Question 1

How do I update all App Store apps with mas?

Accepted Answer

Run `mas update` without arguments to update all outdated apps. mas will prompt for sudo privileges if needed, and you can selectively update by providing app IDs, as shown in the usage examples.

Question 2

What's the difference between mas and the App Store app?

Accepted Answer

mas is a CLI tool for automation and scripting, allowing batch operations from the terminal, while the App Store app is GUI-based for manual interactions. mas integrates with tools like Homebrew for workflow automation, but lacks GUI features like paid purchases.

Question 3

How to find app IDs for mas commands?

Accepted Answer

Use `mas search` to find apps by name, or extract the ADAM ID from the App Store URL share link. For example, Xcode's ID is 497799835 from its URL, as explained in the 'App IDs' section.

Question 4

Can mas install paid apps I haven't bought yet?

Accepted Answer

No, mas can only install free apps or apps already purchased on your Apple Account. The README clarifies that the `purchase` command is a misnomer and doesn't handle paid purchases, which require the GUI App Store.

Question 5

Why does mas require sudo to install apps?

Accepted Answer

Due to macOS security changes fixing CVE-2025-43411, root privileges are now required to install/update apps. mas handles this with built-in prompting or via sudo, as detailed in the 'Root privileges' section, even for older macOS versions.

Question 6

How to use mas inside tmux?

Accepted Answer

mas has compatibility issues in tmux due to XPC services. Use the reattach-to-user-namespace wrapper, like `reattach-to-user-namespace mas install`, or configure tmux globally, as suggested in the 'tmux' troubleshooting section.

mas

What is mas?

Overview

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Pros & Cons

Pros

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Frequently Asked Questions