Missing Apple apps on my Mac after installing macOS 15.5

Brand New Apple Computers do come preinstalled with Pages, Keynote, Number, GarageBand and iMove

Though as was alluded to earlier

If you wiped the drive and reinstalled from Recovery Mode

The Applications, outlined earlier, would not Automatically reappear as installed

Easy enough to cross check by opening the Apple Apps Store >> Your Account at bottom Left

Something like this may appear

If it should same " Open " that would mean they are currently installed

If it should say " Get " or words to that effect, it would mean you have to redownload them

555ABC wrote:

I did a fresh install of 15.5 (through recovery mode), and it didn't seem to install Pages, Keynote, or Numbers. Is that standard, or is it a sign that something went wrong with the install process? (I know it's easy to install them through the App Store, just wondering if this is normal, since Macs all come with those preinstalled.)

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Fresh install of 15.5 – no Pages, Keynote, etc.?

If by “fresh“ you mean you needlessly erased the drive, then no, the apps will not be replaced. They are not part of macOS. They do come preinstalled on a new Mac, but they do not come with macOS.

555ABC wrote:

Edit: I am quite certain of this. I distinctly remember GarageBand being listed under the updates tab in App Store. I always end up deleting it, so it would have been preinstalled. It's been a couple of years since I last bought a Mac before that, but I am reasonably sure that it came with the office apps as well.

Read the footnotes at the bottom of any Mac's technical page such as this: MacBook Air 13- and 15-inch with M4 Chip - Tech Specs - Apple

You will see this footnote…

"iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are available on the Mac App Store. Downloading apps requires an Apple Account and a device that is compatible with the OS version required for each app."

Hats Off to the explanation by Barney-15 👍

" They are not part of macOS. They do come preinstalled on a new Mac, but they do not come with macOS. "

Barney-15E wrote:

They do come preinstalled on a new Mac, but they do not come with macOS.

Then someone should let Apple know they need to revise/update the support pages.

555ABC wrote:

Yes, erased the drive and installed from scratch. (It's a hangover from old Windows days, but I do like to occasionally reinstall the OS fresh to keep things tidy – probably unnecessary these days, I know.)

Erased the Drive - thank you for cleaning this issue up

Erasing the drive would have removed the Applications in question making it necessary to reinstall them again

At least, that is what has occurred on the M4, M3 and M2 Machines I own and operate.

Macs do not come with them preinstalled. You have to download them from the App Store.

Luis Sequeira1 wrote:

This is most unusual. Are you sure you didn’t not simply had them migrated from your previous mac?

Well, I just got off the phone with Apple Sales support. I was told, some Mac models come with the iWorks package preinstalled and some don't, since Ventura. However, they had no info on which models do or don't. 🤣😎

555ABC wrote:

The last MacBook I bought (less than a month ago, brand new) came with them preinstalled.

This is most unusual. Are you sure you didn’t not simply had them migrated from your previous mac?

M4 Mac Mini, M3 MBA, M2 Mac Mini as Brand new from Apple each came with the afore mentioned applications Pre-Installed

There was no need to download from the Apple Apps Store

That is unless I had wiped the drive, which remains undisclosed by the Author

Mac mini (2024) - Tech Specs - Apple Support (CA)

Use wrote " I did a fresh install of 15.5 (through recovery mode) "

Please clarify

Fresh install Over an Existing installing of Sequoia 15.5

Or Fresh Install after having used either of the two methods

I provide both Intel and Apply Silicon because your User Byline would normally provide the type of Device you are using

For Apple Silicon computer >> Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.

For Apple Intel computers >>   Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac followed by How to reinstall macOS

Owl-53 wrote:

Brand New Apple Computers do come preinstalled with Pages, Keynote, Number, GarageBand and iMove

Not according to Apple, as I already pointed out.