Hi there! I understand you’re having trouble downloading the M&S app on your Mac, and it’s stuck with the loading asterisk spinning continuously. Let’s see if we can get this sorted out together.

To start, could you please confirm:
- Are you downloading the app from the Mac App Store or through another source?
- Have you tried quitting and restarting the App Store or your Mac?
- Is your internet connection stable and strong at the moment?

Meanwhile, here are some step-by-step troubleshooting steps tailored for your macOS 10.15.7 setup:

1. Check App Store Login:
- Open the App Store, click on your name or the sign-in button at the bottom left, and verify you are signed in with your Apple ID. If not, please sign in.

2. Clear Any Partially Downloaded App:
- Go to Finder > Applications, and see if the M&S app appears there partially downloaded. If yes, try deleting it completely before starting again.

3. Restart App Store and Mac:
- Quit the App Store (Cmd + Q), then relaunch it. If the download remains stuck, try restarting your Mac (Apple menu > Restart).

4. Free Up Space:
- Check your disk space via Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage. Ensure you have enough free storage for the app.

5. Manage Download in App Store:
- Sometimes clicking the download icon in the App Store again can help pause and then resume the download.

6. Check for Software Updates:
- Go to System Preferences > Software Update and make sure your system is up to date. Some apps require the latest OS patches.

If after trying these the app is still stuck loading, it can help to clear the App Store cache by signing out of the App Store, then signing back in, or try deleting the app and reinstalling.

Let me know if you have tried any of these already or if you notice any error messages, and we can go deeper into it. Would you like me to guide you through any of these steps?

I have your app but it isn’t downing the items, it has suddenly stoped working.

Thanks for clarifying that your M&S app is installed but has suddenly stopped downloading items. Let's troubleshoot this carefully to find the cause and fix it.

First, a few quick questions to better understand your situation:
- When you try to download items, do you see any error messages or just the loading symbol?
- Is your internet connection working fine for other apps or websites?
- Have you recently updated the app or your Mac OS?
- Have you tried closing and reopening the app or restarting your Mac?

While you check on those, here are some helpful steps you can take right now on your Mac running OS X 10.15.7:

1. Restart the app and your Mac:
Sometimes app glitches clear up after a full restart. Quit the M&S app completely (Cmd + Q), then restart your Mac and try the app again.

2. Check your internet connection:
Make sure your Wi-Fi is stable. You might want to disconnect and reconnect or try a different network if possible.

3. Clear the app cache/data:
Since you are on a Mac, there might be cached files causing the issue. Quit the app, then navigate to ~/Library/Containers/ or ~/Library/Application Support/ and look for any folders related to the M&S app. You can move them to the Trash (don't worry, this will not delete your account data but resets temporary app files). Then reopen the app.

4. Update the app:
Check the Mac App Store for any updates available for the M&S app. Running an outdated version can cause issues downloading items.

5. Log out and back in:
Within the app, try signing out of your M&S account and signing back in. This can refresh your session and fix download problems.

6. Reinstall the app:
If all else fails, you can uninstall the M&S app entirely by dragging it to the Trash, then reinstall it fresh from the App Store. Just make sure you know your login details before doing this.

If you still have trouble after these steps, it might also be server-side or a broader app issue some users are experiencing. Some users reported that turning their device off and on again fixed the problem temporarily1.

Would you like me to guide you step-by-step through any of these troubleshooting actions? Also, let me know if you see any specific error messages or behaviors in the app.

Is there a recent update for the M&S app?

Thanks for asking about the latest update! The M&S app had an update in October 2023 which included behind-the-scenes improvements for performance and stability. No major new features were mentioned, but these updates help the app run smoother and fix minor issues. It’s always a good idea to make sure your app is updated to the latest version via the Mac App Store to get these benefits1 6.

If your app isn’t downloading items, having the latest update installed is a solid step toward resolving the problem. Would you like me to walk you through checking for and installing the latest app update on your Mac?

I have switch my iPad off and restarted. All my other programs are working, even the marks banking app. But the program symbol asterisk just keeps go8ng rounds.

Thank you for sharing that detail about your iPad. Since your other apps, including the M&S banking app, are working fine, but the main M&S app is stuck on the spinning loading icon, it looks like the problem is isolated to the app itself rather than your device or network.

Here are some targeted steps you can try on your iPad to help get past that spinning icon issue:

1. Force Close the M&S App:
- On your iPad, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause to open the app switcher.
- Find the M&S app preview and swipe it up off the screen to close it completely.
- Then open the app again and check if the loading continues.

2. Force Restart Your iPad:
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Then press and hold the Power (top) button until the Apple logo appears, then release.
- After the restart, try the M&S app again. This can reset hanging system processes9.

3. Check for App Updates:
- Open the App Store, tap your profile icon at the top right, then scroll to updates and see if M&S app has one pending. Updating can fix bugs causing the spinner.

4. Delete and Reinstall the M&S App:
- Touch and hold the M&S app icon until it jiggles, then tap the "X" (or press "Remove App") to uninstall.
- Go to the App Store, search for M&S app, and reinstall it. This clears any corrupted cache or data causing problems4.

5. Disable Background App Refresh:
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn it off temporarily, then try the app again. Sometimes background data processes can interfere with loading.

If after these steps your M&S app still keeps spinning, it might be a temporary issue on their servers or a bug they are addressing.

Would you like me to walk you through any of these steps on your iPad? Also, if you get any error messages or changes, please share them so we can refine the solution.