Learn how the Mac App Store beautifully showcases your apps and makes them even easier to find, and how Developer ID and notarization make it safer for users to install apps that you distribute yourself.
Mac App Store
Mac App
The Mac App Store makes it simple for customers to discover, purchase, and download your apps, and easily keep them updated. The Mac App Store on macOS Mojave and later offers editorial content that inspires and informs. Organized around the specific things customers love to do on Mac, along with insightful stories, curated collections, and videos, the Mac App Store beautifully showcases your apps and makes them even easier to find.
To get service for your Mac, you can make a reservation at an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Make sure you know your Apple ID and password before your appointment. Or, if you have a Mac notebook, contact us and we'll send you a box you can use to ship it to an Apple Repair Center. Contact Apple support by phone or chat, set up a repair, or make a Genius Bar appointment for iPhone, iPad, Mac and more.
Outside the Mac App Store
While the Mac App Store is the safest place for users to get software for their Mac, you may choose to distribute your Mac apps in other ways. Gatekeeper on macOS helps protect users from downloading and installing malicious software by checking for a Developer ID certificate. Make sure to test your apps with the macOS 10.15 SDK and sign your apps, plug-ins, or installer packages to let Gatekeeper know they’re safe to install.
You can also give users even more confidence in your apps by submitting them to Apple to be notarized.
Mac Logo
The Mac logo is designed to easily identify software products and hardware peripherals developed to run on macOS and take advantage of its advanced features.
| Mac App Store | Outside Mac App Store | |
|---|---|---|
| App Distribution | Hosted by Apple | Managed by developer (with Developer ID) |
| Software Updates | Hosted by Apple | Managed by developer |
| Worldwide Payment Processing | Managed by Apple | Managed by developer |
| Volume Purchasing and Education Pricing | Managed by Apple | Managed by developer |
| Advanced App Capabilities (iCloud Storage and Push Notifications) | Available | Available |
| App Store Services (In-App Purchase and Game Center) | Available | Not Available |
| 64-Bit | Required | Recommended |
| App Sandboxing | Required | Recommended |
Find the perfect app
Mac Apple Store Download
The Mac App Store makes it easy to find just the right app for you. Click the Discover tab to find in-depth stories about the best Mac apps. Or click Create to find inspiring apps to help you with filmmaking, photo editing, or graphic design.
Get access to a collection of incredible new games
Discover groundbreaking new games with Apple Arcade. One subscription lets you download and play any Apple Arcade game from the App Store as long as you continue to subscribe.
Mac Apple Store Locations
Get all your apps on all your computers
Mac Apple Store App
Save time by having the apps you purchase download automatically to your other Mac computers (where you’re signed in with the same Apple ID).
To browse the App Store User Guide, click Table of Contents at the top of the page.