How to View and Manage Your App Store Purchases on a Mac
The App Store is a one-stop shop for most of the apps you may need on your Mac. Sometimes these apps are free, and other times, you may have to pay a sum before downloading them.
If you have ever wondered how to keep track of every app you’ve downloaded and manage the App Store purchases on your Mac, here’s a guide to help you out. So, let’s get started.
How to View App Store Purchases on Your Mac
Purchasing an app from the App Store is something many of us often do as Mac users. But not many are aware they can track these purchases. Before you wonder why you should look at a log of the apps you’ve downloaded in the past, let us explain.
Tracking your App Store purchases is handy when you want to ensure you haven’t been billed for something you didn’t purchase, check for duplicate billing, or ensure you haven’t become a victim of fraud.
It’s also an excellent way to see how much you’ve spent on the App Store if you’re curious about that. For whatever reason, whether to confirm a purchase or satisfy your curiosity, you want a list of everything you’ve paid for on the App Store.
Here’s how to do so on a Mac:
This method will show your entire purchase history from the App Store and other content you purchased from Apple, like iTunes Store purchases. Note that your free apps will also show up here.
The items are arranged in descending order by date. it’s possible to see more information about a purchase by clicking onMorebeside its billing date.
Alternatively, you could do the following:
You can view and manage subscriptions from Apple’s Report a Problem page.
Can’t Find an Item in Your Purchase History?
You may be scrolling through your purchase history when you notice an app missing. Maybe it’s the new photo editing or note-taking app you installed recently. If this happens, don’t panic. It might be possible to solve it by doing one thing—making sure you aren’t signed in with the wrong Apple ID.
Check if You’re Signed in With a Different Apple ID
If you have more than one Apple ID, this can lead to situations where you occasionally sign in to the App Store with the wrong ID. If you were signed in with a different Apple ID when you purchased an app, you wouldn’t see it in your purchase history unless you log in with that account.
So, next time you don’t see an item in your purchase history, sign in with a different Apple ID and have another look at your purchase history. You may likely find that this was what you needed to do to solve the problem.
There areseveral ways to find your Apple IDif you’re signed out and can’t remember what it is. However, you can also check out our dedicated guide oncreating a new Apple ID on a Mac.
What to Do if You Find Unrecognized or Unexpected Charges
Finding purchases in your purchase history that you cannot remember making will leave most people feeling baffled. It can be confusing and alarming to find out you were charged for an app you didn’t install, leading you to wonder if you’ve been a victim of fraud or a purchase-happy family member. When this happens, here’s what you could do:
Check if a Family Member Made a Purchase
Sometimes, we give family members access to our devices, which enables them to pay for items using our Apple ID. If you’re not sure about an App Store purchase, ask your family members about it.
If you want to solve the issue of family members being able to purchase apps from the App Store using your Apple ID, consider requiring a password for every purchase. To do this on your Mac:
If you use Touch ID for purchases, you won’t be able to require a password. it’s possible to turn it off from the Media & Purchases menu, after which you should be able to require a password for purchases.
you could also require a password to download free items. This way, no one can download an app from the App Store besides you.
If someone else has access to your Apple ID and you would like to change your account password, you can do so by following these steps:
Request a Refund From Apple
Getting a refund for some App Store purchases is possible as long as you act quickly. To request a refund on your Mac, do the following:
If you want to know more, we have a dedicated article that covers all you need to know aboutrequesting a refund from Apple.
Track Your App Store Purchase History on Your Mac
Viewing your App Store purchase history can help you track your spending and put your mind at ease regarding app purchases on your Mac.
You can check for unauthorized purchases, whether from people with access to your Mac or your Apple ID, and prevent them.
Therefore, you should make it a habit to view your App Store purchase history from time to time. This may help you notice and fix any discrepancies.
Keep track of your App Store subscriptions by canceling any you no longer need using your Mac.
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