Merging Two Applications Folders?

Question

Level 1

0 points

Merging Two Applications Folders?

Hello Support Community!

I apologise in advance for how complicated this may sound 😁

I am currently using an iMac 21.5" from Mid 2010 and I have noticed that there are two Applications folders on my Hard Drive.

The Applications directory shown on my Dock and on my sidebar contain all of the applications I use on a daily basis. However, this directory is located inside 'Macintosh HD' (shown below) and I have found it confusing when installing and uninstalling applications. Therefore I would prefer to be able to access my applications through my user directory instead...

However, another applications folder can be found inside my user directory (shown below, with a different icon) only contains two blank folders and one other folder containing an unused Application.

My question is, is it safe for me to merge the two Applications folders into one Applications folder in my user directory?

Previously, I've found meddling with folders temperamental and I have come across several problems when modifying and moving folders around. Therefore, that is why I came here and have shared my issue with the experts to find out the best way to conquer this question! 🙂

Thank you in advance,

Jammy 😎

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9), Intel, Mid 2010

Posted on Aug 11, 2014 11:11 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

743,597 points

Aug 11, 2014 11:13 AM in response to Jammy17

No, it's not. If you want, you can create aliases to the items in the /Applications/ folder and put those into the folder inside your home directory, but the applications themselves need to remain where they are(except for drag-installed ones).

(110817)

Reply

Answer 2

Jammy17 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 12, 2014 4:55 AM in response to Niel

Hi Niel,

Thank you very much for your reply, very helpful!

Just to clarify, if I were to move the Applications folder located in Macintosh HD and merged it with the one in my user directory, would that corrupt the applications in some way?

Also, I've just discovered two almost identical Library folders, again one is located in Macintosh HD and the other in my user directory. I do, however, believe that these Library folders should not be moved or merged because they contain very important files. So, I was just wondering, do all Macs have two Application folders and two Library folders? In other words, are they built to have two or does it occur after installing certain applications?

Many thanks,

Jammy

Reply

Answer 3

Aug 12, 2014 5:36 AM in response to Jammy17

Many Applications or their updaters are written with the assumption that the Application will be located in the main official /Applications folder i.e. the one at the top-level of your hard disk and not the one in your user folder.

You could do the reverse and move any Applications in your User Application folder into the main Application folder - that would be safe to do.

Other than that there is no harm to leave things as they are if everything is currently working, but do not move the built-in Applications like Mail out of the main Applications folder.

Reply

Answer 4

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

743,597 points

Aug 12, 2014 7:45 AM in response to Jammy17

1. They may expect resources to be in the Applications folder at the top level of the drive.

2. By default, there isn't an Applications folder in account home folders, but there are three Library folders initially.

(110847)

Reply