User only application Folder - Dockulicious

I just noticed there is no application folder for just the user. Can I just set one up and place applications in it that only I have access to. Will this effect how the program performs? I was looking at the Dockulicious Docks apps which is really cool to change the dock. But I want to let each individual user set their own type dock.

Graig,
With a few exceptions, applications can go anywhere in the file system and run just fine. The most notable exceptions are Apple's own apps, and the need to have them in the main "Applications" folder is related to the ability to update them when needed. If I am not mistaken, some recent updates have addressed this issue, but it is still a good idea to keep them where they belong.
For your own third-party apps, you can create a folder anywhere in your own HOME folder, and place them there. If you want them in your Dock, just drag them there from wherever you place them.
Scott

Similar Messages

How do I move an App Store app to a user's application folder?

I have set up my mom with an older Macbook Pro of mine to save her from the evils of the PC. I set up two users, one for her and one for me; hers is uber simple (big icons, only the essentials in the doc) mine is crazy complicated. We share apps, of course, which was fine until I realized she is going to want to download Mah Jongg game apps and the like from the App Store, and I would LOVE it if I didn't have to have all that cluttering up the root Applications folder.
I already tried to move one app from root to her user's Applications folder and all that moved was an alias, the app stayed at root. So how does one move these things? Is there a way via the finder? Can I use terminal (and if so could someone spell out the command for me?)
Thanks in advance.

You might want to rethink moving the apps.
First the App Store knows what's installed by looking in the Applications folder. If the app is not there but is listed as purchased it will be prompting you to download it constantly.
Second Lion has really locked down the permissions on the Applications folder, even Admins (as you're discovered) have to jump through hoops to change stuff around. You'll need to change permissions on the folder at least to get the apps out. It will be a pain in the long run.
Again weigh the inconvenience of having an extra few apps in the Applications folder against what I described above.
regards

User-specific Applications folder : inheritance possible ?

Hello,
Very rarely does anybody use this computer, but I'm learning about account security and trying it out in order to learn about how it works. So I created accounts for Administrator, Guest, and made my primary account standard.
I have a growing number Applications and some of them aren't really of much use to anyone who uses this computer. So I figured this would be a good chance to learn about a private Applications folder.
I created an "Applications" folder inside my home folder, and OS X was nice enough to give it the special "A" icon. (Thanks OS X! However, I was hoping that it would "inherit" the Apps from the main Applications folder and add those inside my Home directory to it. Currently they function as two completely separate folders, which works okay, but is less convenient.
Is there a way to do this? If there is no built-in way, is there a way to accomplish this with Folder Actions? (I haven't used Folder Actions yet, but I'm reading about them and they're quite interesting....)
Thanks,
-- Tony
White MacBook Core Duo Mac OS X (10.4.8)
Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Well, I do already have an alias of "/Applications" in the Finder sidebar. Your suggestion functions, but what I'm trying to do is eliminate the extra click in switching from "~/Applications" to "/Applications". Not a huge deal, just an inconvenience I would like to ditch.
So my hope is that there's a way to go to "~/Applications" and have it list everything from "/Applications" in addition to the local contents.
Possible? *sniff sniff*

OSX Lion User Application folder missing.

Trying to install an application soley for a user in OS X Lion. Although I don't have an "Applications" folder in my user folder. Did they take this option out of Lion or am I missing something here?

Well, I looked around and looked in my other user folders on several 10.6.8 boxes and the Applications folder is there in many users, but not for all, so this leads me to think that this is a supported folder, but an optional one.
Still looking in to it to see what the complete scoop is.
Edit:
AHA! Many times when we run an installer, the Apple approved installer allows you to install an application for just one user, or for all users on the system. That's how this gets created.
The user specific Applications folder is a standard and supported folder, but an optiopnal one, even though Apple's docs neglect mentioning it.

Home Application Folder

Hi all,
It has recently just dawned on me that I not only have an Applications Folder, but an Application Folder in my Home Folder as well!! What exactly is this for?
I have only ever used the Applications Folder that all my apps get stored in automatically. My Home Application Folder has always been empty. I have two accounts on my MacBook, one for me and one for my wife. Mine is an Admin account, her's is a Standard account. I recently installed software for her TomTom sat nav on her account. Instead of putting the app in the main Applications Folder with everything else, it stored it in her Home Applications Folder. It is the only thing in that folder. Why would it do this? I do not remember it asking if the app was only for one user (even though it is!!). Obviously, when I log into my account, that tomtom app is not present in the Applications Folder because I assume it is in her Home applications Folder.
Why has this happened when every other app installed went automatically into the main Applications Folder? What exactly is the Home Applications Folder for and should I be using it?? Lastly, how do you install app's to the Home Application Folder instead of the Main Applications Folder if you want too? These are probably stupid questions, but are questions that would help me understand OSX much better!!
Please help!!
Thanks for the advice.
Regards,
Lucky

The difference, as you have noticed, is that items in a user's ~/Applications folder can only be accessed by that user. Application installers usually default to the main Applications folder, but you can install in pretty much any location (although the recommended location is one of the Applications folders). The installer may also provide a 'choose location' option for the install, and if installing from a disk image you can drag the application to your folder of choice.
Installing an application into the main /Applications folder (note that this requires admin access) makes them available to all users, but there may be cases where you want to restrict the access to a specific user, or just don't want to make it available to everyone. Also, a user can install applications into their own account if they don't have admin access to install to the /Applications folder - it just depends on the preferences of the user (or the admin). Personally, I use my user ~/Applications folder for script applications and for trying out new stuff.

Applications folder showing apps in one but not the other

Hey everyone! I just bought a new Macbook Pro and migrated my files over. My applications folder in the HD has all my apps, but for some reason they are not showing in my User applications folder.
Originally I installed them for all users, the only user was me. What is the problem here and can I fix it?

Hi your applications are stored in the first Applications folder (Macintosh HD/Applications) so that they can be used by ALL users of your Mac. If you have any applications that you wish to restrict to only one user then you'd have to install in that user's Applications folder.
OS X is a multi-user OS which is why it is designed in this way. If your Apps were stored in Macintosh Hard Disk/Users/YourUserName/Applications only you would be able to use them. If you then added a second user (or a test user) you'd have to install the applications again for the new user to be able to use them.

Yosemite Empty Applications folder NO Launchpad

I have had numerous problems since Yosemite install.
Most of which have either been fixed (by the community... no thanks Apple) or have work arounds.
But this is the most frustrating and still occurring.
I cannot get finder to "see" my applications folder.
This not the "missing icons" adjust the columns error, but only occurs with applications.
Now using terminal I have checked the directory and they are certainly there.
I can run applications if they are pinned to my dock... but launchpad just comes up with a Blue screen with Loading Applications... on it
This is a iMac (24-inch, Early 2009) so perhaps getting to the end of its cycle, but still a very usable computer... or was.
It does have multiple user accounts on it and I have read that this may be an issue, but have seen no fix.
I have reset all permissions.. in multiple ways.
Really looking to the community for an answer please.

The application folder on the hard drive is one that can/could be accessed by multiple user accounts.
All software you install will install in that location by default, so as to be available to all users of the computer. This is not in any way detrimental to performance so no need to worry.
Unless you have a specific need to limit other accounts access to certain programs, I would not ever bother with the user level application folder. New macs do not come with anything installed in this folder. I doubt that its contents were erased, most likely you thought you were viewing the user level application folder when in fact you were looking at the "global" one.
Matt
Well I see it got answered at the same time I was typing this response. So anyhow I am glad you got to the bottom of it.
G4 450 dp Mac OS X (10.4.6)
Message was edited by: Matthew Poor

Applications Folder Empty in Finder

I've had my Macbook Pro since 2008. Currently, I'm running 10.6.8. For some reason, when clicking on the applications folder, it is completely empty. Before when I clicked on the folder I would see applications like Word, Google Chrome, Photoshop, etc. available to click on and open. I'm not sure why it doesn't show up anymore. Has anyone else experienced this?

That's interesting that it works like that. I used to go the MacHD>users>yourname>applications folder and they populated, but now they don't anymore so I'll just have to click on the HD and then applications.
Thank you!

I want to open a domain.site2 file outside the default folder (User/Library/Application Support/iWeb) with iWeb11, but iWeb only opens the domain file in the default folder. If I delete the default domain file, iWeb wants to create a new site. Help please

I want to open a domain.site2 file outside the default folder (User/Library/Application Support/iWeb) with iWeb11, but iWeb only opens the domain file in the default folder. If I delete the default domain file, iWeb wants to create a new site. Does anyone have the same problem or know how to fix it?

In Lion the Finder folder is now invisible. To make it permanetely visible enter the following in the Terminal applicaiton window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and hit the Enter button - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.
For opening your domain file in Lion for the first time or to switch between multiple domain files Cyclosaurus has provided us with the following script that you can make into an Applescript application with Script Editor. Open Script Editor, copy and paste the script below into Script Editor's window and save as an applicaiton.
Just launch the applicaiton, find and select the domain file you want to open and it will open with iWeb. It modifies the iWeb preference file each time it's launched so one can switch between domain files.
do shell script "/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.iWeb iWebDefaultsDocumentPath -boolean no"delay 1
tell application "iWeb" to activate
OT

Move an application from the "users" folder to the "applications" folder

I downloaded 2 adobe trial applications to the "users" section of my drive due to the fact that I misunderstood the directions - I have not launched them as yet. Is it Possible to MOVE/DRAG the 2 applications to "applications" folder? I am running MAC OSX10.7 on a MAC MINI . As these were really large downloads, I am crossing my fingers that this may work. Thank you.

While that DOES work, this is still an incredibly annoying problem. I have never noticed this as a problem before (although I can't even really remember the last time I moved something out of my Applications folder). I would really like it if this would just stop happening and allow me to just move applications wherever I want by clicking and dragging. This seems like some type of feature that could be turned off. I even noticed that when I try to drag something out of the Applications folder, my cursor turns into the alias arrow, indicating that it will only make an alias of the application, and not actually move it. Is there any way to prevent this from happening to begin with, rather than just working around it?

Missing files, user folder, application folder and system folder

I am using a MacBook Pro 2011 model with OS X 10.9.4.
Since I bought the machine several years ago, I have had only a few small problems with it. Yesterday I wanted to reduce the size of a video, so I downloaded a video compressor/converter software, and left the computer on and the program compressing my video whilst I went off to work. When I returned home, the compressing program had a pop-up saying ''Could not complete compression, system full'' or something along those lines.... After trying to play the movie without success, I decided that I would restart my computer, as it had been on all day.
When the computer restarted, it came up with the grey loading bar, which usually comes up when I have done a software update. It disappeared quite soon and several minutes later, my user profile appeared. I logged in as normal, and then tried to open my browser. An error message popped up stating"Can't open user profile directory, because you lack sufficient privileges. You might want to contact the administrator of this machine". I then tried to open other programs and they all came up with similar messages and did not open. Skype stated "Can't create a lock file at Users/Lauren/Library...etc".
I then went to Finder to look at my applications and they were ALL GONE! Then I went to a folder I have with all my files called "My files", and although the primary folders were visible, "SCHOOL,WORK, HOLIDAYS PICS, etc", these folders were empty. I then checked my User folder, and my systems folder and these were empty too. However, the Desktop and Documents folders still contain the documents that were previously there, and my background images remained the same.
I tried to open Word, and although it is also missing from the applications folder, and it opened, also allowing me to open a document which I know is located within the 'empty' folders. I have a feeling that my documents and files are still on my computer, but I don't know how to access them!
Please if someone could shed light on the situation! All my work files and personal files are on this computer and I would be devastated to loose them!
Let me know if you need any more ino or screen shots!
Kind regards,
Lauren

OS X- Gray progress bar appears under Apple logo during startup
You need to start by doing the following:
Reinstall Lion, Mountain Lion, or Mavericks without erasing drive
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
Repair
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported then click on the Repair Permissions button. When the process is completed, then quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall Lion, Mountain Lion, or Mavericks
OS X Mavericks- Reinstall OS X
OS X Mountain Lion- Reinstall OS X
OS X Lion- Reinstall Mac OS X
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet
if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

What's the deal with the Applications folder within the User folder?

In my user folder (the one with my name) there's another Applications folder filled with .cab files that are all dated, and some have "Audio" or "ACT" or some weird naming in the middle. Some examples of what they're called are: Nov2008_XACT_x64.cab ; Oct2005_xinput_x64.cab ; OCT2006_d3dx9_31_x64.cab ; Nov2008_XAudio_x64.cab
1) What are .cab files?
2) Why are they there, did an external program add them or something?
3) Can I delete them?
Thanks for your help, it's always been bugging me having this folder filled with files that (seemingly) do nothing.

Paul --
They're files from Word.
If it were my Mac, I'd trash them. Here's what I found on them similar to what WZZZ found for you;
Opening the CAB
You will download a file whose name consists entirely of a number and which has the extension .cab. A .cab is a Microsoft “cabinet” file: essentially it’s a Zipped folder structure with the ability to store longer file names.
Depending on your version of Mac OS, the built-in Zip utility may not be able to open it, but there are programs that can. If you are on a Power PC-version Mac (A G3 or a G4 or a G5...) then Stuffit Expander will do the trick. If you have an Intel-processor Mac, Stuffit has a bug that may prevent it. Only one way to find out...
If your browser is correctly set up, it will leave the file in your Downloads folder with a subfolder above it containing the unpacked content.
If you can’t find it, start Stuffit and drag the .cab onto it.
Stuffit will either issue an error message, or it will leave a folder containing the template in the same folder as the .cab file. If you get an "Error 17540" from Stuffit, that means "Can't understand the format" and the extracted template file will not be useable.

Standard-level user application folder

I have two users on my machine, one is Admin user and i never log in to that one. The other one is a standard user where i do all my work and is the user i access everything im on the machine.
I am trying to install an application but the only option is to install for all users. I really don't want to do this. Is there a way i can only install applications for my standard-level user? Or is this something that is installer-specific?
When i go to my current user's home directory i don't even see Application folder in there. I imagine this is because i never installed an application specific to this user. I even tried creating a new Applications folder for my user and re-running the installer but i still only get same option to install for all users.

onesAndZeroes wrote:
Thanks (I'm an idiot). I got it moved but when i try to open it from the user Application folder it doesn't open. Oh well, looks like VirtualBox is one of 'those' applications. Thanks for helping!
Not an idiot at all. Seems to be an issue with VirtualBox being incompatable with Mavericks. Hopefully an update will be forthcoming.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/23628774#23628774
Cheers
Pete

Application folder deleted on the User page?

I installed Steam for Mac some time ago, and when I installed a game, the icon for it would appear on the Application folder, but making the other apps on the folder disappear, but were still on a computer. And I'm portuguese, so "Aplicações" means Apps. The folder was originally called "Aplicações", but when I installed the game, it was renamed to "Applications", to English! So I renamed it to "Aplicações", but the other apps were still missing, so I deleted it, which = I'm a jack*ss... So I created a shortcut folder, but it has the shortcut arrow on the icon and doesnt have the drop down arrow:
What do I do to make it as it was before? Thanks...

The Applications folder created by default in your user Home folder - i.e. "bootdrive -> Users -> yourusername -> Applications" - is not the same folder as the Applications folder at the root of the hard drive, nor it is an alias to that root Applications folder. The Applications folder in the user's Home folder is a separate folder, provided for use by the user, if he/she wishes/ for applications that do not insist on being in the root Applications folder. It allows such apps to be restricted to being seen and used only by that user.
If Steam installed in the Applications folder in your Home folder and you deleted that Applications folder, just create a new folder (if you think you still need it) in your Home folder and name the new folder however you wish.
Regards.

APPLICATION FOLDER in my HOME (user) - whats it for?

Hi
Can someone explain what the applications folder is for in my home/user folder ?
It looks the same as the applications section/folder icon , whith the pencil, ruler and paintbrush logo but it contains only one item. I dont understand what it is for ?
thanks for your time
didier

It's for your personal third-party applications that you may not want accessible by other users on your computer. It can also be used to keep third-party applications separate from the standard OS X applications. If you're the only user on the computer then you need not use it.

User only application Folder - Dockulicious

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