User profile for user: JPO99
JPO99 Author
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download previous versions of Pages, Numbers, Keynote

I'm running BigSur v.11.7.6. The App Store tells me I can download earlier versions of Pages, Numbers, Keynote but it won't let me. When I select "Update" a choice window opens and telling me I can choose to download the latest compatible versions but it doesn't. It just loops thru the decision again and again. All three apps are v10.0 while apparently the newest versions are v.12. Is v.10 the latest I can upgrade to?

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.7

Posted on Apr 20, 2023 02:18 PM

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User profile for user: VikingOSX
VikingOSX
User level: Level 10
122,046 points

Posted on Apr 20, 2023 02:46 PM

If you never installed Pages from the Mac App Store, or you did, but now use a different Apple ID, you won't be able to obtain older versions of these applications.


If you did install these applications since Oct 2013 from the Mac App Store, then sign in to the Mac App Store with the identical Apple ID that you used in the Past. Press cmd+0 (zero) to bring up the Purchases panel, and these applications will have this symbol adjacent to them:

which you click and then answer OK to any dialogs to get the last compatible version (e.g. v11.1) of the applications.

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User profile for user: VikingOSX
VikingOSX
User level: Level 10
122,046 points

Apr 20, 2023 02:46 PM in response to JPO99

If you never installed Pages from the Mac App Store, or you did, but now use a different Apple ID, you won't be able to obtain older versions of these applications.


If you did install these applications since Oct 2013 from the Mac App Store, then sign in to the Mac App Store with the identical Apple ID that you used in the Past. Press cmd+0 (zero) to bring up the Purchases panel, and these applications will have this symbol adjacent to them:

which you click and then answer OK to any dialogs to get the last compatible version (e.g. v11.1) of the applications.

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User profile for user: JPO99
JPO99 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

May 1, 2023 03:21 PM in response to MU2005

MU2005: I have a 2014 MacBook Pro that I use everyday. Apple refers to this as a "Vintage" machine. I upgraded to Big Sur a few weeks ago. The App Store said updates were available but it asked if I wanted to download an older version (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) but I had the same issue you describe - it just never downloads. (It did let me update iMovie). I chatted with Apple tech support and then had phone support with a couple of different people - one who specialized in Apps (as opposed to the OS). The basic conclusion, after their internal discussion, is that my hardware is just too old for the apps. I asked about deleting the apps and reinstalling from scratch - they didn't recommend this because I probably would just lose the apps and not be able to reinstall. I can live with this - I only tried to update because I try to stay as current as possible - I think I'm there now! I am just very glad that Apple even continues to support old machines and software - not like some other companies.

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User profile for user: VikingOSX
VikingOSX
User level: Level 10
122,046 points

Apr 21, 2023 09:08 AM in response to JPO99

I have no other recommendation for the circumstance where Apple pre-installed the applications. As far as I have experienced, you can only get past versions if you were the installation agent, and not Apple, since it is based on your Apple ID revealing those past installations.


You may find that you need to use Pages for iCloud, iOS, or iPadOS, all of which have less feature set than Pages for Mac. See:


Pages - Official Apple Support

Numbers - Official Apple Support

Keynote - Official Apple Support


As this is not Apple Support, you should contact them and see what solution they offer for obtaining past versions of these applications when the original installation agent was Apple.

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User profile for user: JPO99
JPO99 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Apr 20, 2023 03:50 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks VikingOSX. These apps originally came with my Mac when I bought it and I have updated them every year or so but I never actually 'purchased' them in the App Store. I hadn't updated them for over a year. FYI, prior to asking my original question the Update function did allow me to update iMovie but not Pages, Numbers, and Keynote which is odd since I always update them at the same time. I then tried your suggested cmd+0 process to open the purchases window. The only one with the download arrow was iBooks Author which I downloaded. The others won't update. Any other ideas? Thanks.

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User profile for user: MU2005
MU2005
User level: Level 1
8 points

May 1, 2023 12:59 PM in response to JPO99

I have this same issue with any application. I am trying to upgrade GarageBand, I have an old version installed, and it was running fine until I upgraded to Big Sur a while back. Now it won't start.


When I try to upgrade GarageBand (have to do it through Purchases, as the latest version doesn't work on Big Sur), I get the "Do you want to download an older version" five times, but the download never starts. The same happens with other apps, including Xcode, Pages, Numbers, etc.


It really seems to be a bug somewhere in App Store, really frustrating. Would really appreciate if somebody could point to a solution here.


Upgrading the OS is not an option (too old hardware).

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download previous versions of Pages, Numbers, Keynote

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