I'm running OS X 26.2 on an iMac, M3. When I click on the dock icon for Apps many of the icons are duplicated (or triplicated). When I go the the Applications directory in Finder, they are not. Any suggestions as to how to fix this?
I'm attaching a screen shot.
iMac 24″, macOS 26.2
I finally solved it. I hadn't realized that folders in the dock where added/removed via finder. Applications was listed in my favorites on finder. I right clicked on the folder with the duplicates, and removed it from the dock. I then went to finder and right clicked on Applications in favorites and added to dock. Now all the duplicates are gone. Somehow, when I migrated from Sequoia to Tahoe the innards of that folder weren't valid.
I finally solved it. I hadn't realized that folders in the dock where added/removed via finder. Applications was listed in my favorites on finder. I right clicked on the folder with the duplicates, and removed it from the dock. I then went to finder and right clicked on Applications in favorites and added to dock. Now all the duplicates are gone. Somehow, when I migrated from Sequoia to Tahoe the innards of that folder weren't valid.
Owl-53 wrote:
Have no duplications of applications nor the Apps app
The Apps App is what replaced Launchpad in Tahoe. Every installation of Tahoe has the Apps.app.
The duplication of apps in the Apps app, suggests corruption of the Spotlight index.
This can be rebuilt, but it can take some time.
click here ➜ Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support
VictorSMiller wrote:
I just checked. I searched the only external drive that isn't dedicated to Time Machine backups. There are no '.app' directories there.
Looking at your original post, it appears that the apps that are duplicated are the ones that come with the MacOS. The apps that are downloaded and installed later by the user are not duplicated. I think this provides a clue -- such as, you could have a second MacOS installation somewhere on your Mac or in a drive attached to your Mac. This might be a bare MacOS installation without any non-Apple apps yet installed.
What is the history of your Mac and when/how you installed the MacOS?
So I would tend to agree with Luis and Etresoft, those duplicate icons are in fact telling you that you do have an additional copy of those Apple apps (note that only the Apple-supplied ones are duplicated) somewhere that is being indexed.
VictorSMiller wrote:
I ran Etrecheck and looked at the full report. It made no mention of spotlight.
Perhaps you don't have the most recent version. I just added Spotlight reporting in version 6.8.13.
However, I don't think a corrupt spotlight index is the cause. I think your spotlight index is running just fine, and correctly reporting what is referenced here:
Luis Sequeira wrote:
This usually indicates that you have other copies of those applications, perhaps in an attached external drive.
Worst case scenario
Start Over from Scratch
Heavy Handed ? - Yes
Effective ? - Yes
For Apple Silicon computer >> Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.
Always make a Time Machine Backup before proceeding
Emphasis on User Account Only
If going this route - I suggest Not using Startup Assist to migrate everything back.
This will probably Re-Introduce ( any questionable Third Party Software ) back into the Operating System .
This usually indicates that you have other copies of those applications, perhaps in an attached external drive.
Phil0124 wrote:
Owl-53 wrote:
Thank you
The New Apple Apps is yes part of the new spotlight in Tahoe
On this we agree 👍
👍🏻
The same Apple Apps does appear on the Dock as well as in Finder >> Go >> Applications
As presented by OP using their method " When I click on the dock icon for Apps "
All I can say is on 1 M4 Desktop, 1 M4 Laptop and 1 M2 Desktop each with Tahoe 26.2, I fail to see the afore mentioned application
The Duplication issue
Perhaps your suggestion may work
The Apps app won't appear inside itself no. This lends further credence to the fact the Spotlight index is corrupted and just showing everything without filters and even duplicating them.
Thank you again 👍 👍
It begs the question Why the Spotlight indexing become corrupted in the first place
Not an easy one to answer without additional insights ? ie Etrecheck ?
The More Eyes on the Full Report the Better
There are 4 Categories of Third Party Software / Services that are not needed
Get rid of them via the Developers Instruction
In no special order
Third Party 2 Way Firewalls
Commercial VPNs
Third Party Security Software
Third Party Disk Cleaners / Optimizer
That last one is my favourite and often seen on the forums
CleanMyMac , aka “ BrickMyMac “
Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS, is an invitation for disaster.
Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a percentage on each sale.
What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase
To put the Third Party Disk Cleaner / Optimizer in context and the damages it may have or has already done.
This type of applications can or will Muck Up your User Account ( Home Folder ) of this machine.
It does not touch the Operating System itself unless you consider your User Account ( Home Folder ) as part of the Operating System.
The Operating System may be hosed
I don't see anything that looks like a duplicate boot setup. As you can see from the primary boot drive layout, it's pretty easy to identify. But you do have some external drives. Those could have copies on them.
Here's something you can try. Right click or control click on each copy of a particular app and choose "Show in Finder". One copy should be in Applications and the other should be somewhere else.
If I may ask
What is this " App Clea..taller " and how did the computer get the Apple " Apps.app " into this location
Running Tahoe 26.2 on a M4 Desktop
Have no duplications of applications nor the Apps app
Perhaps as you have the Etrecheck application already installed
If you choose to run the application and post the Full Report
It may or may not provide some insights ?
Owl-53 wrote:
Thank you
The New Apple Apps is yes part of the new spotlight in Tahoe
On this we agree 👍
👍🏻
The same Apple Apps does appear on the Dock as well as in Finder >> Go >> Applications
As presented by OP using their method " When I click on the dock icon for Apps "
All I can say is on 1 M4 Desktop, 1 M4 Laptop and 1 M2 Desktop each with Tahoe 26.2, I fail to see the afore mentioned application
The Duplication issue
Perhaps your suggestion may work
The Apps app won't appear inside itself no. This lends further credence to the fact the Spotlight index is corrupted and just showing everything without filters and even duplicating them.
Is it at all possible that com.nektony.App-Cleaner-SIII-Monitor " Best uninstaller and cleaning assistant for your Mac "
It has done more than what it was intended to do ?
Have never using any Third Party Uninstaller or Cleaning applications so can not speak from personal experiences
Thank you for the additional information.
Technically, in macOS 15 Sequoia, there was no App.app in the dock.
There was “Launchpad,” which, as we know, was removed in macOS 26 Tahoe .
The function of the now defunct Launchpad was integrated into Spotlight.
Perhaps this was an oversight on your part.
However, judging from all that is appearing in your question, it would seem that the issues of Spotlight that existed while in macOS 15 have somehow carried through into macOS 26.
Four things:
1. Under the current conditions and to test this, Finder >> Go > Applications. Are there duplication, triplicate lists of applications?
If not, it would seem reasonable to conclude that the Spotlight Index is indeed corrupted and needs to be rebuilt as suggested by Phil0124. 👍
2. After performing the above action and still no resolution regarding Apps.app in the dock producing the duplication, triplicate lists of applications.
3. Suggest you start over from scratch.
4 - As for the usage of PROSOFT recovery software If you have used or are using Time Machine Backup Utility you maybe able to Restore the Deleted Files
For future purposes
To truly protect your non replaceable Data
Have a 3-2-1 Rescue Plan in place and always current
3 Backups using 2 methods and 1 off site incase of natural disaster or un-natural disaster.
Each of the above should be done to a Dedicated Single Purposed External Drive
Below link is intended to augment what TM Backup does
Thank you
The New Apple Apps is yes part of the new spotlight in Tahoe
On this we agree 👍
The same Apple Apps does appear on the Dock as well as in Finder >> Go >> Applications
As presented by OP using their method " When I click on the dock icon for Apps "
All I can say is on 1 M4 Desktop, 1 M4 Laptop and 1 M2 Desktop each with Tahoe 26.2, I fail to see the afore mentioned application
The Duplication issue
Perhaps your suggestion may work
Attached is the Etrecheck report. My first mac was a macbook pro in 2009. Since then I've upgraded to 3 iMacs (including the current one slightly over a year ago). Each time I migrated all of my stuff. I can see, looking around in various directories, there are a bunch or really old files sitting around. When I runs the Apps.app I do *not* see any duplicated icons. If, as suggested, I have another copy of MacOs hiding somewhere, where should I look?
Duplicated Icons in Applications directory from dock.
