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I am trying to update software on a Macbook. Before doing so, apparently I have to "Sign in to download from the App Store." It provides me with a form asking for an Apple ID and password to do so.

However, the Apple ID field already has an Apple ID in it, which is not the one I wish to use, and the field is disabled, so I can't change it.

Why is the field disabled? How do I enable it so I can change the Apple ID to sign in with?

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    Have you tried signing out of the store from the menu->store->sign out? Jul 30, 2013 at 14:30

3 Answers 3

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Shane Hsu's answer is correct, but there is also another way to do it if you don't want to delete the app: There is one file for each app that contains the "receipt" for that app's previous download from the Mac App Store. The file is named receipt. Here is how to find it and move it to a different location, so that the Mac App Store will allow you to enter a different Apple ID:

Find the app in your /Applications directory:

iPhoto

Right-click, and choose "Show Package Contents":

Show Package Contents

In the new window that has opened, double-click the Contents folder to go into that folder.

You will now probably see a folder named _MASReceipt. "MAS" stands for "Mac App Store." It should have a file inside of it named receipt:

receipt

Move the _MASReceipt folder to the trash:

Move to trash

Now, close the Mac App Store and then launch it again. Hopefully, at this point, when you try to update the app, its Apple ID field will be empty.

If this doesn't work, you will probably want to put the _MASReceipt folder back, by opening the Trash:

Put back

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  • I did what you recommended and now I get another alert This update is not available for this Apple ID either because it was bought by a different user or the item was refunded or cancelled.. Is there anyway to bypass that?
    – chepukha
    Oct 16, 2015 at 15:23
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It is disabled because each app downloaded from App Store has a receipt that links to one specific account.

And that app you wish to update is linked to the account that is already filled in for you.

If you wish to update the app with another account (assuming the app is purchased on both account), you will have to first delete the app, and install again.

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    what about apple default apps. Can't delete 'em. Sep 15, 2014 at 8:53
  • This is not the proper answer, see @Mike Morearty's response below. May 21, 2015 at 16:54
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What Mike Morearty said above is correct, but as chepukha said, you do get the This update is not available for this Apple ID either because it was bought by a different user or the item was refunded or cancelled error.

The way around this is to do a fresh install. So go into Applications and delete the apps you were having the issues with (in my case I had to delete the receipt file for both Slack and XCode), and then go delete both of those from Applications.

Once you do that you can do a fresh install from the App store

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