Applications Folder permissions errors

I recently used Apple's Migration Assistant when doing a clean install of OS X on my system, and now I am having the following problem:
Whenever I drag an update of an application into my Macintosh HD/Applications folder I get the usual dialog box asking whether I really want to replace the file. After I confirm this action, a second error message appears informing me that I don't have sufficient permissions to complete the action.
I am able to manually move the apps to the trash and then empty the trash.
Any ideas?

On my system if I do a "Get Info" on the Applications folder it shows:
You can: Read & Write
Owner: system
Access: Read & Write
Group: admin
Access: Read & Write
Others: Read only
I've never changed it so I'm assuming those are the correct default permissions. Hope that helps.

Similar Messages

Why does my Applications Folder permissions not include me?

Added after posting (please still answer the original ?s if you have time): I just read the post about a similar situation in 2009. So, if I'm the only admin in the admin group, and the admin group has Read & Write access, why do I have to enter my password to make changes and/or why do I get error messages about lack of permissions?
OK. Got a new MacBook Pro. Ported over my stuff from the old one that died a horrible death (the battery was recognized as being installed, but no charge ability, lost all interactions with the internal hard drive and short term memory... worked after I removed the internal hard drive and started up via USB connection... short term memory stayed dead). Well, I'm getting error messages on my new MBP saying I do not have permissions to make changes to some documents and apps (kind of like my previous MBP just before it died so I'm a bit uncomfortable about that). I repaired permissions, no joy. I then changed the Document folder's permissions to make me sole Read & Write access, all others no access. I then changed the Apps folder to just add me with Read & Write access, no changes to existing access (system & admin Read & Write, everyone Read only). I stopped getting the error messages (knock-on-wood!). I just ran permissions repair and my "custom access" has been removed from the Apps folder. I'm fully expecting error messages and want to know why that access is set that way?
Also, my Apps are at the root level, not in my Home folder... is that why? Should I move my apps to my home folder? Nobody else is ever going to use this computer.
Thanks
BTW: please do not answer that I shouldn't change permissions. I am aware of that admonition. However, I bet the admonitor is not getting no-permissions error messages every day...
Message was edited by: John Gruver (OP) to correct spelling and add another/follow-up question

Your application folder is owned by the system. You do not need your user on the application folder. Only 3rd party applications installed by you will possibly have your user id in it.
More likely the problems you had were due to your home folder permissions. If you want to reset your home folder to default permissions, follow this:
Resetting the home folder permissions can resolve problems with your user account on your Mac.
Turn on the Mac whilst holding down cmd + R. You can let go once you see a spinning dial. You will then see the ”Mac OS X Utilities” screen.
On the top menu, click Utilities, then click Terminal.
Type resetpassword and press Enter.
Click on your main hard drive.
In the dropdown box under “Select the user account” make sure to select your username.
Underneath where it says “Reset Home Directory Permissions and ACLs”, click the Reset button.
Press cmd + Q to quit the Reset Password application.
Press cmd + Q again to quit the Terminal.
Press cmd + Q one more time and click Restart.
Click Mac OS X Utilities in the top left of the screen and click the Restart button.

Applications Folder Permissions Problem

I did a maverick clean install.
Everything seemed fine but now a few days later...
I am constantly told I have to authenticate
and this morning if I try and take anything out of app folder
I am told I don't have permission to do this.
suggestions?
can you be a little more specific.What are you doing when it asks to athenticate? For the Applications folder, that is normal, but... what are you moving and to where
For ten years, because I deal with a lot of apps
I have kept folders in my apps folder called:
- Archive (When an app is never getting used but it's not time yet to get rid of it...
the app goes in there.)
- A/V Apps
- Mind Map Apps
- 3rd Party Utilities
- Online Marketing Apps
- Social Networking Apps
However, since installing Mavericks...
If I try and drop an app in any of these folders...
I am not even asked to authenticate.
I am just told I don't have permission to perform this task.
When I get info on these folders...
- Apps Folder: admin R/W
- Archive: admin read only
- A/V Apps: admin read only
- Mind Map Apps: admin read only
- 3rd Party Utilities: admin R/W
- Online Marketing Apps: admin R/W
- Social Networking Apps: admin read only
1. I can't unlock the get info permissions window on any of these folders.
2. If I try to drag an item from one admin R/W folder to another admin R/W folder...
I am told I don't have permission to perform this task.
3. If I drag an item from any of these folders into the Apps folder, no problem.
At this moment, this problem seems isolated to the apps folder.
I can drag and drop without problem everywhere else.
Has the permissions structure of the Apps folder
radically changed with Mavericks?

Your ACLs have gone awry and need to repair your OS X installation. Use the Recovery Mode and reinstall OS X on top of your install and it should correct the errors.
I too have nested folders in my Applications folder and the structure migrated over from Snow Leopard to Mavericks intact. See picture below.
On a day to day basis I use my Mac as a standard user, which does not have permissions to modify the Apllications folder or its contents. However, when I install, move, trash or replace an App, Mavericks prompts me for an Admin user name and password.
When I 'move' an App from one Application nested folder to another, it 'Copies' it after authentication; hence I have to delete the original (once again after authenticating with an Admin name and password).
Now when I am logged into an Administrator account (which I rarely do), I can install, copy, move and delete Apps and folders at will without further authentication.
The above behaviour works as expected. Below is a pic of the permissions of my Applications folder. All enclosed items inherit the same permissions.

10.5.8 Applications folder permissions problem

Hi all,
I'm running 10.5.8 on a MacPro.
Somewhere between 22 September and the 29 September, something on my computer changed the permissions on my applications folder after doing a apple or software update. (I found out the change using time machine)
They are now
System read & write
wheel Read only
everyone Read only
Because of this I need to enter my password to do any app upgrades, replacements or deletions.
Doing a repair permissions doesn't fix it.
I did a STFW and have done the following
running
ls -Olde@ /Applications
gives me
drwxr-xr-x+ 235 root wheel – 7990 10 Nov 00:54 /Applications
0: group:everyone deny delet
runnning
sudo chmod 775 /Applications
sudo chgrp admin /Applications
This put the Applications folder back to
System read & write
Admin Read & write
everyone Read only
but if I run repair permissions, it will put it back to "wheel read only".
This is starting to give me all sorts of other problems now. Installing a new app will put the wrong groups on the app the give me a few problems till I add Admin to the app.
I don't know what to try now.
Any Ideas?

System read & write
wheel Read only
everyone Read only
There have been a number of reports of this. The cause is still unclear, though an iTunes 10 update has been suspected - see this thread:
*Applications folder owner & permissions*
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2580261
if I run repair permissions, it will put it back to "wheel read only".
I think you are the first to document this, though others have reported that repairing permissions did not fix an already-existing problem. Something must be messed up in the installer receipts.
Somewhere between 22 September and the 29 September, something on my
computer changed the permissions on my applications folder after doing
a apple or software update.
Can you further pin down what else might have changed in your system at this time? You can get a dated history of installed software via System Preferences>Software Update, and Time Machine might give further clues.
In terms of trying to fix it, I guess you could try downloading and re-running the stand-alone versions of any suspect software updates, as well as running the Leopard OS X 10.5.8 combo update.
As things stand though, you have another reason not to run Repair Permissions routinely - you'd have to continue to manually fix /Applications each time afterwards.

Remove-Item & Program Files folder: permissions error

I am attempting to use Remove-Item to delete a file in Program Files and getting a permissions error. But, I am a local admin, and I tried running the script as administrator. I have also tried -Force, to no avail. I hope I don't have to go back to the DOS
kludge I used in VBScript.
Any thoughts?
Gordon

Well, this is odd. I tried doing it in the ISE, super simple, just Remove-Item and the raw path. Errors. But I verified that the folder in question is set to read only. So in the ISE I added -Force. And it worked.
So I went back to my code and added -Force back in. And it worked. I assume if I misspelled it or something I would get an error, and I can't imagine the order makes any difference. May be that midnight is just a bit late to be playing in this sandbox.
EDIT: The plot thickens. I have another folder giving me grief, but this folder actually says in Explorer that I don't have permission to view the folders permissions. this is a lame leftover folder after a (typically incomplete) Windows uninstall. Is there
perhaps a PowerShell way of taking ownership of a folder like this? In my VBScript version I actually used DOS commands to do the deletes, and they all worked.
Thanks!
Gordon

I cannot install an application in the Applications folder without removing it first

For some time now, I have noticed that I cannot install an application into the application folder without first removing it from the folder. If I try to install it by dragging the icon to the application folder, I get a warning that the application can't be moved because the folder "Applications" can't be modified. I click on authenticate and enter the root username and password. I am warned that the application already exists in the location. I am asked if I want to replace the item. The options presented are "Keep both files", "Stop", and "Replace". I choose "Replace". I am then prompted for an administrator's name and password. I enter "root" and the root password. I then get this lengthy error message:
The operation can’t be completed because some items had to be skipped. For each item, choose File > Get Info, make sure “Locked” is deselected, and then check the Sharing & Permissions section. When you are sure the items are unlocked and not designated as Read Only or No Access, try again.
I checked the permissions and "locked" was already deselected. The permissions grant my regular user read and write permissions, "staff" read-only, and "everyone" read-only. If I add "admin" with read and write permissions, nothing changes, i.e. I get the same error. If I try to enter my user credentials, they are rejected. My user is not an admin user. Previously, when I enterered the root username and password, the operation would complete successfully.
Now if I first remove the application from the Applications folder, then drag the application to the folder, I am prompted for an administrator's name and password. When I enter it, the application is copied successfully.
I have tried fixing file and directory permissions from the disk utility, but that doesn't fix the problem.

When you say, "locked" was already deselected, I take it that you mean the small icon at the bottom right of the Get Info window displayed an open lock picture.
Have you tried locking it, then unlocking it again? I expect you will be able to lock it by simply clicking on the open lock icon, but to unlock it again you will need to supply an Admin password.
Odd that DU didn't fix it. That would be my first thought also. Suggest trying it again, if you haven't already done so.
Speaking of DU, have you verified your HDD?
My Applications folder permissions read -
System          Read and Write
admin           Read and Write
everyone      Read only
Message was edited by: El Deanio

ERROR You do not have enough access privileges / Music Folder Permissions

OS...W XP iTunes 7.6.2.9 HP. Classic 60 GB HP iPod. I have this error when I try to import some CD's. Am trying to import a brand new cd I just bought and error reads...
*"Error occured while converting the file "Large Time" ( or whatever the 1st songs name may be). You do not have enough ACCESS PRIVILEGES for this operation.*
iTunes could not save your music folder because you do not have write access. Check permissions on your Music folder and folders in your Music Folder, then try converting this file again".
Well I've tried every way I can think to check the permissions and am clueless. I do know that after going through my pc settings for folders, that after some time, I was able to save the last playlist and sync it. I've no idea why, but I do know I have this problem frequently. And it's BAaaaack.
If you find or have the answer please post...ty. MP3 players seem more user friendly, using WMP, but this iPod was more for the money.
Message was edited by: ClaptonFan1963

To fix Home folder permissions
Open the Terminal application in the Utilities folder. At the command line prompt enter or paste the following command line:
sudo chown -R `id -un`:`id -gn` ~
Press RETURN. You will be prompted to enter your admin password which will not be echoed.

Permissions oddity in Applications folder

I've noticed two Permissions oddities.
When I attempt to drag a downloaded application into the Applications folder, where it is "replacing" an existing file, an error message appears telling me I have insufficient permissions. I first need to remove the older application (if I'm moving a Folder the move requires me to enter my password - never saw that in Tiger, otherwise the command/delete functions w/o the password prompt) before I can move the new application into the folder (without need for password).
Also, I attempted to "update" an Application via the Internet. The developer attempts to reinstall an undated version, however mid-way an error prompt appears "insufficient permissions".
I looked at a number of Info panels for files in the Applications folder. Some have "System" (root level) and Admin (2nd level) listed, both "read and write". Others have "unknown" listed at the root level>Read and Write. Applications folder lists "System" at the Root Level. My admin account is called "Gemini". No where do I see this name.
Wondering what changes I can safely make in the Permissions (is there a Terminal command?) to eliminate this problem.
thanks

The Applications folder has special permissions set on it so that the preinstalled applications can't be deleted by accounts that otherwise are able to write to it; this only affects items owned by accounts other than yours. After dragging an application to the Applications folder, change its owner to your account from the Get Info window.
If you need to do this and aren't concerned with deleting preinstalled applications, try the following in the Terminal:
sudo chmod a-t /Applications/
(26846)

Permissions for Applications folder

I think that my permissions in the Applications folder are not right. I first noticed this when trying to upgrade/update software. In the past, I've just dragged and dropped the new software to the folder, where it replaces the old software. I get a dialog asking if I want to replace the item, I say yes, and that's that. Now, I get the dialog asking if I want to replace, but it is followed by a message saying that I don't have sufficient permissions.
I can manually drag the old item to the trash and delete it, then drag the new item into the folder. This makes no sense to me and I would like to be able to just replace the old with the new as I did before.
Checking the permissions with Get Info I see that I am designated as one of two "everyone" groups and I have "custom access". All of the items within Applications shows 4 groups/names:
everyone (custom)
system (read write)
admin (read write)
everyone (read only)
Yes, there are two "everyone" with different settings. I haven't figured out how to tell what the custom settings are, but there is a notation that "You have custom access".
I have tried manually resetting permissions for the entire folder. That didn't work. It appeared to be changing permissions, but nothing actually changed.
I tried logging in as root, but found that even there I could not delete any names/groups or change permissions for items in the Applications folder.
Questions:
Shouldn't I have full access to everything as root?
How do I change permissions for items in Applications so that I can replace them without having to manually drag items to trash then manually drag the replacement into the folder?
When did Mac's permissioning become as arcane and convoluted as Windows?
Sorry, ignore that last one. This has been a very frustrating journey for me.

Thank you! That worked. Here's the report:
I issued the Terminal commands you suggested in the other thread you linked to.
I then ran Disk Utility's Repair Permissions. It took about 30 minutes and returned 799,331 legitimate permissions errors, which it fixed. All were in the Applications folder.
I ran Disk Utility again and got no permissions errors. I did get some ACL errors in:
ACL found but not expected on "private/var/root/Library/Preferences".
ACL found but not expected on "private/var/root/Library".
ACL found but not expected on "private/var/root".
ACL found but not expected on "Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app/Contents/Frameworks/DUSupport.framework/Versions/Current".
ACL found but not expected on "Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app/Contents/Frameworks/DUSupport.framework/Resources".
ACL found but not expected on "Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app/Contents/Frameworks/DUSupport.framework/DUSupport".
ACL found but not expected on "Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app/Contents/Frameworks/DUSupport.framework/CodeResources".
ACL found but not expected on "Applications/AppleScript/Example Scripts".
ACL found but not expected on "Applications/QuickTime Player.app/Contents/Frameworks/DotMacKit.framework/Versions/Current".
ACL found but not expected on "Applications/QuickTime Player.app/Contents/Frameworks/DotMacKit.framework/Resources".
ACL found but not expected on "Applications/QuickTime Player.app/Contents/Frameworks/DotMacKit.framework/DotMacKit".
ACL found but not expected on "Applications/QuickTime Player.app/Contents/Frameworks/DotMacKit.framework/CodeResources".
ACL found but not expected on "Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/Frameworks/iPodUpdater.framework/Versions/Cur rent".
ACL found but not expected on "Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/Frameworks/iPodUpdater.framework/Resources".
ACL found but not expected on "Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/Frameworks/iPodUpdater.framework/iPodUpdater" .
ACL found but not expected on "Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/Frameworks/iPodUpdater.framework/CodeResource s".

"Appy permissions to enclosed" to the Applications Folder...

..now permissions repair takes around 4 hours to complete as I get "ACL found but not expected" on every file under my applications folder.
Please, how can I take this back? Also, it would be nice to have permissions to remove apps, as it is my machine and my account is an admin.

glad to have helped m8

Permissions problems in Applications folder

Recently my Mac has stopped asking for an admin password when I modify things in my Applications folder. The "Allow user to administer this computer" box is NOT checked for my account. I notice a wide variety of owner/group settings for apps in this folder, including myname/myname, myname/admin, myname/wheel, root/admin, root/wheel. "Verify Permissions" does not report any problems. Also, oddly, I can rename Stickies.app (for example) using the Finder, but not using Terminal, which reports "permission denied". I'm concerned that I may have compromised security somewhat... can someone explain what's going on and suggest a fix?

Try logging out and logging back in. Sometimes Finder is slow to adapt to permissions changes.

Changing multiple file permissions - Applications folder

After using migration assistant in Snow Leopard and then changing the username of my primary user, all third party apps in my Applications folder require me to enter the admin password when moving, updating with Sparkle, etc. They don't seem to have a primary owner.
I saw the steps outlined here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1778969 for changing permissions on multiple files but I'm wary of doing this on the Applications folder.
Does anyone have any advice on how to fix this? I went through files individually and i'm still getting messed up permissions all over the place. Thanks!

DO NOT use "apply to enclosed items" on the main Applications folder! Do not use it on any system created folders. they often have hidden ACLs and using this button would propagate the ACLs to everything inside. this is the case for the main Applications folder. there is no easy way to do what you want because Apple changed the permissions structure in Snow leopard and the default applications no longer have read+write access by admin users by default. I would suggest you don't mess with permissions on Applications. if you ever need to update a 3rd party application simply delete the existing copy in /Applications and put the new one in. it will have correct permissions.

Permissions on /Applications folder after using copy items command in ARD

Hello!
I've used ARD to copy Applications on client machines. Copying works fine, but I've discovered permissions are wrong even I checked the Set item ownership to: Inherit from destination folder.
For example I copied the Google's Adnroid SDK bundle to client machines:
drwxr-x--- 4 admin admin 136 20 Mar 00:48 adt-bundle-mac-x86_64-20130219
So, no others have no access at all to the folder. I tried to fix it using the Get Info in Finder, but now the application won't even launch on standard user privileges - this may be caused by Gatekeeper.
How do I give the correct access rights?
I assume using the Get Info on Applications folder to Apply to enclosed items is not a good idea?

Hi Lisa!
You must be very specific with your paths: users/teachers/sites does not equal /Users/teachers/sites does not equal /Users/teachers/Sites. Pay attention to capitalization and prefex your paths with a slash to specify the startup disk.
If you must specify a path with a space in the name then escape characters won't be necessary. You can simply use _*/Applications/Folder with spaces in name*_.
Hope this helps!
bill

"An error occurred while attempting to load this plug-in." I donloaded the Nik Collection, but when I try "export with preset" the only preset as an option is HDR Efex Pro 2. The other plug ins appear in my applications folder, but I get the error messa

I downloaded the Nik Collection, but when I try "export with preset" the only preset as an option is HDR Efex Pro 2. The other plug ins appear in my applications folder, but I get the error message at the start of this post...I can us, say, Silver Efex stand alone, but I want to use as a plug in...can anyone help please..?

Hi,
Follow these instructions: Accessing the plug-ins from host applications - Nik Collection Help

Changed permissions in Application folder

I am at a loss to explain what has happened in Lion/Applications folder. Since upgrading, if I attempt to move or delete an app, I must authenticate or cannot proceed. Never happened in Snow Leopard. I repaired permissions but still get same, restrictive warnings. Is this a new thing?

More than that has been taken away from "old hands". It seems Mac would rather you used it and when it comes to stuff like that let the machine do the thinking. It will even quit applications to make more memory avaiable if it deems fit.
The further we go in this direction, the more I want to dig my teeth into Terminal

Applications Folder permissions errors

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