Can't move files - creates alias instead

If you hold the Command key down while moving, it will override the "Make Alias" automation and move the file instead. I don't know of any way to turn this "feature" off permanently, unfortunately, so you will have to hold Command each time you want to move a file of any type out of the Applications folder (or sub-folders).

Please give more details on what you are copying from and what you are copying to.

What are the permissions on the parent folder and file (Finder -> select parent folder -> Finder -> File -> Get Info)

Do you own the files or folder you are trying to move and to you own the destination folder?

Is the destination in the same file system or to an external disk or network mounted volume?

This doesn't seem to work with Yosemite, at least not quite. When I hold Command while clicking on a file to move it, I seem to get a copy of the file at the destination. The original appears to stay where it was. I guess I could then move the "original" to the trash, but it doesn't feel like I've move it.

I have the same problem. When I try to move any file or folder, it just makes a copy. I can't figure out how to just move a file or folder. It is really ridiculous that such a simple action is so frustrating.

I am the only admin on both devices. The destination is a network drive (MyBookLive). I am able to move files there with no problems from my PC. This is my first Macbook and it is not giving me any option other than copy.

VirtualPlay -

I found your answer elsewhere, but I like reinforcing my understanding, since I had a related issue with an update file getting deleted without it being specified to be deleted, so I'm going to rerun the process to be triple sure it wasn't an alias.

I'm curious, did you ever find find the way to turn this "feature" off permanently?

Are you moving to a different file system (perhaps on an external disk or a network mounted file system)? If that is the case, then it will always be a copy, not a move.

DenverEric -

Been there too! Welcome to macOS! As a Windows power user, I feel the same way every day with subtle things like this. It grows tiresome quickly.