Whenever you try to download an app from the Mac App Store, you are prompted to enter your Apple ID and password. While that precaution is good for the paid apps so that you do not end up accidentally buying an app that you do not need, the same precaution just does not fit perfectly with the free apps.
If you happen to wander around Mac App Store for quite some time and try to test new apps, it can get annoying that the password prompt is sent by Apple each time you download an app. Luckily, there is a way for you to bypass the prompt and have the app directly installed with a single click.
Note: we only provide the method for you to bypass the password prompt. If you are not comfortable with it and feel that it is not secure, then do not follow the instructions below.
Bypassing the Password Prompt When Downloading Free Apps
You do not need a third-party app to get the job done as the prompt can be disabled right from the Mac’s Settings panel. Here are the steps.
Make sure that the App Store is not open on your Mac. If it is, close it before you start.
1. Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner and select “System Preferences…” to be taken to the Settings panel.
2. When the system preferences panel opens, click on the “App Store” option to be taken to where the option for bypassing the prompt is located.
3. Under the App Store settings panel, you will find a drop-down menu that says “Require Password” next to the label “Free Downloads.”
Here is where you can change the password prompt settings for the apps. Since what you wish to do is disable the prompt that appears when you download a free app, you need to click the drop-down menu for the “Free Downloads” option and select “Save Password.”
4. You can also adjust the settings for paid apps by selecting an option from the drop-down menu given next to “Purchases and In-app Purchases.”
There you have two options to choose from: either let the App Store prompt you for the password each time you download an app or have the password saved for fifteen minutes. If you choose the latter option, you will not be required to enter the password for the next fifteen minutes after entering the password. If you are going to download a bunch of paid apps, then this is the option that you should select as you will save some time by not having to enter your password for every app you download.
You can now exit out of the settings panel as the job is done.
Now, launch the Mac App Store and try to download a free app. You will notice that it no longer asks you to input your Apple ID password. It worked!
Conclusion
If you happen to be an app junkie and are always downloading apps from the App Store on your Mac, you will definitely find the above guide to be of great use as it will save you from the hassle of inputting the Apple ID password whenever you download an app.
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Mahesh Makvana
Mahesh Makvana is a freelance tech writer who’s written thousands of posts about various tech topics on various sites. He specializes in writing about Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android tech posts. He’s been into the field for last eight years and hasn’t spent a single day without tinkering around his devices.
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