Modifying the ownership of the Applications folder's content

Hi,
Over time applications where installed by drag and drop, from either admin or non-admin user. Overtime admin user became non-admin user or vice-versa. Finally overtime the Applications folder's ownership gets really mixted up.
Is it a good idea to modify the ownership of the Applications folder's content ? By content I mean modifying the ownership of all folders and content inside the Applications folder ?
If yes, what sould be the permission/ownership of all the Applications folder's content ? admin
Thanks in advance.
Robert Lespérance
Robert Lespérance

Hi Robert,
There are 3 Rights/Permissions on each, depending who you want to be able to use them & how.
Most of My Apple APPs are...
Owner = system = Read & Write
Group = admin = Read & Write
others = Read Only

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Modifying the ownership of the content of the Applications folder ...

Hi,
Over time applications where installed by drag and drop, from either admin or non-admin user. Overtime admin user became non-admin user or vice-versa. Finally overtime the Applications folder's ownership gets really mixted up.
Is it a good idea to modify the ownership of the Applications folder's content ? By content I mean modifying the ownership of all folders and content inside the Applications folder ?
If yes, what sould be the permission/ownership of all the Applications folder's content ?
Thanks in advance.
Robert Lespérance

Don't change the ownership/permissions of the Applications folder itself, nor of any Apple applications.
Apple applications' permissions are owner:root read+write, group:admin read+write, and others:read only. As for third party applications that install by drag and drop: typically they are read+write for the user that installed them, and read only for all others. From a functional standpoint, the discrepancy is really not a big deal. But if you want to change everything so that third party apps' permissions match Apple apps' permissions, enter these Terminal commands while logged in to an admin account:
sudo chown -R root:admin /Applications/*
sudo chmod -R ug+rwX /Applications/*
It is generally good to log in to an account where the user does not have write access to applications; because a malware could modify the app without the user's knowledge in such a case. For this reason it is a good idea to use a non-admin account for everyday use, and only log in to the admin account when a certain task requires it.

I moved my applications folder to the desktop, but modified the applications in my dock, and now i have too many copies of the applications folder and cant get rid of them without being unable to use the applications :(

I moved my applications folder to the desktop when i first got my imac. now i want to get rid of it, but when i put it in the trash, it wont let me use the applications, even though they are in more than one folder. I am at a loss of what to do now cause i have two copies of everything. please help me figure this out.

Marisalynne wrote:
I have the applications folder in my harddrive and then the one that I moved to my desktop when I first got my computer.
Where was the one that you moved to your desktop before you moved it to the desktop?
I really don't understand what you're trying to say. If I have a folder in A, and I move it to B, then the folder will be in B. There is no duplication. I still have only one folder, only the location is different.
Furthermore, your desktop is on your hard drive. Everything is on your hard drive.

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

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The sidebar in a Finder window can be easily modified, so it's possible that the Applications folder may have been accidentally dragged out of it. You should be able to drag it back on from its current location (Macintosh HD > Applications), as outlined in the following article:
OS X Yosemite: Customize the Finder toolbar and sidebar
Regards,
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Hi Mastan
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You should do your own research before opening such kind of thread.
BR
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Modifying the ownership of the Applications folder's content

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