How can I restore missing top icons and access purchases in App Store on High Sierra iMac?

Thanks for keeping us updated.

Still working even on El Cap:

Wish I had something useful to suggest, other than contacting Apple. I'd insist despite the blowoff response you are likely to get. If it's working here, why isn't it working for others?

However I have one older HDD where's Yosemite and tried to boot from it and there was App Store working, but wasn't able to log in because of not working 2FA, ...

I might be able to help with that very limited subject. Presumably, you can receive 2FA codes on a different device, correct? When you attempt to log in on that Mac, do you receive a 2FA code on those other devices?

It still doesn't work for me on either computer, and I tried it with a vanilla 10.13.5 from another disk. Interestingly enough, it notified me of an available (security) update but still showed none of the expected top icons.

I'm still not getting the top icons but noticed some of the applications on the page show there's an update. However, when I click on the update button the progress wheel spins for as long as I let it. There are no displayed errors and nothing is downloaded. The updated version is listed as 10.13-compatible.

Thanks, but it still doesn't explain the fact the MAS still works on El Capitan.

"A back end change to the Mac App Store appears to have shut out users of macOS Sierra and older versions, blocking not just purchases, but also downloads of software already bought."

The mystery remains.

Definitely get rid of "Sophos" though. Nothing new about that.

I tried it with my vanilla 10.12 system and app store does indeed display the icons, while my vanilla 10.13 does not. Even though the latter shows 1 update available, no icons are present. Go figure....

Not working for me either. Cannot access my purchases. App Store broken on high Sierra, iMac 2009. perfectly functional computer. Just no access to my legally purchased apps. Apple needs to fix this.

It seems that way. As of today only the HS version of the App Store is not working. All other systems are working ok.

Not sure about Sierra but El Cap is still working.

Can't say I'm terribly motivated to get it working again though.

I spoke to Apple Support for about an hour, and they couldn't get it working at all. They sent me a link to make a formal complaint/request, which I filled in? Is there another way of telling them? Still not working on High Sierra (or wasn't when I checked two days ago, will check again tonight). If you know another way of telling Apple, please do let me know. Thanks

Assuming the link was to file Feedback: Feedback - macOS - Apple, then you did everything you can. You will not get a reply or even an acknowledgement, but Apple reads all Feedback they receive.

Acting upon it is a different story, but it is encouraging they spent so much time trying to help you. Considering that High Sierra is decidedly outdated at this point, I would have expected a cursory "old / outdated / no longer supported / buy a new Mac" response. The fact they appeared to be interested is a faint light of hope, dim though it may be.

Thanks for contacting them. Feedback may get their attention if you were to phrase your request in a manner such that you are seriously eager to give Apple your money, but an inoperative App Store is preventing you from doing that.

And the App Store is still working on El Capitan... 🤷🏻‍♂️

Thanks for trying. Perhaps if enough voices are heard something might get done. I've kind of given up for now. Before I joined this thread (been a while) I had expended two hours+ taking with an Apple rep, to no avail. I'd thought it was just me at the time, but that's obviously not the case.

Arrgh! While it does, indeed, work on my powerbook, it STILL FAILS on my imac! They're both running OS 10.13.6 and have the same apps and settings. There must be something different or missing on either the laptop or desktop computer. Beats me.

Thanks! the showUpdatesPage only showed incompatible updates(!) but the show PurchasesPage did show my purchases as well as if they were updated. App Store still works fine on my powerbook but not on my iMac. Now I can do both, thanks again.