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Updates not working

I am trying to update Pages, Numbers and a couple more system apps, but an error message pops out and says "item cannot be updated because it was purchased by another Apple ID", even if my Mac is brand new. What can I do?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Aug 15, 2020 8:03 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 15, 2020 11:21 AM

If the applications that need updating are Apple applications that came with the computer, try going to the App Store Purchases tab or click on your profile and then go to Purchases to see if there is an option to accept the applications with your Apple ID. If that doesn't work, you can delete the applications and download them with your Apple ID. The applications are free. You may have to sign out of the App Store, restart the computer, and sign back in to download new copies.


Purchase History Review

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 15, 2020 11:21 AM in response to Crism3

If the applications that need updating are Apple applications that came with the computer, try going to the App Store Purchases tab or click on your profile and then go to Purchases to see if there is an option to accept the applications with your Apple ID. If that doesn't work, you can delete the applications and download them with your Apple ID. The applications are free. You may have to sign out of the App Store, restart the computer, and sign back in to download new copies.


Purchase History Review

Aug 15, 2020 8:04 AM in response to Crism3

This is your problem. See What to do when the Mac App Store shows a different Apple ID for software updates https://www.macworld.com/article/3267709/mac-app-store-apple-id.html. This document refers to a prior owner (use the discussion in it this is your situation), but is also applies to cases where a current owner's old Apple ID is the problem. The discussion below relates to the second possibility. 

 

Basically, If an app is purchased/downloaded using one Apple ID, then you can't update it with a second Apple ID. The app is inextricably linked to the first Apple ID. You'll have to delete it and purchase/download it again with the second Apple ID unless you set up family sharing (see below).

 

You can set up family sharing between the IDs to share purchases made with them. See:

 

Family Sharing  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201060

 

Set up Family Sharing https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201088

Updates not working

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