Apple wipes 11 categories from the Mac App Store

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Mac App Store
Apple's latest move is bad for macOS developers.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has removed 11 categories from the Mac App Store. The Categories tab now displays just 10 options as opposed to 21, with Finance, Lifestyle, and Sports among those dropped.

The move is a disappointment to app developers who rely on specific categories for discoverability. Many initially believed that the change was a bug, but Apple has since confirmed that the removal of these items is “expected behavior.”

With so many titles in the Mac App Store, it’s difficult for many developers to get their apps noticed. The more categories there are, the greater their chances of appearing somewhere in a top downloads list and filtered search results, which offers some exposure to shoppers.

But now the number of categories has been dramatically reduced, and it seems as though they’re not coming back.

Mac App Store loses 11 categories

The unexpected move saw some surprise categories disappear this week, such as Education, Entertainment, and Weather. The 10 remaining categories are as follows:

  • Business
  • Developer Tools
  • Games
  • Graphics & Design
  • Music
  • Photography
  • Productivity
  • Social Networking
  • Utilities
  • Video

It was initially believed the cut was a bug, but in response to one user on Twitter, Apple Support confirmed that “what you are noticing is expected behavior.” This almost certainly means the missing categories won’t be making a comeback.

It’s not clear why Apple made this change. A greater number of categories isn’t just good for developers; it also helps shoppers find the right apps by filtering out those that are unsuitable.

As things stand, the iOS App Store still shows all 21 categories.

Via: MacRumors

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