How can I locate and install legacy version of Pages on my Mac mini?

Question

How can I locate and install legacy version of Pages on my Mac mini?

Years ago I created dozens of files for support of a hobby. Now I would like to resume this hobby but most of the file is not displaying because " This Pages document may look different. It was edited in an older version of Pages. Here's what changed when you opened it. Tables in headers and footers were removed."

I know the "proper" way to address this is to create the tables per current standards. But I don't remember all the information and formatting. This doesn't require the latest and flashiest version of Pages. I would like to locate and install my previous version of Pages (warts and all). I don't see a version number but Catalina tells me the file was last modified on 13 Sep 2010.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: need to locate and install legacy version of Pages

Mac mini, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jun 2, 2025 11:35 AM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

120,611 points

Jun 2, 2025 1:02 PM in response to drakslamarer152

iWork '08 and iWork '09 applications, as 32-bit applications, were last supported on macOS Mojave 10.14.6. These documents have a different internal structure than Pages versions introduced in Fall 2013 through present. Since Pages in 2013 was a total rewrite not based on the earlier Pages versions, not all features of those old documents are supported in the new Pages document architecture.

After opening these older documents in the newer Pages documents, any attempt at changing content with cause Pages to convert the documents to the new document format. This cannot be undone, so caveat emptor about not doing this on original documents, but copies.

If you installed Pages since Oct 2013, and it was not preinstalled by Apple or a third-party reseller, then you can get the last compatible version of Pages for the operating system that you are on now.

Launch the Mac App Store, sign in with the same Apple ID that you used to previously install Pages. Now, press cmd+0 (zero) to open the Purchased page. If Pages is shown there, there should be some obvious sign that you can download it. There may be one or more dialogs presented with the final one asking you if you want to install the last compatible version of Pages (e.g. 11.1) for macOS Catalina. Do not click Cancel on these dialogs and you will install Pages on Catalina.

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Answer 2

muguy

Level 10

88,166 points

Jun 2, 2025 11:44 AM in response to drakslamarer152

Only the most recent version for your device can be installed.

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