Level 1

58 points

Can't update to GarageBand 10.4.1

Running Catalina 10.15.7 (the latest my Mac will support), I notice that Final Cut Pro, Pages, Keynote, Numbers and GarageBand all had updates today to coincide with the release of Big Sur

All the apps updated fine for me, except for GarageBand. That app specifically seems to require Big Sur to update to 10.4.1

It seems strange that I would be getting update notifications that don't apply for my machine.

I'm okay if GarageBand 10.4.1 is Big Sur exclusive, but I want the notification gone if the update isn't for my system. I don't want a permanent red (1) there making me think that I have an update when I actually don't.

Can someone assist me here?

Thanks.

Mac mini, macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 12, 2020 11:45 PM

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shivio

Level 1

27 points

Posted on Nov 17, 2020 11:21 AM

I found that by deleting the Big Sur Beta app that I had sitting in the application folders, and updating everything else outstanding, I was able to delete the GarageBand app, and then redownload the appropriate version.

I even got a popup saying that the latest version is not supported on Catalina, but it offered me a chance to get the appropriate older version that was compatible.

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36 replies

AGuyOnWheels Author

Level 1

58 points

Nov 13, 2020 12:29 PM in response to Junglesim

That's very disappointing. That would be like suggesting updates on my iPad that only work on my phone. I think the representative didn't realize that Apple already separates updates based on compatible devices. Which is why this scenario surprises me.

If they intend to just leave it like this -- then we will all have a permanent notification for an update we can't get, which would just be "bad"

AGuyOnWheels Author

Level 1

58 points

Nov 14, 2020 6:11 PM in response to shivio

I completely agree. I've also sent feedback to Apple about this. I do not want a permanent update notification constantly making me think I have an update that I can never install.

It's distracting, and honestly, it looks absolutely silly.

shivio

Level 1

27 points

Nov 17, 2020 10:34 AM in response to nino5013

I have a second iMac on which the update does not show up as available.

So one iMac see’s the update but fails to install it, the other does not see it. Maybe Apple withdrew it?

Is there a way to clear the cache of the App Store App and make it refresh ?

shivio

Level 1

27 points

Nov 18, 2020 8:24 AM in response to shivio

Ok. This is crazy, but now, its back!

I had about a day without the update, and now its back in my app store with the same error.

Crazy! So whatever I did to reset it did not work. It only temporarily removed it.

AGuyOnWheels Author

Level 1

58 points

Nov 19, 2020 2:19 PM in response to lkrupp

lkrupp wrote:

I would imagine it’s pretty far down on the priority list too.

Not sure why you would think that. Offering the wrong updates to devices (including full OS updates) seems like a rather major issue.

Nov 25, 2020 6:59 PM in response to AGuyOnWheels

Solution :

Put GarageBand in the Trash

DON'T EMPTY THE THRASH

Restart

Open AppStore (the update for GB will disappear)

Close AppStore

Go to the Trash and right-click on GarageBand and select Put Back.

That's it

AGuyOnWheels Author

Level 1

58 points

Nov 13, 2020 11:16 AM in response to lkrupp

Thanks for the reply. And I agree, I hope this gets resolved soon!

AGuyOnWheels Author

Level 1

58 points

Nov 17, 2020 10:41 AM in response to shivio

I've been searching for a way to do that, but all the results I find are incorrect / out of date. Will update if I find a way.

AGuyOnWheels Author

Level 1

58 points

Nov 17, 2020 1:17 PM in response to shivio

That's good that you got it working. However I don't have any Big Sur BETA versions installed, so that doesn't apply to me at all. Also I'm coming up with zilch on how to clear the App Store cache.

shivio

Level 1

27 points

Nov 14, 2020 12:40 PM in response to AGuyOnWheels

This is rather shoddy work, and it does not give me a good feel about Big Sur.

I had a horrendous time getting my NAS to work with Catalina. It took them nearly a year and a .5 update to fix it.

This is a warning bell for me, and it suggests that I should stay clear of Big Sur till we have proof that its had its kinks worked out.

Nov 17, 2020 12:39 PM in response to AGuyOnWheels

I totally agree with AGuyOnWheels. You can't ignore the fact that the App store/GarageBand 10.4.1 combo is messed up; it should not have been showing up as an update on machine that it cannot be updated on, it is as simple as that. I have a late 2012 mac, so Catalina is as far as I can go, so no Big Sur nor beta version for me. Either way you should not need to go around the houses to try to fix what is a bug. The only true fix for this is for Apple to sort it and as it is poor form and an embarrassment I would have thought that they would have been straight on it. It seems not, so does any one have any suggestions of how we get them to jump to it?

shivio

Level 1

27 points

Nov 18, 2020 5:33 AM in response to AGuyOnWheels

fwiw, I also cleared caches and rebooted after that so the agents restarted.

I found caches and preferences with names spelled in all different ways. 'AppStore', 'appstore', 'appstored' (a daemon I presume) 'appstoreagent' and so on.

I cleared them in $TMPDIR../C. but also in ~/Library/Caches and ~/Library/Preferences, and in $TMPDIR../T as well.

There was also something called 'CommerceKit' which I figured could have something to do with the store, and I was about to clear that next but then it cleared. I'm assuming it was the Beta App, but it could easily have been one of those caches I deleted.

AGuyOnWheels Author

Level 1

58 points

Nov 18, 2020 11:00 AM in response to lkrupp

I get what you're saying, though I haven't seen anyone here "ranting and raving". Expressing frustration and discussing problems with the software is a vital part of this forum. If everyone just posts completely positive things, no issues would ever be addressed or solved.

That being said, the notification badge may be rather minor, but the underlying issue of Catalina users being completely unable to install GarageBand is more serious, since I personally know musicians running Catalina who use GarageBand regularly.

AGuyOnWheels Author

Level 1

58 points

Nov 19, 2020 11:50 AM in response to AGuyOnWheels

Adding another strange bit of info to this saga. Just for giggles I went to look at Big Sur in the App Store, and the info says that "Big Sur is compatible with this Mac"

I'm fairly certain that my late 2012 Mac mini is not supported by Big Sur since Apple has already said that it isn't.

What this tells me is that part of the problem is because the App Store thinks that I can install Big Sur, so it's offering other Big Sur related updates.

That's my current theory anyway. Though I'm not sure what I can do to correct this.

lkrupp

Level 7

22,135 points

Nov 19, 2020 1:43 PM in response to AGuyOnWheels

AGuyOnWheels wrote:

That's my current theory anyway. Though I'm not sure what I can do to correct this.

There’s nothing you or I or any other volunteer here can do about it. It’s a screwup that Apple has to fix. I would imagine it’s pretty far down on the priority list too.

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Can't update to GarageBand 10.4.1