Most of the Apple apps that come with a new Mac were installed as part of the Mac operating system (macOS). These include apps such as Safari, Messages, Mail, Calendar, Photos, and FaceTime. To update them, install the latest macOS updates.
To update preinstalled apps that aren't part of macOS, you might first need to accept those apps in the App Store:
- Open the App Store app on your Mac.
- If you're using macOS Mojave, click the sign-in button
or your photo at the bottom of the sidebar. If you're using an earlier version of macOS, click the Purchases tab at the top of the window. You might be asked to sign in with your Apple ID. - If you have any unaccepted apps, the App Store should now show an Accept button, followed by a list of those apps. Click the Accept button. You might be asked to sign in again with your Apple ID.
You can now use the Updates tab of the App Store to check for updates to each app you accepted, as well as any apps you downloaded from the App Store. You can also redownload your apps, if necessary.
If you still see an error
If you accepted the apps and you still see an error when you update, here's what to do.
- Open the App Store on your Mac. Keep the App Store open until you finish these steps.
- Make sure that you're signed in with your Apple ID. If you see the sign-in button at the bottom of the sidebar, click it and sign in. (If you see your name or photo in the sidebar, you're already signed in.)
- From the Finder menu bar, choose Go > Applications. The Applications folder opens.
- Drag the apps that you want to update from this list of applications to the Trash in your Dock. Enter your system password if prompted.
- In the App Store, click your name or photo at the bottom of the sidebar. Click the download button
for the apps that you want to update. If you don’t see the apps in your Purchased list, search for each app and click Get.