Some Users With Older Copies of iLife and iWork Having Difficulties Upgrading to New Versions [Updated] - GeekWebGuides
Skip to Content

Some Users With Older Copies of iLife and iWork Having Difficulties Upgrading to New Versions [Updated]

by

IworkSome users with legacy versions of iLife and iWork that were not purchased through the Mac App Store are having difficulties upgrading to the new versions released earlier today, according to Macworld.

Users who own iWork '09 or iLife '11 are supposed to receive the latest versions of both those app suites for free through the Mac App Store, but some are having difficulties.

Some users (including yours truly) are reporting issues where the Mac App Store doesn’t recognize their copies; when they click on an iLife or iWork app’s price, they receive the following alert: “[App] is already installed and was not purchased from the Mac App Store. Do you want to buy [app]?” Macworld spoke with an Apple spokesperson who noted that there’s currently an issue with some legacy customers, and the company is working on a fix.

Users who do not yet own iLife '11 or iWork '09 can purchase them from the Mac App Store. The iLife apps are $14.99 each, while the iWork suite is $19.99 per app.

Update: Apple appears to have updated its systems to resolve this issue.

iPhoto for Mac - [Mac App Store]
iMovie for Mac - [Mac App Store]
GarageBand for Mac - [Mac App Store]

Pages for Mac - [Mac App Store]
Numbers for Mac - [Mac App Store]
Keynote for Mac [Mac App Store]

Top Rated Comments

170 months ago
So what am I supposed to do if I bought Keynote and Pages to do my homework that is due Thursday? Will Apple issue a refund?
I believe Tim Cook will do your homework for you until they fix the issue. :)
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ouimetnick Avatar
170 months ago
I don't think there's anything that needs to be fixed.

If you have redeemed/bought iLife/iWork through the Mac App Store, you can update. If you haven't, you can't.

So even though I bought iWork 09 on a DVD back in 2010, I shouldn't get the new versions, and instead should simply buy it again? Should I throw out my iLife 11 install DVD that I bought, remove the apps, and pay $14 each for them again?

See what the issue is? This is what the article is about. :)
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
170 months ago
This made the update for iWorks 09 available on my Mac:

1. Change system language from German to English
2. ???
3. Profit :)
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fr4c Avatar
170 months ago
I don't think there's anything that needs to be fixed.

If you have redeemed/bought iLife/iWork through the Mac App Store, you can update. If you haven't, you can't.
Can you please stop posting this in all the iLife/iWork threads. Please, and I'm saying this nicely, but you are 100% wrong on this.

The updates are free, regardless if you have iLife '11 or iWork '09 through DVD or MAS. The update will show for some users, but if not the solution to get the Apps updated at this point in time is to create a new "Administrator" account and running Software Update through the new account and deleting the temp account afterwards. Until Apple fixes this issue on their side this is a way for users to update their iLife/iWork apps to the latest version.

I have done this update on 3 machines, all with clean 10.9 installs and brand new installs of iLife and iWork using my previously purchased DVD install medias.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
170 months ago
I don't think there's anything that needs to be fixed.

If you have redeemed/bought iLife/iWork through the Mac App Store, you can update. If you haven't, you can't.

Not true. Apple is offering the update to everyone who purchased iLife / iWork, even if outside the MAS. I bought iLife 11, yet the App Store prompted me to 'accept' licenses from the purchase page. However, not so with iWork yet :(

See this article for more information:
http://www.macworld.com/article/2056159/what-you-need-to-know-about-apples-free-apps-policy.html
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
170 months ago
So this worked for me:

1. Go to Mac App Store (MAS) > Click on Store > Check for Unfinished Downloads

2. You will have to enter your iCloud ID

3. Once complete, all the iWorks and iLife apps showed that they could be updated instead of bought.


4. But you need to individually click into each application > Click update > enter in your iCloud user/pass and then it will start updating



Hopefully this works for people, it worked for me. Before I did all of this I had restarted my computer, but I doubt that had anything to do with it since when I went back into MAS the iWork and iLife suite still said I had to buy etc.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

M5 MacBook Pro

RIP, MacBook Ultra

Monday October 19, 2026 9:37 am PDT by
Apple today sent out invites for an experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, and the "Pro and tell" tagline on the invitation likely means that the rumored MacBook models with touch-enabled OLED displays will stick with MacBook Pro branding instead of the once-rumored "MacBook Ultra" name. The long-rumored "iPhone Ultra" ended up being named iPhone Duo, so speculation that Apple...
iPhone Duo Trio

Here's What Apple's Apps Look Like on the iPhone Duo

Tuesday October 20, 2026 11:12 am PDT by
With just three days to go until the iPhone Duo is released, Apple is getting ready for the launch. Behind the scenes, the App Store now has screenshots of Apple's built-in apps running on the Duo. We've seen some apps in marketing materials, but images of the ones we haven't seen give us an idea of what it will be like using the iPhone Duo day to day. Many apps are shown in landscape...
apple pro tell logo

Apple Announcing New Products Next Week: 'Pro and Tell'

Monday October 19, 2026 9:05 am PDT by
Apple's Greg Joswiak today hinted at new product announcements coming next week, sharing a social media post that says "Can't wait to pro and tell next week." Rumors suggest Apple is planning to debut the new MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen display, an M6 entry-level MacBook Pro, an M6 iMac, an iPad mini with an OLED display. Can't wait to pro and tell next week....
Latest Stories
Tesla App Gains iPad and iPhone Duo Support
Tesla App Gains iPad and iPhone Duo Support
2 hours ago
Apple Reportedly Boosts iPhone Duo Orders by 44%
Apple Reportedly Boosts iPhone Duo Orders by 44%
2 hours ago
Fortnite Returning to Australian App Store After Court Ruling
Fortnite Returning to Australian App Store After Court Ruling
3 hours ago
Apple Ordered to Open iPhone to Rival App Stores in Australia
Apple Ordered to Open iPhone to Rival App Stores in Australia
3 hours ago
Apple Suppliers Face Hurdles Cutting Circuit Board Emissions
Apple Suppliers Face Hurdles Cutting Circuit Board Emissions
3 hours ago
Things Updated for iPhone Duo With Adaptive Layout
Things Updated for iPhone Duo With Adaptive Layout
4 hours ago
Simplicity and Siri AI Are HomeView's Killer Features, Apple Says
Simplicity and Siri AI Are HomeView's Killer Features, Apple Says
4 hours ago
iPhone Duo Reviewers Really Miss Face ID
iPhone Duo Reviewers Really Miss Face ID
9 hours ago
Does the iPhone Duo Run Hot? Here's What Reviews Found
Does the iPhone Duo Run Hot? Here's What Reviews Found
11 hours ago
Apple Music's New Look is Now Live on Apple's Website
Apple Music's New Look is Now Live on Apple's Website
11 hours ago
Anthropic Launches Claude Duet, a Proactive AI Agent
Anthropic Launches Claude Duet, a Proactive AI Agent
12 hours ago
What 32,000 Folds Did to the iPhone Duo's Hinge
What 32,000 Folds Did to the iPhone Duo's Hinge
13 hours ago
iPhone Duo's Hidden FaceTime Camera Takes 'Trash' Photos
iPhone Duo's Hidden FaceTime Camera Takes 'Trash' Photos
14 hours ago
iPhone Duo Has 'Edge Light' Feature That Debuted on Macs Last Year
iPhone Duo Has 'Edge Light' Feature That Debuted on Macs Last Year
15 hours ago
Apple Support App Updated for iPhone Duo's Larger Display
Apple Support App Updated for iPhone Duo's Larger Display
15 hours ago
Amazon Sweetens the Deal on Entry-Level 16-Inch MacBook Pro With $570 Off
Amazon Sweetens the Deal on Entry-Level 16-Inch MacBook Pro With $570 Off
15 hours ago
iPhone Duo Tips Over on MagSafe Stands When Unfolded
iPhone Duo Tips Over on MagSafe Stands When Unfolded
15 hours ago
Apple Music's New Look Officially Announced
Apple Music's New Look Officially Announced
17 hours ago
iPhone Duo Supports Apple Pencil Starting With iOS 27.2
iPhone Duo Supports Apple Pencil Starting With iOS 27.2
17 hours ago
iPhone Duo Accessories Roundup: Cases and Screen Protectors From OtterBox, ZAGG, and More
iPhone Duo Accessories Roundup: Cases and Screen Protectors From OtterBox, ZAGG, and More
18 hours ago
Apple Stores Will Have 'Limited' Availability of iPhone Duo for Walk-In Customers
Apple Stores Will Have 'Limited' Availability of iPhone Duo for Walk-In Customers
19 hours ago
iPhone Duo Reviews Explain Why Device is Both 'Fun' and 'Frustrating'
iPhone Duo Reviews Explain Why Device is Both 'Fun' and 'Frustrating'
19 hours ago
Apple Says 'Reachability' Feature Coming to iPhone Duo Later This Year
Apple Says 'Reachability' Feature Coming to iPhone Duo Later This Year
20 hours ago
Loop Capital Cuts Apple Rating Over iPhone Sales Outlook
Loop Capital Cuts Apple Rating Over iPhone Sales Outlook
1 day ago
Apple Stores in Bordeaux and Lille Looted During French Protests
Apple Stores in Bordeaux and Lille Looted During French Protests
1 day ago
Bluesound Adds Native Apple Music Support
Bluesound Adds Native Apple Music Support
1 day ago
Apple CEO John Ternus Explains What Makes Good Product Design
Apple CEO John Ternus Explains What Makes Good Product Design
1 day ago
UK Proposes New Ways to Help Apple Pay Rivals
UK Proposes New Ways to Help Apple Pay Rivals
1 day ago
WhatsApp Developing In-App Browser for All Chat Links on iPhone
WhatsApp Developing In-App Browser for All Chat Links on iPhone
1 day ago
Apple's App Store Chief Explains Its Push for Premium Games
Apple's App Store Chief Explains Its Push for Premium Games
1 day ago