Software update won't show updates

I have the same problem. Updates show up as a notification, and then never actually show up when the App Store update panel loads. Seems to be a bigger issue with OS updates than individual apps, which usually update just fine.

For me, softwareupdate -l shows nothing even though I know there's updates.

For example, iTunes send me to the app store to update but nothing is available

Not sure if this makes any difference, but are you signed in to the right account in Appstore?

It might not find the updates if the original software is associated to a different account.

Thanks - yes I have a single apple-id account. I've tried both logged in and not logged in. iTunes for example is a built-in app right - so should not matter.

Me too - new 2012 Mac Mini running 10.8.2. Just now iTunes said update was available, I confirmed that I wanted to download it, and when App Store searched it said "No Updates Available".

App Store never shows updates in fact, and I have to go to Apple's downloads site to get them.

Maybe this will help. If you monitor the "More Like This" box, other solved threads appear. Opening them usually displays other threads.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4202292

Thanks, but that didn't help. There are many threads with people experiencing this same issue, none of them appear to be really solved - mostly they just confirm that this is a bug and a problem with the App Store itself.

I tried repairing permisisons as suggested in another thread, but it didn't help either.

Same here as flying pelican. I'm considering a reinstall but aren't sure if the issue is my junk 10.8 upgrade or apple server. Flying pelican, did you fresh install or upgrade?

My new 2012 Mac Mini came with 10.8.1. Software update was not able to find the update to 10.8.2, so I downloaded the specfic 10.8.2 installer for Fall 2012 Macs (which was later pulled by Apple from the downloads page for unknown reasons.).

Really, the only software update that the App Store ever found was an iPhoto update that couldn't be installed because it requred 10.8.2, which couldn't be installed either (until I found the specific 2012 Mac Mini 10.8.2 installer).

I am running Lion and Snow Leopard on 4 other Macs and never had a problem with updartes, since they don't use the App Store for updates.

I created and logged into a new user account, and Software Update was able to find lots of available updates through the App Store, even though it couldn't find any using my regular user account.

Try using another user account on the same computer.

I have had to do a number of updates by either going to the Support Downloads page and to the vendors page. I think the new setup (not using Software Update) has a few holes...

I will try using an alternative user ID. Still not a great solution as it would not be able to do updates for software purchased under my primary ID. Interesting this fixed the issue for you, Flying Pelican - suggests the problem is Apple server related.

I don't mind doing manual updates but how do I even know which updates are applicable to every Apple component on my system. I guess this must not be impact too many users or surely Apple would have done something about it.

Apple doesn't monitor these threads. I would suggest all of you send Apple feedback so they know there is a problem and hopefully they will fix it.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/

I did as you advised and left feedback.

FYI aldoofbanga - I meant new user account on the computer to be logged into, not a new Apple ID. The issue was not server related, but related to the user account the computer itself was running.