This item is temporarily unavailable Mac error

This same thing happened to me, "This item is temporarily unavailable. Try again later."

I must have tried 20 times, before I figured out that it was not the Apple servers. (had to google it)

However here are the differences:

1. I bought the MacBook Pro from a pawn shop, so I have NO clue as to the original owner or their Apple ID/password.

Image my surprise when I found this little tidbit of Apple ID horror!

2. I ONLY have ONE MacBook, not two, which is what EVERY response expects/assumes you to have.

A little explanation, I purchased this MacBook Pro and wanted to update to the new El Capitain OS 10.11 version,

but I did not have enough room on my HD for it, because the previous owner had a lot of trash, junk files, downloads, pictures, email, etc cluttering up space, which of course I didn't want, nor did I ever need. Likewise, I certainly didn't want his name referencing MY new laptop or pathways, directories, and so on etc, etc, etc.

SO I'm like, wipe that sucker clean.

WRONG MOVE... big mistake!!!

Which I'm sure most of you are well aware by now ...of that swift jump into Apple's h e l l h o l e!

After hours, days of research, trying this, trying that, figuring out dead-ends, frustrated, crying, yelling...like it really did any good! hmmmm

I came up with a way to re-install my previous OS without, let me say that again WITHOUT using an Apple login credentials,

so here it goes, are you ready?

This happens to be my FIRST Apple product ever, which I've never experienced their OS layout, so the learning curve was aggressive.

I've been a dedicated Windows user since 3.1, so IF I type (explain) something (terminology) "incorrectly" be understanding, ok?

So for those of you which like myself, have ONLY one Mac product and NO friends to help OR want to share my burden.

Firstly, Write this address down: http://getintopc.com/softwares/operating-systems/mac-os-x-mavericks-free-downloa d/

And NO you cannot download from your Windows computer onto a USB drive and then transfer it to your Mac.

WHY, because Windows uses FAT formatting while Mac uses Mac OS, they don't understand each other,

designed that way on purpose dont'cha know?

That is the web-address you will use to download the "Mavericks Installer.dmg", You will need this later for downloading.

You need TWO USB DRIVES, at least 8GB each (this is the secret) shhhh, don't tell...haha

Hopefully, you have two working USB ports.

IF not, just stop now, the rest is assumed and expected that you have two working USB ports on your Mac.

It was bad enough reading through all the previous posts, just to find out that I didn't have the correct Apple ID/password,

nor did I have an extra MacBook just conveniently laying around!

ON your Mac, you need to get into "Mac OS X Utilities", here's how:

HOLD down Command + Option + R while you push POWER (you can release Power only)

Keep holding others, until rotating EARTH shows up. (now you can release those other 3), This starts Internet Recovery.

This is when your Mac will attempt to connect to the internet, make sure you have either Wi-Fi or Ethernet connected,

Ethernet (hard-wired) is much faster than Wi-Fi for downloading needed files.

When "Mac OS X Utilities" finally shows up: (takes it's sweet time about it)

1. SELECT "Disk Utility"

2. Plug in one USB drive at a time, let Disk Utility recognize it, then plug in second USB drive, wait for recognition.

3.When BOTH are recognized by Disk Utility, (you'll see them appear in left-side pane)

SELECT 1st USB Drive (left-side pane), click on (will be highlighted):

SELECT "Partition" (within right-side pane)

SELECT "Partition Layout", then SELECT "1 Partition"

SELECT "Options", then SELECT "GUID Partition Table" (a must for USB drive to act as startup disk)

UNDER "Partition Information"

NAME: (I used MAC DMG, so I wouldn't get it confused with other USB drive)

FORMAT: Use "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

SELECT "Apply", then SELECT "Partition" (this WILL format or wipe out all data on this USB drive)

***DO this same above procedures for Second USB, but name it MAC OS X ***

DO NOT REMOVE EITHER USB DRIVE

Got that so far, next:

CLOSE out (X) Disk Utility

Now, Select "Get Help Online" from "Mac OS X Utilities" menu (should be 3rd from top)

It will open up Safari browser, follow along this is very important.

On top Menu, Click on "Safari", then SELECT "Preferences"

Under "General" tab, scroll down to "Save downloaded files to:"

Click "Other", then SELECT "MAC DMG" under devices menu. Close that window.

You should have an open Safari window about "Recovery Information"

Within "Address Bar" type in web address: (same one you were suppose to write down above)

****************************

Type in and press enter.

SCROLL down to the "DOWNLOAD" button and click it.

It will open up a new browser window and then start downloading the "Mavericks Installer.dmg" package.

It is 5.95GB, so it will take some time to download. (Go goof around while it's downloading.)

WHEN it is finished downloading, close out Safari. (Safari>Quit Safari)

You should be back to the "Mac OS X Utilities" menu.

SELECT "Disk Utilities" once again.

CLICK on "MAC DMG" dropdown under USB drive heading (it will be highlighted)

SELECT "Restore" in right-side pane

Under Source: MAC DWG is entered

SELECT "Image",

then SELECT MAC DMG in left-side pane, it should show -Getintopc.com-Mavericks Installer.dmg (in right-side pane)

* NOW your SOURCE should be: -Getintopc.com-Mavericks Installer.dmg

Next, CLICK & HOLD on 2nd USB drive drop-down MAC OS X, DRAG to "Destination" in right-side pane

RECAP: (right-side pane)

Source: -Getintopc.com-Mavericks Installer.dmg

Destination: MAC OS X

Now SELECT "Restore" (bottom right)

It will ask if you are sure you want to replace "MAC OS X" with "-Getintopc.com-Mavericks Installer.dmg?

SELECT "Erase"

It will verify and start copying the data over, takes about 35 minutes.

If all went well you should have 40,147 files @ 6.01GB

When it is finished, the 2nd USB drive will now be called: "OS X Base System"

Now, REMOVE (ONLY) the USB labeled MAC DWG

Close out (X) of "Disk Utility" (Command + Q)

Close out (X) of "Mac OS X Utilities" (Command + Q)

SELECT "Choose Startup Disk"

SELECT "OS X Base System Mac OS X,10.9)

CLICK on "Restart"

It will ASK again, CLICK on "Restart"

Spinning wheel will activate and "turn for a couple of minutes",

then your Mac will power off and "restart" showing Apple Logo (also for a couple of minutes),

It will then show OS X Installer Window.

Follow Prompts to install your new OS X

I went through Apple's **** Hole and back to bring you this step-by-step guide. (LOL)

Hope it helps.

The great part is that you now have a backup USB restore drive...yippee! (for future mistakes or other Macbooks...)

Have fun,

Cali-Z

<Link Edited by Host>

I have had this problem on several Macs. First to dispel a myth seen in this thread. You can always download an OS, even if it is not current, as long as you have previously downloaded it from the App Store. I have repeatedly solved the "not available" problem simply by logging in as a different user that has definitely downloaded that version of the MacOS before.

Good luck.

Thanks for this, I spend an hour trying to work out why my new drive was "temporarily unavailable", they should put up[ a message stating that this OS is not associated with this ID.

Anyway thanks for the solution :>

The message "This item is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later" pops up most probably because you are not signed in to the apple store on your mac (on iTunes not on the Safari). To solve it, open the iTunes, click on the "Purchased" button on the top menu and sign in using your apple ID and password. The message should not come up again.

After trying for several days and still getting that same message and checking out some of the other replies on this topic - i found the answer as had already done this on a friends computer a couple of weeks ago and is real easy

take the drive out of the machine then you can erase and install whatever system you wish -

Guys its very Easy and i have solved this issue.

Please when you see this message while re-installing OS X old or latest

"This item is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later”.

Just use the first apple ID you used in this device when activate it as a first time and to download and purchase on app store.

🙂 100% will solve the Issue because the Item mean (apple ID) and unavailable mean its not the original apple ID used on this device for downloading and purchase.

Okay thanks.

The issue is that my first email was: sk****@hotmail.com which was the one I used first time on my macbook pro in 2011.
I have changed the mail and password since then, and now I can't remember the password I used for my old apple id for sk*****@hotmail.com - and when I enter the latest Apple ID mail and password it tells me: "this item is temporarily unavailable".

I tried to guess the old password so many times, that it wants me to "reset my account" / it also says: "Your account has been turned off"

Make sure you are signed into your apple account. I recently moved countries and had to update my apple account on my iphone, which signed me out on my mac. So I clicked on purchases and it made me sign in again then i was able to access the updates.

You are bang on with your advice. I had the same issue when purchasing a used mac mini. I followed your advice and purchased OS X Lion (the required version for my mac) and redeemed the code on another mac. In actual fact I didn't have access to another mac so I just signed up with macincloud for a pay-as-you-go $30 account and did the redeeming there. It's a small cost for the convenience of being able to redeem using my app id. Once redeemed I hopped back on my mac and completed the download and install. I'm now done and upgrading to OS X Sierra 🙂 Thank you for your tips.

Cmd+Opt+R worked for me on a MacBook Pro that used to belong to someone else.

1. Connect computer to Ethernet cable for Internet connection.

2. Start up with Cmd+R.

3. Use Disk Utility to erase the "Macintosh HD" partition of the hard disk.

4. Start up with Cmd+Opt+R.

5. It now says it's downloading OS X Yosemite.

But the problem is that Mac is so completely self contained that I can't update it. I can't get the OS from the App Store because I don't have the App Store until I reinstall the OS that I can't get. I don't have another mac with which to access the fabled and yet to be seen App Store so what do I do? how do I get there?

Incidentally, I solved it be downloading the installer from the app store, then creating a bootable installer disk. But, I was not able to get any of the OTA methods to work; I got the original error mentioned no matter which variation I tried.

wait, just so everything is clear, when you press down on the buttons cmd-opt-R after a restart, you are supposed to hold it down until you see the spinning globe. if you let go too early, it will not work.

is this what you've been doing?

Yes and I think it’s working now. I went into internet recovery mode which took two hours (slow internet) and I clicked the option “Install High Sierra”. Had to wait 6 hours for that and now that it’s done, it’s restoring from my hard drive. However, it’s doing it from all the backups on it. Is there a way to select only the one from two days ago instead of all of them including the automatic backup last night with the Macintosh HD drive erased? Thank you

Sorry,

Thanks again

I got noting solved

I tried the procedure recommended by Apple for rebooting and reinstalling. The old Mac Book Pro restarts on Mac OS X El Capitan. Then I set the WiFi and my Apple ID. Again, and again and again the same answer. The first answer is you are going to be redirected to apple store Spain. The second answer is this ítem is nor available for the moment. For this reason I tried divers methods. One is to create a USB Installer. I tried with High Sierra and the process does not restart. I tried from El Capitan and the answer is the same. I`m wondering if maybe Is needed to reset something at the apple store or at the firmware in the old mac. But in short I put Hours on this and the official suportarla of apple does not get a solution.

Result: and old Mac that can not get reinstalled.

Any idea?