Why is it that when i try to update something on apple store it doesn't let me

Solution 1:

This happens mostly when you get an app purchased from another person installed on your Mac. It could also be a result of a severely broken install.

• do you have a back up of your Mac? If so you’re set to do an erase install and before you reinstall anything, sign in to the App Store and test redownloading everything to ensure your store account is clean.

If not, you could do a smaller test by deleting the app rather than update it. Then redownload it to test.

In any case, this might need Apple support since only they can review your purchase history and see why the servers might have your account confused if you don’t think you mixed apps from the other accounts on your system.

This mixing of accounts often happens in schools and businesses where they don’t have an MDM to push updates and just used one account to get started. Be sure you check with your support team if this is the case before erasing, but do get a backup of your files in any case.