How to switch App Store account on MacBook Air and resolve photo issue?

I have a new MacBook Air using macOS Tahoe 26.2 and I have set it up and it is working fine. However, today I opened the App Store for the first time to check on any outstanding updates. To my surprise the App Store opened using my wife's Apple account and showing her name, complete with a picture of me! The outcome of this is that I cannot update any apps because they were originally downloaded by a different account – mine I assume.


There seems to be 2 problems here:


  1. The App Store is opening using my wife's account.
  2. The App Store is displaying photograph of me which can only have come from the logon page on my laptop.


I can find no way to force the App Store to open using my Apple ID and password and would be grateful for some guidance.



[Edited by Moderator]

Original Title: App Store Account Anomaly


MacBook Air 13″, macOS 26.2

Posted on Jan 23, 2026 1:35 PM

Reply
2 replies

Jan 23, 2026 8:06 PM in response to adbph

In the support article: If you subscribe to Apple One and use a different Apple ID for iCloud - Apple Support Apple alludes to using a different Apple ID just for media, subscriptions, and purchases, but doesn't describe how to do this. See if these work:

In Ventura or later: First, quit Settings. Then, in App Store, choose “Sign Out” in the Store menu, then click on the “sign in” button that appears in the main window. You can then sign into the other account. (from: Using different Apple ID for media & purc… - Apple Community )

Related to that is: Use a different Apple ID to share purchases with Family Sharing as outlined in Use a different Apple Account to share purchases with Family Sharing - Apple Support


This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

How to switch App Store account on MacBook Air and resolve photo issue?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.