Drag TurboTax to Applications

I've dragged the TurboTax2021.dmg into the Applications alias or Applications folder but it does not complete with "your product is installed - enter serial number". The .dmg is sitting in Applications but when I double-click it, it asks to Drag TurboTax here (Applications) again.

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Apr 5, 2022 8:33 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 6, 2022 12:03 AM

The dmg file is a sort of container (technically called "disk image") which contains the real application you want to use:


See the contents of a disk image on Mac - Apple Support


Double click on it and it will open (technically it will be "mounted"). Copy the contained app from the dmg to your Application folder. After the application is copied you can launch it with a double click on it.


The mounted dmg can be unmounted (closed) by pressing the unmount symbol next to it appearing in the Finder sidebar.

6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 6, 2022 12:03 AM in response to lpha

The dmg file is a sort of container (technically called "disk image") which contains the real application you want to use:


See the contents of a disk image on Mac - Apple Support


Double click on it and it will open (technically it will be "mounted"). Copy the contained app from the dmg to your Application folder. After the application is copied you can launch it with a double click on it.


The mounted dmg can be unmounted (closed) by pressing the unmount symbol next to it appearing in the Finder sidebar.

Apr 6, 2022 5:37 AM in response to lpha

The dmg "container", regardless if it's stored on a CD or downloaded from internet on your Mac, has to be firstly opened through a double click on it.


Just to be clear: to open it means to access its contents to be copied in your Application folder. To some extent is similar to a ZIP archive.


This is a video I found quickly on YouTube is addressing the mentioned operation. It has nothing to do with TurboTax, of course. It's just an example of how a dmg file and its contents is handled:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khp8ihfiFZM


Basically, the steps are the following:


Double click on the dmg file -> Drag the showed contained app somewhere on your Mac (usually it's the Application folder) -> Double click on the just copied app in the Application folder to launch the app


Sometimes the dmg contains an installer rather than a ready to use app. In this case the installer is executed (again with a double click on it) to launch the installation process which installs the app following an automated procedure. When the installation is finished the usable app is found already copied on your Mac.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Drag TurboTax to Applications

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.