I can't update GarageBand

Thanks Jerry, This issue has been solved 👍🏻

I'll try that – but I've never had, used, or downloaded Garage Band before.

You should not be seeing the update notice on a Mac with 10.15.7 .

The current version at the AppStore is solely for systems, that have been upgraded to Big Sur, macOS 11. It cannot run on Catalina.

Currently Apple's servers are bogged down by the attempts to download and install macOS 11 Big Sur. The installer is gigantic and creating a lot of network traffic. I'd wait, until the upgrade rush is over , if you are planning to upgrade to macOS 11 Big Sur. Once you have the new system installed, try again to upgrade GarageBand.

I'm getting the same issue. Catalina is version 10. This error shouldn't exist, nor should an update notice be given if the installer was intelligent enough to realize that an OS version 10 is not an OS version 11, which the update is for.

Here we are again in 2020 with Apple now not giving power bricks to new iPhone12 owners, and now this.

[Edited by Moderator]

So, I deleted my version of GarageBand to make space for Big Sur only to find that I still don't have enough space on my 2020 MacBook Pro. Now I can't download GarageBand because it is not compatible with Catalina 10.15.7. Any thoughts?

Storage isn’t the issue for most of us. The problem is our Macs are too old to update to Big Sur, but the Garage Band update (which relies on Big Sur being installed) still appears in the App Store. Granted it’s not a major issue, but it’s annoying that it can’t be removed as it is impossible to proceed with the update.

My app icon just cleared. I ran Trend Micro's Cleaner One Pro (free edition) and scanned. Cleared junk files. When I launched app store there were no updates available and the Garageband for Big Sur disappeared. Not sure if Cleaner One Pro did this or if it was the App store servers clearing their cache or something.

It has nothing to do with whether the hardware is capable - it's whether Apple can be arsed to keep its customers on board.

The ONLY reason I'm still on Apple hardware is because I get it from work. My own Mac Mini(s) (2009/2012) are no longer supported. But I can still run Windows on my 2005 laptop.

Apple is working hard on alienating its core customers. The hardware is becoming ever more expensive - so where are the economies of scale? Or applying new technology more intelligently?

No - let's merge iOS and OsX until they're indistinguishable. Let's retire technology long before it is obsolete - and hope the suckers keep paying a premium to have Apple hardware?

I don't want a desktop that looks like my mobile phone. I know my mobile phone will never replace my desktop. Get real!

It might not be so bad if the experience was flawless, but it clearly isn't. And there is no forum where Apple take criticism from its customers seriously.

Same problem. As a result of upgrading to Catalina I can no longer use GarageBand and there's no way to download a compatible version. Ridiculous. Apple should not abandon users with equipment that works well. There should be link available to download a compatible version. I don't need to the latest version just the one that will work with Catalina.

...following up on my previous post... I contacted Apple support and the tech was able to walk me through several steps to help me upgrade to Big Sur and reinstall GarageBand. While I appreciated the 20 minutes they spent helping me, I had to delete several files to clear up space for the install. Good thing I have everything backed up. If I didn't own so many Mac products, I would probably consider switching to another platform.

My update icon returned. Ran Cleaner One Pro again and purged junk files and the red dot once again disappeared. Getting close to understanding what Apple System Log is generating the red dot. Unfortunately the App store is pushing out updates that cause it to return over time. So stupid.

"Should not" and are, are two different things. I also have the same problem. A fully patched Late 2013 iMac with 10.15.7. It is not supported to run Big Sur, but the App Store insists that I need to install the Garageband update. Attempting to update throws the error "We could not complete your update. GarageBand can’t be installed on “Macintosh HD” because macOS version 11 or later is required."

The conspiracy theory side of me wonders if this is a subtle marketing push by Apple to get you to purchase a brand new Mac. But, never attribute to malice that that can be adequately explained by incompetence.

It is exactly my problem too, i think it is very annoying to keep seeing an update that can not be done, and the worst thing is that according to technical support there is nothing that can be done to avoid it. I have disabled both, in the App Store and in the system preferences the automatic updates or even that it tries to to look for them, but it just keep insisting. So i made a GarageBand back up, then i have uninstalled it to install it again from the hard drive, the notification disappears but reappears as soon as I reboot. I'm not interested in upgrading my old iMac to Big Sur, but i don't want my current Apps to be affected by this either!

I bought a new 2020 iMac a few weeks ago and I do not want to update to Big Sur yet.

I am getting this error on GarageBand, Apple Remote Desktop, and some Topo Map app.

I find it very hard to believe that even Apple would do this to Catalina/Intel users and figure it is a defect in the App Store that will eventually be worked out. I recall the PowerPC to Intel migration being rocky in places too.

Or maybe Big Sur is the only version that can deal with dual-architecture Intel/ARM binaries. That would be stupid.

To download an older version of GarageBand on macOS Catalina, do so from your Apple ID accounts screen, at the bottom left of the Mac App Store Window. There may even be an agreement you need to accept for GarageBand to be associated with your Apple ID. If you don't need to accept the agreement, scroll down the list of your "Purchased" apps. You should see the old GarageBand icon which you can download. You will be prompted indicating that it is an older version of GarageBand and that there is a newer version available (which appears to only be compatible with Big Sur).

If you try to download GarageBand on Catalina from the Mac App Store by going to the actual product page, you will get the alert saying it is only compatible with Big Sur, but downloading the app from the "Purchased" section on your Apple ID screen should work.

I hope this helps those who are trying to install GarageBand on Catalina.