App Store thinks I need an Excel update but won't let me.

[Howard Brazee]

My Mac says there is an update to Microsoft Excel (yesterday it updated Outlook). But when I try to download it I get “Microsoft Excel cannot be updated because it was refunded or purchased with a different Apple ID.”—

I have a subscription and it updated my wife’s. Subscription belongs to (e-mail address removed) (my appleID is howardbrazee@mac.

I downloaded and ran the Microsoft update tool and it says everything’s up-to-date. So it's the App Store that's confused.

 

[Cory Cooper]

Hi,

If you purchased it from the App Store, you could try deleting the Excel application, then re-download from the App Store.

C

 

[Howard Brazee]

I'm not sure how I originally purchased it. I do know that a few years ago, I had to change to the subscription model, and I get my $100 taken from my checking account every February. I still have the first e-mail from Microsoft for the subscription.

 

[Cory Cooper]

If you downloaded Excel from the App Store, it will be in your Purchased section in the App Store app. It does offer in-app purchase subscriptions, so that should show in Store > View My Account > Subscriptions in the App Store app's menu bar.

I don't use Microsoft Office on my personal Macs, so I am not very familiar with their subscription model and how it works when purchased directly or via the App Store.

C

 

[Howard Brazee]

Interesting, When I went to App Store>View my account>Subscription Service, I saw Purchases by me and Purchases by my wife. The first time I went into purchases by me, it was empty. Then I went into my wife's purchases and saw a lot, including Microsoft Office applications. Then I went into my account and they were all there. Excel is the only one that says "Update". Word doesn't. I don't see anyplace to look up "Subscription Service".

 

[Cory Cooper]

In the Account Information window in the App Store , it will be in the Manage section with Nickname. You can click Manage to see what they are. Is this what you see:

C

 

[Howard Brazee]

Ahh, I found that screen. I had to log into my AppleID to see it. That AppleID doesn't see my subscription. I rebooted my Mac and went to that screen again to see if I could log in with my old AppleID. I was already logged on with my newer AppleID.

I logged into that screen on my wife's screen, her subscriptions are different from mine (but I access them via family sharing), but no Microsoft applications. This morning, I went to her computer and invited my old ID to family sharing. All day, I've been trying to accept, but I get the following:

 

[Cory Cooper]

OK, thanks.

I have never used Family Sharing, as it's only me in my household. Maybe something here will help:
-Apple - Set up Family Sharing
-How to fix the “Invalid Invitation” error in Family Sharing - On a Mac

C

 

[Howard Brazee]

I can *send* the invitation, the error comes from the receiving end, probably because my Mac doesn't recognize that ID. I went to my iPad and my iPhone and accepted the e-mail invitation, but haven't seen that that did anything, beyond putting me in the settings/Apple ID/iCloud window.