iWorks compatibility with Catalina 10.15

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SebbFr34 Author

Level 1

4 points

iWorks compatibility with Catalina 10.15

Hello,

Does anyone has the official install package for Pages, Numbers and Keynote 11.1 compatible with Catalina ?

I have a problem on my Appstore account from which they disappeared after re-installing my computer from zero.

The Apple Support can't help me with restoring them as i'm on a mid-2012 MacBook Pro.

They told me i should find the official install package to have them back on my account.

But the last version available on the Appstore for download is the v12, not compatible with Catalina.

Thank you for your help,

Sébastien

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Dec 30, 2022 8:15 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,268 points

Dec 30, 2022 10:13 AM in response to SebbFr34

No one in this community will be providing you with install packages for these applications. These applications are not installed by the operating system. Only from the Mac App Store.

If you had previously installed these applications since Oct 2013 from the Mac App Store using the same Apple ID as you have used in the clean install of Catalina, then you can get the last compatible versions (11.1) of these applications installed again on Catalina.

Launch the Mac App Store and sign in with your same Apple ID. Press cmd+0 (zero) to bring up the Purchased panel and the applications should all have a blue-cloud download symbol adjacent to them. Click that icon and the individual applications will then install.

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,268 points

Jan 2, 2023 6:44 AM in response to SebbFr34

Last question : do you think if i install Mountain Lion 10.8 from the original CD i had when i bought this MBP i'll be able to reinstall the iWork suite ? And then upgrade to Catalina.

No. Don't go there as no direct upgrade path to Catalina from Mountain Lion, and retail iWork '09 suite DVD applications won't change your Mac App Store situation, nor are they portable to Catalina as they are 32-bit applicaitons.

In your current situation, I would use the iCloud applications to export any Pages, Numbers, or Keynote documents to Microsoft formats, and then abandon Apple's applications (that you cannot get now) for a third-party application that fits your budget and productivity needs. That might be the free LibreOffice, or perhaps SoftMaker's Office 2021 for Mac. Because you are on Catalina, that removes Microsoft Office solutions from possibility (except their free online solution) as Microsoft no longer supports Catalina and will block new installations on it.

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Answer 3

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,268 points

Dec 31, 2022 6:21 AM in response to SebbFr34

You must sign into the Mac App Store with the identical Apple ID that you used to originally install them, or you simply won't be able to see them in the Purchased panel or obtain them. You will need to use the iCloud versions of these applications instead.

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Answer 4

SebbFr34 Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 31, 2022 1:25 AM in response to VikingOSX

Hello Viking,

Thank you for your answer.

However that is exactly the problem i have : the apps disappeared from my AppStore account, even though i previously had them on my computer. And my account + clean install were all made with the same Apple ID.

As you can see below, i still have GarageBand, iPhoto and iMovie which were all part of the suite, even though i deleted them from my computer :

I spent H.O.U.R.S... on the phone with the Apple Support, level 1 and level 2, and it seems they can't do a thing about the problem on my account.

As i'm on a outdated computer and system, some tech juste answered they can't help at all, some tried to help me and actually succeeded to make Pages come back on my account. However i'm still missing Numbers and Keynote.

The last tech level 2 for iCloud account i had yesterday, 2 hours on the phone, finally told me he has no idea how the other tech succeeded in bringing back Pages and can't help me any further as even the Apple Support doesn't have the install package of the apps.

And what is also annoying is that on the download page of the Apple Support you can have the older OS, whereas there isn't any older version of their apps that go with the OS...

So he advised me to come on the Community to find it, and if i installed the app with the official Apple install package, this will bring back the app on my account.

So if you have any idea how, or where i can get those install...

Thank you for your help,

Sébastien

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Answer 5

SebbFr34 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 2, 2023 2:42 AM in response to VikingOSX

Hello,

Yes, I have the same Apple ID since the first Mac i bought 15yrs ago... It is exactly the problem i have on my account and that the Apple Support can't fix...

It seems then it's really an unsolvable problem... :/ And their only solution : buy a new mac, as my 10yrs old one, is already amortized ^^

Last question : do you think if i install Mountain Lion 10.8 from the original CD i had when i bought this MBP i'll be able to reinstall the iWork suite ? And then upgrade to Catalina.

Thank you for your help,

Sébastien

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iWorks compatibility with Catalina 10.15

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