Admin user unable to update software on MacBook Pro with 'In order to continue installing, you need to be an owner' error

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Admin user unable to update software on MacBook Pro with 'In order to continue installing, you need to be an owner' error

When I try to update my software, the error message "In order to continue installing, you need to be an owner." pops up, When I check my users, it says I am an admin, so i have no clue what the issue is.

I've also tried sudo softwareupdate -i -a -R

-i Install

-a All appropriate updates

-R Automatically restart (or shut down) if required to complete installation)

But the following error message pops up: updates not installed, some updates could not be installed.

My Mac is a 2023 MacBook Pro running on Ventura 13.0. I'm trying to update to Tahoe 26

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Unable to update software error message In order to continue installing, you need to be an owner.

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 13.0

Posted on Sep 25, 2025 11:06 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Servant of Cats

Level 7

33,533 points

Sep 25, 2025 11:45 AM in response to mere_0

I believe that Apple Silicon Macs make a distinction between an "Admin" user, and a user who is the "Owner" of the machine. This is apparently something that is not documented, at an ordinary user level, very well.

The Eclectic Light Company – Last Week on My Mac: The perils of M1 Ownership

If you have created several Admin accounts on your machine, it sounds like you might want or need to use the first (primary) one to do the upgrade.

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Answer 2

MartinR

Level 7

24,053 points

Sep 25, 2025 1:40 PM in response to mere_0

mere_0 wrote:

When I try to update my software, the error message "In order to continue installing, you need to be an owner." pops up, When I check my users, it says I am an admin, so i have no clue what the issue is.

The "owner" is the very first admin account that was created during the initial installation & setup of the Mac. It is the primary admin account. It sounds like you may be attempting your macOS upgrade from a different admin account.

"Ownership" is a relatively new security measure in macOS on Apple Silicon Macs.

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Answer 3

mere_0 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 26, 2025 2:14 PM in response to MartinR

Is it possible to recover the password for this "owner" account? I have tried changing the password and the hint on the login changes, but the actual password doesn't work.

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