within a few seconds you should see "You are signed in as XXXXXX@XXXXXX.XXX in the App Store." Worked for me. Good luck!

I was having the same problem and may have found the fix. Open iTunes and sign into your account. Then under the iTunes pull-down menu select Preferences. When Preferences open click on Store. Under Automatic Downloads ensure that at least one category is checked. Now return to System Preferences and select App Store. Now check "Automatically download apps purchased on other macs." Within a few seconds you should see "You are signed in as XXXXXX@XXXXXX.XXX in the App Store." Worked for me. Good luck!

Ok, I will chime in as well. Having the same issue on my iMac and my MacBook Pro, this is a reallly great feture in Moutain Lion if it would work. Anyone have a fix?

Sorry for that post edit, I saw you reply and then delete it; right after I had posted it I attempted for myself, it didn't work, but signing back into the App Store fixed it.