You opened the App Store on your Mac to re-download something you know you already own — and the Purchased tab is gone. There is no panic here: your apps are not lost, your Apple Account still owns every one of them, and nothing was deleted. Apple simply moved and renamed where your purchase history lives. Here is exactly where it went and how to get any past app back in under a minute.
Short answer: the "Purchased" tab moved into your account
On modern macOS (Monterey and later, including Sonoma and Sequoia), the App Store no longer shows a sidebar item literally called Purchased. Your purchase history now lives on your account page, and Apple relabeled it. To find it:
- Open the App Store app.
- Click your name or the account icon in the bottom-left corner of the window. (If it says "Sign In," sign in first — more on that below.)
- Your account page opens. Scroll down to Purchased / Bought, or look for the section that lists every app tied to your Apple Account.
- Hover over any app in the list and click the download (cloud) icon to reinstall it — free of charge, because you already own it.
That list is the old Purchased tab. It never disappeared; it relocated from the sidebar to your account view.
Why the Purchased tab looks "missing"
There are only a handful of reasons the list appears empty or the tab seems gone. Work through them in this order.
1. You're signed out (the most common cause)
If the bottom-left of the App Store says Sign In instead of your name, the store has no account to show a history for — so there is nothing to list. Click Sign In, enter your Apple Account email and password, approve the two-factor prompt on your iPhone or another device, and the account page (with your full purchase list) appears.
2. You're signed in with the wrong Apple Account
Apps are owned by the specific Apple Account that bought them. If you have a personal account and a work/family account, an app bought on one will not show up while you're signed into the other. Click your name in the bottom-left, check the email address shown, and if it's the wrong one, sign out and sign back in with the account that actually made the purchases.
3. You're looking at "Updates" or "Categories," not your account
The left sidebar of the App Store shows Discover, Arcade, Create, Work, Play, Develop, Categories, and Updates — none of which is your purchase history. Your bought apps are only reachable through the account icon at the very bottom of the sidebar, not through any of those tabs. If you were clicking "Categories" expecting your apps, that's the mix-up.
4. The app was "hidden" from your purchase history
Apps can be individually hidden. If a specific app is missing from an otherwise-populated list, it may have been hidden — sometimes years ago. To unhide it: open the App Store, click your name → Account Settings (this opens a web view), scroll to Hidden Items, click Manage, and click Unhide next to the app. It returns to your purchase list immediately.
5. Family Sharing purchases are on a separate menu
If your household uses Family Sharing, an app someone else in the family bought won't be in your Purchased list — it's under theirs. On the account page, look for a dropdown or family-member selector (often near the top of the purchase list) and switch to the family member who bought the app. You can then download their eligible shared purchases.
Still empty? Two quick resets
If you're signed into the right account and the list is genuinely blank when it shouldn't be:
- Sign out and back in. App Store → click your name → Sign Out, then sign back in. This re-syncs your purchase history from Apple's servers and fixes most "blank list" glitches.
- Check your date and time. A wrong system clock can break App Store account calls. Open System Settings → General → Date & Time and enable Set time and date automatically.
If the App Store itself refuses to load your account — spinning forever or throwing a connection error — that's a different problem. See our step-by-step guide to the App Store "Cannot Connect" error, or if apps get stuck mid-install, our fix for App Store downloads that won't finish.
What about apps you bought that aren't in the App Store anymore?
Occasionally a developer pulls an app from the store entirely. If that happens, it can drop out of your Purchased list because Apple can no longer serve it. Apps you've already downloaded still run; you just can't re-download a delisted app. This is rare and is not the usual cause of a "missing Purchased tab" — that's almost always the sign-in or account issues above.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Purchased tab in the Mac App Store now?
It moved. Click your name or the account icon in the bottom-left of the App Store window, then scroll to the Purchased/Bought section on your account page. That list is the former Purchased tab.
Did I lose the apps I paid for?
No. Your Apple Account permanently owns every app and in-app purchase you've bought. Reinstalling from your account page is always free — you never pay twice for the same app.
Why is my purchase list empty?
Almost always because you're signed out or signed into a different Apple Account. Confirm your name (not "Sign In") shows in the bottom-left and that it's the correct account. A wrong system clock or a hidden app can also cause it.
How do I unhide an app I hid by accident?
App Store → your name → Account Settings → scroll to Hidden Items → Manage → Unhide. The app returns to your purchase list right away.
Can I see apps a family member bought?
Yes, if you use Family Sharing. On your account page, switch to that family member using the selector near the purchase list to download their eligible shared apps.
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