accountsmac-appstoremacossoftware-update
I have a new app update I cannot install. When I review my installed user I see my @mac.com address. When attempting to update Cobook, I'm prompted for my @gmail.com account. The strange parts are:
gmail account gmail address is configured as a verified alternative ID
I'm running OS X 10.10.1 which was upgraded from 10.9 through the beta up to here. I see a separate issue on lion that doesn't address my problem.
When you install Apps, you usually install them to the Applications Folder, which is accessible to all users, because it is in the ROOT directory, not just the users that installed them. You can create an Applications Folder in a User's Folder and keep them for just that user, but it usually is the first way I mentioned. That way when you make a new user on the fly, you don't have to install all those apps again, waisting space. Also, that way you don't lose apps that may have taken time to install that other users need and use.
Applications that are installed to a computer through the App Store are linked to an Apple ID that was used to Purchase/Download it. This is similar to iOS devices as well. If I download an app on another persons iPhone using my account, they need my account to update it.
So this means one of two things:
Either your wife bought iPhoto (Or which ever other App is in question) or when you bought the computer, registered iPhoto to her account.
When you buy a new mac, it comes with iLife, and iLife is now downloaded through the App Store. It will link those 3 Apps, to the Apple ID of your choosing so that if anything happens and you need to do a restore or something, you can download those apps you got for free again, no problem.
I had to do this when I bought my mid 2011 Mac Mini.
So she either purchased it or registered it to her account, and that is why it is still on the computer, because it is an App that can be accessed by any user that is on the machine, so it wouldn't have been deleted when she installed it/registered it. You will need her sign in and password in order to update it.
I hope that this information helps you out.
Contact Apple billing support and/or the place you purchased the Mac to see if they can assist with resolving the server side issue. The OS updates are tied to the serial number, but the iLife apps go through a redeem process where the hardware identifier and your Apple ID get bond together, and the Apple servers apparently think a different account is set up for those apps on your Mac.
I'm assuming you have no idea and don't recognize the other Apple ID and it wasn't just a case of you accidentally redeeming the applications. I'm also assuming you can sign into the account you intended to redeem these apps. At worst, Apple or the seller should be able to gift you the apps to the correct account so you can get updates going forward if you (or someone else trying to be helpful) has made a mistake.
Here is what a Mac should look like before you have "accepted" the iLife apps by opening the App Store App and signing in and choosing Purchases (command-4) from the menu bar.
Best Answer
If you are being prompted for another Apple ID when trying to download and update that means the app was originally purchased (downloaded) with that email address it is prompting you for.
In order to fix this, you must either continue to enter the password for the @gmail.com account to download future updates or re-purchase the application under your @mac.com email address.