App Store prompts for ancient user ID when downloading apps on Mac mini

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Level 1

4 points

App Store prompts for ancient user ID when downloading apps on Mac mini

Many years ago when I first owned an iPad I registered as a user under one particular email address (for the sake of this question let's call it fred@fred.com)

Now even though i am signed in under my current Apple account name (e.g. mycurrent@current.com), when it comes to downloading an app from the App Store onto my mac mini 4, when I select to install the app it presents a login screen using the ancient fred@fred.com account user id.

When I check my account settings on the App store it shows that I am logged in using the current 'mycurrent@current.com' account name.

What's going on? I cant find a way of getting around this, and for the moment I'm blocked from downloading apps.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Can't download app from App Store because its asking for a password on an ancient user id

Mac mini, macOS 15.6

Posted on Oct 11, 2025 3:36 PM

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Answer 1

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Chattanoogan

Level 7

32,078 points

Oct 11, 2025 3:50 PM in response to Davout-Towyi

The app is “keyed” to the Apple Account (previously known as AppleID) used for the initial download and install.

(This never changes unless the Apple Account is “changed” via the Apple-prescribed change process … which your’s - presumably - was not)

Your option is to delete the app and download / re-install w/ your current Apple Account.

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Answer 2

Oct 12, 2025 5:49 AM in response to Davout-Towyi

Well … “avoidance” of the problem would have been to change the Apple Account identifying eMail as Apple intended and as described here:

Change your Apple Account primary email address - Apple Support

But if that procedure was not performed …

”… solution appears to be to go to every app, check its info, and if it is linked with the old account, then delete/uninstall it … “

That is unfortunately correct.

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Answer 3

Davout-Towyi Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 12, 2025 12:34 AM in response to Chattanoogan

I was attempting to download/install an app that I had not installed before. Reading elsewhere, it seems that as part of the new machine/new user configuration the process will install apps that were previoiusly linked to an account. What I don't get is how my old account is linked to this new account.

The solution appears to be to go to every app, check its info, and if it is linked with the old account, then delete/uninstall it.

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