Updates and downloads

What is appstoreagent?

Q: Why does a download continue after I close the App Store?

The download runs in appstored, not in the App Store app. It continues until it completes or you pause it.

appstoreagent and appstored support the App Store. App downloads and app updates show under them, not under the App Store app. storedownloadd and commerce are older store helpers in the CommerceKit framework.

Process: appstoreagentAlso seen as: appstored, storedownloadd, commerceMade by AppleApplies to: macOS 14 Sonoma and later. Checked on macOS 27.2.Checked: 1 November 2026

Short answer

Part of macOS. They download and update apps from the App Store, so app downloads show under them, not under the App Store app.

Block with care

Blocking them stops App Store downloads and updates. Apps you have keep working. On a hotspot, turn off automatic updates instead.

Path: /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/AppStoreDaemon.framework/Support/appstoreagent /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/AppStoreDaemon.framework/Support/appstored /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CommerceKit.framework/Versions/A/Resources/storedownloadd /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CommerceKit.framework/Versions/A/Resources/commerce
launchd label: com.apple.appstoreagent com.apple.appstored com.apple.storedownloadd com.apple.commerce
Signing identifier: com.apple.appstoreagent com.apple.appstored com.apple.storedownloadd com.apple.commerce

What it is

The man pages call appstoreagent the “App Store support agent” and appstored the “App Store support daemon”. Both are in the AppStoreDaemon framework of macOS.

appstoreagent runs for each user, and appstored runs for the system. launchd starts them as com.apple.appstoreagent and com.apple.appstored.

storedownloadd and commerce are in the CommerceKit framework, with their own launchd agents. Apple publishes no man page for either. Kilobat counts storedownloadd as an App Store download service.

Why it uses the network

App updates. With automatic updates on, the App Store updates apps on its own.
App downloads. Apps that you get, or download again, from the App Store.
Store checks. The App Store also checks your purchases and looks for updates.

How much is normal

Bursts of traffic when apps update are usual. Large apps, such as Xcode or games, can be several gigabytes.

Between updates, the store checks are small.

A download continues after you close the App Store, because it runs in appstored.

When it uses a lot, and why

Many apps update at once. With automatic updates on, every waiting update downloads when the App Store finds it.
A large app. One app such as Xcode, Final Cut Pro or a game can be several gigabytes. Some apps also download extra content after they install.
A new Mac. Downloading your apps again on a new Mac sends every app in full.

Is it safe to block?

Block with care

Blocking them stops App Store downloads and updates. Apps you have keep working. On a hotspot, turn off automatic updates instead.

What breaks if you block it

App Store apps can't install, download again or update.
Security fixes in App Store apps stop arriving.
Apps you buy or download again from the App Store can't arrive on this Mac.

Blocking means a firewall rule that refuses its connections. Don’t quit or disable a macOS process to save data: macOS starts it again, and other features depend on it.

Reduce its use

Open the App Store. Choose App Store › Settings.
Turn off Automatic Updates. The App Store then shows updates, and you install them when you choose.
To update an app now, click Updates in the sidebar of the App Store.
Don't quit appstored in Activity Monitor. macOS starts it again.

See how much it uses

Open Activity Monitor from Applications › Utilities. Click Network.
Type appstoreagent in the search field. The Sent Bytes and Rcvd Bytes columns show what it moved since it started.
In Terminal, watch only this process. Press d to show the change per second, and q to quit.
```
nettop -p 'appstoreagent' -P
```

With Kilobat

In the Kilobat app list, search for appstoreagent. Its row shows the live rate and what it moved today.
In Connections, click the ⓘ button on one of its rows. The popover shows this page’s short answer, without going online.
In Terminal, ask the same question. Add --json for scripts and agents.
```
kilobat explain 'appstoreagent'
```
Show its traffic over one day.
```
kilobat bandwidth 'appstoreagent' day
```
Through MCP, an AI agent asks explain_connection with the process name. It gets the same facts.

The live view and the explanations are free. History in the app needs Kilobat Pro. Blocking needs Pro and the network filter: see the network filter, Protection and the hotspot data saver.

Hosts it contacts

Apple and the maker document these hosts for this feature. A process can also contact others; Kilobat’s Connections tab shows what it actually opens on your Mac.

*.itunes.apple.comApple's store content host, for apps, books and music.Apple →*.apps.apple.comApple's store content host, for apps, books and music, next to *.itunes.apple.com.Apple →*.mzstatic.comAn Apple domain for store content such as apps, books and music, and apps from websites and alternative marketplaces.Apple →

Questions

Do App Store apps update with Software Update?

No. App Store apps update in the App Store. macOS updates use Software Update.

Why does a download continue after I close the App Store?

The download runs in appstored, not in the App Store app. It continues until it completes or you pause it.

Sources

appstoreagent(8) and appstored(8), man pages installed with macOS 27.2
launchd property lists com.apple.appstoreagent, com.apple.appstored, com.apple.storedownloadd and com.apple.commerce, macOS 27.2
Apple Support: How to manually update apps from the App Store
Apple Support: Use Apple products on enterprise networks
Kilobat docs: System downloads

Checked on 1 November 2026.