On April 13, Apple stopped providing downloads for the previous versions of Pages, Keynote, and Numbers. Instead, download the Creator Studio versions of the apps that are still free.
Apple's introduction of the Creator Studio brought with it new versions of the iWork suite to match. The new apps, designed to work better with the Creator Studio subscription, were provided while still allowing users to acquire the previous version of the apps.
However, as of April 13, 2026 and spotted by @Aaronp613 on X, users attempting to acquire Pages, Keynote, or Numbers for macOS or iPadOS will not be able to get the non-Creator Studio versions. Checking the App Store and the Mac App Store, only the updated Creator Studio editions are available, with the old versions not shown in searches.
As we've said before, removing the old apps to prevent new installations of the old versions isn't the only way Apple is persuading users to change which version they use.
A nudge to upgrade from Old Numbers to New Numbers
On opening the former versions of the apps, users are presented with a pop-up window, advising that the current 14.5 version of the app is out of date and to delete it. They're also shown a button to open the new version or to download it from the App Store, as well as a button to dismiss the message and to keep using the old app for the moment.
You don't need to subscribe
While this is Apple massaging users toward the Creator Studio subscription, it is worth remembering that Creator Studio is an entirely optional premium subscription. One that you don't need to sign up for to use the apps.
Aside from linking the new apps to the account, the updated iWork suite is still fundamentally free. The difference comes in with some elevated features for some of the apps, as well as a plethora of premium templates to use.
These apps still function perfectly fine if you don't have a Creator Studio subscription. You get a bit of a nudge to try out the free trial when creating a new document, but that's really it.
The removal of the old free versions may be panic-worthy for people unwilling to sign up for subscriptions. But really, there is little cause for alarm here.
