Applications Folder Problem+Permissions

I just recently had this problem, it showed up today. I can't copy anything to the application folder unless it asks me for my password. When I look on the "Get Info" screen, there's only 2 things, an unknown user which i can't delete and "everyone" which is my access. I try to add myself to it via the plus symbol and the finder crashes.
Is it a security breach?

The correct permissions are
system: read&write
admin: read & write
everyone: read & write
Have you run Repair Permissions from Disk Utility?
-mj
[email protected]

Similar Messages

  • Applications folder problems

    Hello,
    Hoping someone can help me. I installed some software updates today and after doing so decided to install some new software, when asked to drag the application into my applications folder, I did, only to get an error message telling me that I don't have permission to modify the applications folder. I can however click authenticate and enter the password to install it. But I have never had to do that before today.
    When looking at the folder permissions it tells me that I have read only permissions. Any idea how it got that way, and how I can change it back to read and write, easily and safely?
    Thanks for any help anyone can give me.

    Did you repair your permissions after you installed the update and/or software? That might help. However I can't remember since I never run as admin and have to enter my password to install something anyway but it may have happened with one of the OS updates in regard to security (honestly I don't know).
    It's really not a bad idea to have it that way but if you want to change it and you are in the admin account when you have your get info box up click on the lock in the box and enter your password and you should be able to click on the drop down box where it says you can read only and change it to Read & Write.

  • Applications folder owner & permissions

    I've just tried to move an application to the Applications folder and I got a prompt asking to authenticate because the folder can not be modified. I'm running as an admin and this is the first time that it has occurred.
    I'm running 10.5.8 with all the security updates. Does anyone know if any of the recent updates has changed the owner and permissions of the Applications folder?
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    wheel - Read only
    everyone - Read only
    Is this the same for everyone?
    Thanks in advanced for any help.
    Cheers

    My Mac OS X 10.5.8 says
    system - read & write
    admin - read & write
    everyone - read only
    update (even though I was marked helpful)
    This is from my Mac mini
    /bin/ls -ldeO@ /Applications
    drwxrwxr-x+ 43 root admin - 1462 Jul 23 19:19 /Applications
    0: user:root allow add_file,writeattr,writeextattr
    1: user:root allow add_file,writeattr,writeextattr
    2: group:everyone deny delete
    This is from my MacBook
    /bin/ls -ldeO@ /Applications
    drwxrwxr-x@ 100 root admin - 3400 Sep 11 21:06 /Applications
    com.apple.FinderInfo 32
    0: group:everyone deny delete
    Why they are not the same, I do not know.
    Message was edited by: BobHarris

  • Application Folder Problem

    I recently changed the icon for my application folder. Now when I try to open up the applications folder with its link in my dock it says there are zero items in it . It will not populate with my applications unless I click on another folder like my documents folder and then click back on the apps folder. This continued to happen after I changed the Applications Folder icon back to its default. Any suggestions?
    Macbook Intel CoreDuo2 2ghz, 1G Ram, 120G HD   Mac OS X (10.4.9)  

    I found out for sure that this is an iTunes issue. When I checked on iTunes "preferences" it listed the "media folder" as being the place where all new items added to my library should go. How it got changed to that vs. the way I had it set-up previously I don't know. I will attempt to put everything in the same folder even though it probably means I will have to "locate" the items that won't exist in the folder I move them from. Thank you for your help and sending me in the "right direction" to see what happened.

  • Applications folder problem

    I tried to reinstall Firefox using the typical drag to apps folder method but nothing happens.  When I look for Firefox or any prog there's
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    I'm worried about doing anything else now because mainly I've got a huge film project on the go with AV files all over the place.
    Do you have any idea what I could do?
    Thanks
    JD

    Thanks but there's still something wrong.  Here's what happens when I try to install a prog (Firefox).  You can see the prog icon but it hasn't installed. (I've added the empty Applications folder to the sidebar and dragged the download into there as well).
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    The Applicaitions folder from the menu bar pops up a bit slow too.
    This might give further clues....
    Thanks!

  • 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
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    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.
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    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.

  • Application folder Changed name for no apparent reason.... Help Pls

    Hello there
    I just install Leopard (and updated to 10.5.5) on my macbook pro. Checked few things in the Application folder, then few minutes later I went back to it, to realized that it had changed name to ( 0..) I've no idea why???? And another empty Application folder was created in the same path MAC HD/ Library
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    2) I wonder if there are any implications if I drag and drop all the app folders that reside in the now 0.. folder on to the new applications support folder.
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    I have no idea why this happened, but as to renaming I would drag the new empty Applications folder to the trash and rename the original currently 0 back to Applications.
    Then check that this correctly renamed Applications folder has permissions set to:
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    admin: read and write
    everyone: read only
    Then in Disk Utility (Applications /Utilities) do Repair Permissions.
    See how that goes.

  • 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.

  • 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:
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    the app goes in there.)
    - A/V Apps
    - Mind Map Apps
    - 3rd Party Utilities
    - Online Marketing Apps
    - Social Networking Apps
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    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.

  • Permissions oddity in Applications folder

    I've noticed two Permissions oddities.
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    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)

  • 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.

  • Problems with copying applications to Applications folder

    Hi all,
    I'm facing serious issue's with Mavericks.
    I'm a in-house developer, and I made a few apps that are bing used in process.
    A few weeks ago I made an 'autoUpdater'. This checks a windows fileshare for any updates. If there are updates, it will copy this file to the /Applications folder.
    Now the thing is, the current logged in user, which runs the autoUpdater, is able to run all applications which has been installed/copied.
    When they log out, and another user logs in, all those applications show up as Zero Bytes, And seems damaged or incomplete.
    However, when I copy the 'damaged' app to the users desktop, its working again.
    Back to the 'original' user, the app is fine in /Applications.
    Even after running Disk Utility from boot usb, to repair permissions, problem is not solved.
    chmod 0775 on the application, does not work
    chown root:staff on the application does not work
    touch application, does not work
    all these things combined, still not working for the newer users that login.
    I've also done all this manually, and it does not solve the issue.
    Anyone have any idea's ?

    Hi LexSchellings,
    installing applications I do for all users.
    The problem goes when I'm copying .app files to /Applications.
    If I do it from my 'autoUpdater' application, or manually, it does not work.
    There is an little application called 'Permissions Reset', which actually fixed the problem, but I have to do that manually, I need to do this by terminal commands, because I'm talking about updating a small application for 1500+ desktop / laptops and they never are all on ;-)
    My application checks for new updates when they boot up.

  • 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.

  • "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

  • 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.
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    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.

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