Mac – App Store thinks apps are installed

installmac-appstoresoftware-update

I had a few apps originally purchased through the App Store that got corrupted. I removed them with the intent of re-installing them from the App Store, but it seems that the App Store thinks they're still/already installed. The action button is disabled. I found How can I reinstall an application that the Mac App Store thinks is installed already? but the solution reported there didn't work for me.

The app doesn't exist in either /Applications or /Downloads. Do you have any idea about what I might be able to do to re-download the app?

Best Answer

Try the following steps in order:

  1. Quit the App Store
  2. Eject all disks (including any .dmg files you have mounted)
  3. Use Spotlight to search your hard drive for anything with a similar name to your application.
  4. If you find anything related to the application in question remove those files.
  5. Delete the file at ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.appstore.plist
  6. Delete the file at ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.appstore/Cache.db
  7. Delete the file at ~/Library/Cookies/com.apple.appstore.plist
  8. Delete the file at ~/Library/Cookies/Cookies.plist
  9. Open terminal and run this command: /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user
  10. Logout of your computer & log back in
  11. Reopen the Mac App Store
  12. Try to install the application again.
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