Table of Contents
Introduction to the Problem
The error message "This item is temporarily unavailable" is a common issue experienced by many Mac users. This error occurs when a user attempts to download software or applications from the Apple App Store, but the process is abruptly interrupted or fails completely. As a result, instead of completing the download, the user is presented with the error message, "This Item Is Temporarily Unavailable".
The error signifies that your Mac is experiencing trouble connecting with Apple's servers, which are responsible for providing the downloadable content. The reasons for this failure can range from issues with Apple's servers, software glitches, to problems with user's Apple ID or Internet connection. This error is particularly frustrating for the user since it hampers the download process and restricts access to potentially crucial software or apps.
Explanation of the “This Item Is Temporarily Unavailable” Error
Basically, this error message often pops up when the server hosting the item you are trying to download on your Mac is currently busy or under maintenance. Normally, this means that the specific software or application you are trying to download can not be accessed at the moment. This prevents the download and installation of Applications, Software updates or Mac OS versions launched via the App Store. This error message may vary slightly depending on your OS X version. However, the underlying problem is the same.
Situations When The Error Might Occur
This error tends to occur when users attempt to download software or applications from the App Store. It is commonly seen when users are trying to reinstall macOS or iOS on a device that has been previously linked with a different Apple ID. The error can also occur if there has been a recent change in Apple ID and the system has not been updated to reflect this change.
Moreover, it can show up when trying to install updates or during general software downloads, especially when Apple's servers are under high demand or undergoing maintenance. Ultimately, while the error is most common during software downloads and Mac OS installations, it can occur anytime your Mac attempts to establish a connection with Apple's servers for downloading or updating Apps, Software or the OS.
Preliminary Solutions
In order to troubleshoot the 'This item is temporarily unavailable' issue on your Mac, there are a couple of preliminary actions that you can perform. These actions involve examining your Apple ID to verify that it is correct, and ensuring that you are duly logged in to iCloud and the macOS installation process.
Check Apple ID: Ensuring Correct Apple ID Is In Use
Your Apple ID is an integral part of the Apple ecosystem and is necessary to download items from the App Store. An incorrect or non-associated Apple ID may lead to the occurrence of the 'This Item is Temporarily Unavailable' error. Follow these steps to ensure the correct Apple ID is being used:
- Check if your Apple ID is indeed associated with your MacBook.
- If you’re attempting to install a new version of Mac OS X and encounter the error, it might be because the Apple ID being used is incorrect.
- To confirm if you’re using the right Apple ID, you would need to sign out and then sign in again with the correct Apple ID in the App Store
- Upon doing this, try to download or install the software or application again.
Sign-in: Logging in to iCloud and into the macOS Installation
Another potential fix to this issue is to ensure you have logged in to your iCloud account. Missing to do so can result in the error. Follow these steps to do the same:
- Go to macOS Utilities then highlight the 'Get Help Online' option.
- Click 'Continue' to open Safari, and visit the official iCloud webpage.
- Sign in to your iCloud account by entering your Apple ID and password.
- Return to the installation window and input the same Apple ID you used to sign into iCloud.
- Try to proceed with the installation process again.
By ensuring the right Apple ID is in use and appropriately logging in to iCloud, these preliminary measures can help in solving the 'This item is temporarily unavailable' error on your Mac.
Troubleshooting Steps if Preliminary Solutions Fail
Since the 'This item is temporarily unavailable' error on Mac can result from various issues, sometimes executing the preliminary solutions might not solve the issue. In such cases, you can follow additional troubleshooting steps such as correcting date and time settings, and removing unnecessary system junk from your Mac.
Correct Date and Time: Fixing Incorrect Date and Time Settings
An incorrect system time and date might lead to various errors including the 'This item is temporarily unavailable' error. Ensuring the accuracy of your Mac's system time and date settings might solve the issue. Follow the steps below to adjust the settings:
- Press Command + Space to open Spotlight Search.
- Type in 'System Preferences' and press enter to open it. Then click on 'Date & Time'.
- In the Date and Time settings, uncheck the 'Set date and time automatically' option.
- Manually input the correct date and time, and then click 'Save' to apply the changes.
- Try the installation or download process again to see if the error persists.
Keep in mind that you can also use Terminal on Mac to manually adjust the date and time. To do this, open Terminal from macOS Utilities, then use the 'date' command to set system date and time.
Erase System Junk: Removing Unnecessary System Junk from the Mac
Built-up system junk can be another cause for the 'This item is temporarily unavailable' error. Hence, cleansing your Mac of unwanted files, cache data, and other junk can potentially resolve the issue.
There are many ways to remove system junk. You can start by emptying your trash bin, deleting unnecessary files and apps from your device. Furthermore, you may also consider using a third-party system cleaning tool or Mac's own built-in features to perform a deeper cleanup.
By rectifying the date and time settings and clearing system junk, you may effectively troubleshoot the problem if the preliminary solutions fail to rectify the 'This item is temporarily unavailable' error on your Mac.
Last Resort Solution
If you've tried all of the above solutions to no avail, a final resort to fix the 'This Item is Temporarily Unavailable' error on Mac is to delete your Mac's hard drive (HD) partition and then reinstall the macOS.
Delete HD Partition: Steps to Delete Mac’s HD Partition
To delete the Mac's HD partition, you'll need to follow the steps below:
- Ensure you have a stable internet connection, as you might need it to download the macOS later.
- Restart your Mac and upon hearing the startup sound, press and hold the Command + R keys until the macOS Utilities menu appears.
- Within macOS Utilities, select 'Disk Utility' and click 'Continue'.
- Click the 'View' button at the top left corner of Disk Utility, then choose 'Show all devices'.
- Click on 'Macintosh HD', then select 'Erase' to delete the partition.
- Ensure that you have a backup of your data before conducting this operation, as it will erase all data on the Macintosh HD partition.
Reinstalling the macOS After Erasing Partition
After deleting your Mac's HD partition, you can reinstall macOS by following these steps:
- Restart your Mac and immediately press and hold the Command + Option + R keys.
- Release the keys when you see a spinning globe. This signals that your Mac is currently downloading macOS.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to commence with the reinstallation of macOS.
Through deleting your Mac's HD partition and reinstalling macOS, your Mac should ideally operate as fresh, overcoming any 'This Item is Temporarily Unavailable' errors caused due to system-related issues.
