Can't buy an app for a different device.

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Level 1

4 points

Can't buy an app for a different device.

I tried to buy an app for a different device, but it won't let me purchase it because it's not compatible with the device I'm buying it from. My m chip laptop is being repaired because it's defective, and this app is only on sale today. I get the reasoning for the app store app (but it's dumb), but to not be able to buy apps with in-game purchases on apps.apple.com is a major flaw; that site should be agnostic since it is not specific to any device. Does anyone have any work arounds for this?

I don't want to go to the app store and log into the app store on a compatible mac to buy it, if that is even possible.

iPhone 13 mini

iPad Pro A-chip

iMac Pro (intel)

Macbook Air M2 (being repaired)

Posted on Nov 5, 2025 10:58 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

425,831 points

Nov 5, 2025 2:49 PM in response to blinky8u2

To put it a bit indelicately, Apple tends to stupid-proof this kind of thing. You can bet people would buy the wrong thing. While Apple could code something special in there to get the purchaser to confirm the purchase, you can bet many of them wouldn't even read it (I know because after years of being on this forum we see many, many posts daily because people did not read something right in front of them). It would also be a question of is it worth the time paying a coder to do that for what is probably an exceedingly small number of users in this situation. Still, if you want to suggest it to Apple, click on this link for Apple products feedback links --> Product Feedback - Apple

Apple may not respond but your comment will be read.

If you could find a compatible Mac and somebody created a user account for you where you could sign in with your Apple Account, that would work.

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