The Mac App Store won't let me update iMovie and iPhoto because it says i bought them under a different account

Question

I just bought this computer in August -- i have been the only one to use it, have only used it under my itunes/apple account. But ever since the first week or so that i've had it, i've had update available for iMovie and iPhoto that it won't let me use because it says i'm not signed into the account i bought them with.

Any fix to this problem?

Answer 1

Contact Apple billing support and/or the place you purchased the Mac to see if they can assist with resolving the server side issue. The OS updates are tied to the serial number, but the iLife apps go through a redeem process where the hardware identifier and your Apple ID get bond together, and the Apple servers apparently think a different account is set up for those apps on your Mac.

I'm assuming you have no idea and don't recognize the other Apple ID and it wasn't just a case of you accidentally redeeming the applications. I'm also assuming you can sign into the account you intended to redeem these apps. At worst, Apple or the seller should be able to gift you the apps to the correct account so you can get updates going forward if you (or someone else trying to be helpful) has made a mistake.

Here is what a Mac should look like before you have "accepted" the iLife apps by opening the App Store App and signing in and choosing Purchases (command-4) from the menu bar.

Answer 2

When you bought the computer, if you bought it from an Apple store and gave them an email address in the store, the apps might be under an account with that email, if it differs from your regular iTMS account.

I know when my brother bought his MacBook Pro in an Apple Store when MountainLion came out they assigned the ML download to the email he gave when he bought it. Just signed in and it updated for him.