Discontinued Apple Software Returns to 'Purchased' Tab in Mac App Store

OS X El Capitan LogoEarlier today, we noted Apple had recently removed older versions of OS X and other discontinued software from the Purchased tab of the Mac App Store for users who had previously purchased or downloaded them. The apps, which included Aperture, iPhoto, OS X Lion, OS X Mountain Lion and OS X Mavericks, have now returned to the Purchased tab.

The disappearance of the ability to re-download older software irked users, with some calling the action "user hostile." It's unclear if Apple pulled the software intentionally or whether the Mac App Store experienced a temporary bug in advance of the availability of OS X El Capitan. However, the software was unavailable for several days before returning tonight.

Only one of the apps, Aperture, will continue to be compatible with OS X El Capitan.

Update: As noted by several readers, some discontinued software including Logic Pro 9 and older versions of OS X Server remain unavailable for re-download from the Purchased tab.

Thanks, Matthew!

Popular Stories

Golden Apple Logo

Every Apple Secret That Leaked Wednesday

Thursday August 14, 2025 4:13 am PDT by
Apple made a major slip Wednesday when it accidentally included hardware identifiers in software code linking to numerous unannounced products. The leaked information provided MacRumors with concrete evidence of Apple's hardware development across multiple product categories. Here's everything that was confirmed through the code discoveries: New HomePod mini with updated chip – New...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Pro to Start at $1,049 With Doubled Base Storage

Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro will have a starting price that is $50 more than the iPhone 16 Pro but it will come with a minimum 256GB of storage, doubling the base capacity compared to last year's model. The information comes from Chinese leaker Instant Digital, posting on Weibo. The account, which has 1.5 million followers, has now made the claim three separate times in recent weeks....
iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

Alleged iPhone 17 Pro Chassis Offers First Look at All-Aluminum Body

Thursday August 14, 2025 3:40 am PDT by
An alleged iPhone 17 Pro production leak may provide a first look at the device's milled all-aluminum chassis, which this year includes the camera bump – in contrast to last year's iPhone 16 Pro model that features a glass camera module attached to an all-glass back panel. Originally shared by leaker Majin Bu, the image below could be of a moulding, but it still lines up with rumors that...
iPhone 17 Pro Feature Dual

When Will Apple Announce the iPhone 17 Event?

Tuesday August 12, 2025 12:46 pm PDT by
It is now mid-August, meaning that Apple's annual iPhone event is just around the corner. This year, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17, the all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Here are some of the key rumors for those devices:iPhone 17: Same design as iPhone 16, but with an A19 chip, a larger 6.3-inch display, an upgraded 24-megapixel front camera, ...
maxresdefault

Top 5 Features Coming to the Apple Watch Ultra 3

Tuesday August 12, 2025 11:48 am PDT by
We're just about a month away from Apple's annual September event, and we're going to get a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time since 2023. There are some useful new features rumored for the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which we've summarized below. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Satellite Connectivity - The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be the first...
Apple TV 2025 Thumb 2

New Apple TV Coming Later This Year With A17 Pro Chip

Wednesday August 13, 2025 5:29 pm PDT by
Rumors suggest that Apple is working on an updated version of the Apple TV that's slated for launch later this year. Information about the upcoming device that was found in Apple code indicates that it will be equipped with the A17 Pro chip. There have been multiple rumors about a new Apple TV coming in 2025 with a new A-series processor, but it hasn't been clear which chip Apple would use...
Generic iOS 18

Apple Says iOS 18.6.1 is Coming Today

Thursday August 14, 2025 7:29 am PDT by
In case you missed it — this is the post for people who mainly only read headlines — Apple has announced that it will be releasing iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 later today. Apple shared this information in a press release on its Newsroom website. The software updates will re-enable the Blood Oxygen feature on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 models sold in the United States....
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Max's Internal Design With Metal Battery Allegedly Leaks

Friday August 15, 2025 9:13 am PDT by
Alleged images of the iPhone 17 Pro Max's internal design have surfaced, offering a potential look inside the device before it is announced by Apple next month. The images were shared by the account "yeux1122" this week, in a blog post on the Korean platform Naver. The account aggregates Apple rumors and leaks, so it is likely not the original source of the images, and it is unclear if they...
ios 26 liquid glass lock screen beta 6

Apple Changes Liquid Glass Again in iOS 26 Beta 6

Monday August 11, 2025 12:09 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to tweak the way that the Liquid Glass design looks ahead of the iOS 26 launch, and the latest beta makes a change to the Lock Screen. The Lock Screen clock has been updated with additional transparency, allowing more of the background to peek through. Beta 6 on left, beta 5 on right The clock also has more of a 3D, floating look, which is in line with the rest of the ...

Top Rated Comments

JXShine Avatar
129 months ago
User-hostile?

Please.

5GB of free iCloud storage is user-hostile.
Let's not forget the unapologetic 16GB storage on a phone that records 4K videos
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Xenomorph Avatar
129 months ago
There, now people can make backups of their software, and perhaps stop complaining when Apple finally takes down the stuff that was largely FREE to begin with.
Lion + Lion Server = $80

It wasn't free to me.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Porco Avatar
129 months ago
It doesn't mean Apple should provide the download link forever.
I think it kind of does. It should be understood as the unwritten quid pro quo of cloud-hosted software store purchases instead of physical media releases. Storage and bandwidth costs are on an ever-decreasing trend, and old software probably doesn't get downloaded all that often or place much of a burden on systems that are built for huge numbers of downloads. The only real reason for software to expire would be hubris or error. Apple should be fostering the idea that past purchases are safe and aren't going anywhere if they want people to trust in using them to obtain software. Or else we might as well purchase whatever we want elsewhere whenever possible and that 30% they get on apps can go to devs and/or our own storage costs.

I think individual app devs could use the 'it costs too much to keep all versions around' excuse in some cases, I don't think a massive company like Apple, with a self-styled 'store' can get away with not storing!
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vertsix Avatar
129 months ago
User-hostile?

Please.

5GB of free iCloud storage is user-hostile.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JXShine Avatar
129 months ago
Almost as arrogant as expecting perpetually hosted legacy software that you likely didn't buy anyway. GIMME GIMME GIMME, right?
Last time I checked, 3/5 softwares listed in the article were not free.
Yea I'm sure hosting those 5 applications is such a costly thing for Apple. Give me a break.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oldmacs Avatar
129 months ago
There, now people can make backups of their software, and perhaps stop complaining when Apple finally takes down the stuff that was largely FREE to begin with.
I paid for iPhoto, Lion and Mountain Lion thank you very much.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)