umac20

Q: I got my OS reinstalled and now all my apps are gone. How do I get them back?

I got my OS reinstalled and now all my apps are gone. How do I get them back?

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Aug 16, 2015 5:48 AM

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Q: I got my OS reinstalled and now all my apps are gone. How do I get them back?

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  • by mende1,Solvedanswer

    mende1 mende1 Aug 16, 2015 5:54 AM in response to umac20
    Level 10 (93,324 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 16, 2015 5:54 AM in response to umac20

    Welcome to Apple Support Communities

     

    If you erased the hard drive before reinstalling OS X, that's completely normal. To restore the apps, follow these steps:

     

    1. If you purchased them from the Mac App Store: open the Mac App Store and log in with your Apple ID. Then, go to Purchases tab and download all the apps you had before.

     

    2. If you installed them from a DVD, you'll need an external DVD drive or you can use Remote Disc if you have got another computer.

     

    3. If you got them from an online store, you will have to check that you can redownload them.

     

    A fourth way is to restore a Time Machine backup and get back your apps only. To restore the backup you have to use Migration Assistant (in /Applications/Utilities).

  • by umac20,

    umac20 umac20 Aug 16, 2015 6:04 AM in response to mende1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 16, 2015 6:04 AM in response to mende1

    Thanks for your reply mended, but the scenario is that I got those apps installed by the sales guy at the Apple store when I bought my Mac and I don't have a backup. Is there any way to save my day?

  • by mende1,Helpful

    mende1 mende1 Aug 16, 2015 6:05 AM in response to umac20
    Level 10 (93,324 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 16, 2015 6:05 AM in response to umac20

    In that case, those apps may be linked to your Apple ID and you may be able to recover them. Try the first way.

     

    Apart from that, it is very important to make backups of your files, so you can get them back in case something goes wrong.

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Aug 16, 2015 6:07 AM in response to umac20
    Level 9 (53,635 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 16, 2015 6:07 AM in response to umac20

    No. Without a backup, there is no place to get them back from.

  • by umac20,

    umac20 umac20 Aug 16, 2015 7:51 AM in response to mende1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 16, 2015 7:51 AM in response to mende1

    Thanks a ton mende1, the first option worked

  • by mende1,

    mende1 mende1 Aug 16, 2015 8:17 AM in response to umac20
    Level 10 (93,324 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 16, 2015 8:17 AM in response to umac20

    You are welcome