Installed apps not working.

Question

Level 1

4 points

Installed apps not working.

Hi, I have been a Mac user for the last 10 years or so and am familiar with the process of installing a downloaded app from a .dmg image. You mount it, and then you drag the app into the application folder. Easy.

However, I have found that some apps, after being dragged into the application folder, will not run as the OSX still thinks that I am running it from the mounted disk. Error message varies but go along the line of:

An error occured. You cannot start XXXXX from the mounted disk. Please drag and drop XXXXX app to your "Applications" folder and then start it from there.)

More over, LIttle Snitch(a network monitoring app) have advised that it cannot setup certain apps properly:

"The application is running in App Translocation, a macOS security mechanism for apps that are not properly installed. You cannot create permanent rules until you move the application to the Applications folder and launch it from there."

I have tried rebooting, deleting and reinstalling the app, redownloading app...etc.

Is anyone aware of a fix? Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!

I am running:
macOS Sierra

V 10.12.5

MacBook Pro (15inch, Mid 2012)

Processor: 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7

Memory 16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

MacBook Pro, macOS Sierra (10.12.5)

Posted on Oct 23, 2017 8:51 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 17, 2017 5:22 PM in response to John Galt

Resolved in my case. I even had the same problem, even with Little Snitch's warning. I'm on HighSierra10.13.1. I was able to solve it like this: 1 Uninstalled with free appcleaner, I rounded the uninstaller itself application to ensure. 2 I deleted everything that had the application name inside Little Snitch Configuration. 3 I decompressed the installer into Applications, removed the compressed file, and rode the installation normally. Worked perfectly. From now on Little Snitch's first message has already allowed me to choose the Deny Forever option.

I hope it helps. Translated into Google, my English is bad.

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

161,832 points

Oct 23, 2017 9:18 AM in response to Kwan Chan

Applications requires Admin-level authentication to modify, so if you are not getting that dialog something else is wrong. It may be worthwhile to update macOS for that reason alone.

Obviously if the app is not present in /Applications, or if what you created in Applications is an alias of the real app, the error message you describe will appear. To eliminate all doubt hold an option key when dragging the app icon from the mounted disk to the Applications folder. That will create a copy and not an alias.

I mention Little Snitch because you should constrain troubleshooting to one item at a time. The two problems may or may not be related. In any event you should contact its developer for support. I don't use such things and can't help with it.

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Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

161,832 points

Oct 23, 2017 8:59 AM in response to Kwan Chan

You mount it, and then you drag the app into the application folder. Easy.

When you do that, does the authentication prompt appear (it should)?

Can't you just unmount the mounted disk?

I can't help with Little Snitch.

macOS Sierra

V 10.12.5

I believe macOS 10.12.6 is the latest Sierra version. To learn how to update macOS please read How to update the software on your Mac - Apple Support.

Memory 16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

That's not a supported memory configuration. To learn how to install memory please follow the Memory Upgrade Instructions in the  (Apple menu) > About This Mac > Memory.

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Answer 4

Kwan Chan Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 23, 2017 9:09 AM in response to John Galt

Thankyou for the reply. 🙂

No, now that you have mentioned it, the OS did not ask for authentication. I have put it down to the app being copied is an update of the same app.

I was posting the Little Snitch information there as I feel that the error message does suggest that other apps which I have also copied to the application folder has not been recognized by OS as having been "installed" properly. These apps may be able to run from a mounted image, yet the system still thinks they have not been copied to the application folder.

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Answer 5

Kwan Chan Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 23, 2017 9:36 AM in response to John Galt

Have just tried copying with Option drag again. Same thing. 😟

I have unmounted the dmg before running anyway so an orphaned alias would have shown some sort of a missing link error message I would imagine?

I am logged in with the admin(the only) account. More than a little hesitant in upgrading as many of my apps may not have been updated to run properly in High Sierra yet.

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Answer 6

John Galt

Level 10

161,832 points

Oct 23, 2017 9:54 AM in response to Kwan Chan

I have unmounted the dmg before running anyway so an orphaned alias would have shown some sort of a missing link error message I would imagine?

Yes. It's not making any sense to me.

I didn't suggest upgrading. I suggested keeping macOS updated. Read the Support document I provided. Excerpt:

"To check for Mac software updates, open the App Store app on your Mac. Click Updates in the App Store toolbar, then use the Update buttons to download and install any updates listed."

Maybe Little Snitch is causing the trouble. I wouldn't know.

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