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I need to update Numbers, Pages and Keynote on macOS 10.15.7 but I do not have an Apple ID. Is it possible to update macOS without Apple ID? has an answer which is insufficient for me and is closed so it cannot receive any further answers.

Most important thing to remember is that a user only needs the Mac App Store to download the installer, which downloads the update to the machine.

You can also download the installer from the Web by visiting this link on Apple Support website.

If I go to that download site and type "installer" in the bar no results are found.

not found

So I am stuck.

Question: How can I download and install updates to these Apple apps in this macOS without an Apple ID? Can I download the installer? If so, from where exactly?

Note: I just want to update the three Numbers, Pages and Keynote

need to download some of these

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The linked question bypasses the App Store, because merely owning a Mac entitles you to macOS. You can also get any of these through Software Update in the Control Panel. You'll note you can only get delta & combo updaters there, not entire installers for the whole OS - for that you need the App Store, or to boot from Recovery.

To update any app from the App Store, first you need to be signed in to the Apple ID that "purchased" it, even if that purchase was free, or it came pre-loaded on the Mac. The only exception I can think of to this might be Safari, which seems to come through the Software Update channel rather than the App Store.

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    I'm having problems understanding this but it's a deficit on my part. This is a new 2020 MacBook Air and these three apps always come preloaded on computers. I purchased this at an Apple store. At no time was an Apple ID used in this transaction. Are you saying that Apple will not provide updates to this preinstalled software without an Apple ID? (Specifically I"m trying to parse what "the Apple ID that "purchased" it, even if... it came pre-loaded on the Mac." means)
    – uhoh
    Commented Nov 23, 2020 at 7:19
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    Correct, yes. An Apple ID is used to identify the owner, of both the Mac itself & the software on it. Apple makes no provision for people who want to avoid having an Apple ID. By not having one you are essentially locking yourself out of most of the services Apple offer.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Nov 23, 2020 at 7:22
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    Not until you create an Apple ID. The machine belongs to whoever's name is on the receipt, but that's no practical use unless you take it to a physical Apple Store. For any electronic transaction, the 'proof' of you being you is your Apple ID.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Nov 23, 2020 at 7:24
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    Wow, we're making heavy weather of this simple issue. You bought the Mac. You own the Mac, the receipt says you do. However, as far as Apple (online) are concerned it doesn't yet belong to anyone because it is not associated with an Apple ID. Without that association you cannot buy, install or update apps from the app store. The ones that came with it are a courtesy. They will be yours as soon as you associate them with an Apple ID. Until you do, they're not yours so you can't update them.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Nov 23, 2020 at 13:40
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    Okay that's a precise answer to most of my question, and now we need to establish that the highly upvoted answer about the downloader is wrong. I'll bring that up separately in meta when I get to a keyboard. Thanks for your patience!
    – uhoh
    Commented Nov 23, 2020 at 13:47

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