App instal for specific user

[ade555]

Currently on macOS Sonoma but had the same problem for prevoius versions, I have 3 users, 1 Admin(me) and 2 standard (wife/daughter).

When I download apps from app store logged in as admin the same apps appear on other users.
Same applies when standard user download it app appear on admin.

For most part is not a problem but some of them apps I don't want to have and vice versa, app update is bonkers is well after they been installed. For example when I logged in and go to app store and can see there is update. System will update all my apps but it won't update the ones installed by other users and is asking for there icloud login, same applies for standard users. I have problem remebering my own password never mind other standard users.

Can you explain or provide link how I can download app from app store and install just for (me) admin and if the other users wants to download apps they will remain on there logins.

Thanks in advance

 

[galad]

Move it from /Applications to some folder inside your user folder. That's it.

 

[Slartibart]

I might misunderstand something here: after the app is downloaded from the app store you can simply move it into the applications folder in the home folder of the individual user. Anything in the system application folder will be visible to all users, anything inside the home folder of a user - applications, documents, pictures, etc. - is not.
Outside the app store, if you download a program directly from a developer it is often supplied on a disk image. You (or who ever downloaded it) mount that and can drag the program into the home folder of the current user. There are programs which come with a installer, but even then, the executable of most of these can be dragged anywhere after installation - if you drag it into the home folder of a user, it will not be visible by others.

caveat: depending on how the program was installed (or by whom) it might be necessary to provide the admin password once to move it.

EDIT: @galad beat me to it. 🤓

 

[ade555]

I did try this, create folder inside user folder named Apps, then drag application holding option from "Applications" to the "Apps" folder but that aplication still is located inside /Applications

 

[ade555]

Ok I sorted this now, so once you download a app from app store it gets placed in /Applications, then I went to user folder and created folder named "Apps", moved the app holding Option Key, but here is the problem. When I return to /Applications the same app still appearded there, and only once I removed it from /Applications the other user can't see this app. In all honesty is not good enough as each user have to manually move the app then delete it otherwise will appear for all users. Unless I'm doing something worng.

 

[chabig]

I did try this, create folder inside user folder named Apps, then drag application holding option from "Applications" to the "Apps" folder but that aplication still is Application Folder

I don't think this can be done with Ventura or Sonoma. Dragging just creates an alias. Copy/paste doesn't do anything. Furthermore, if you were able to figure this out I don't think the App Store would recognize the app and provide updates. I don't know how to achieve what you want to do on modern macOS.

 

[ade555]

I don't think this can be done with Ventura or Sonoma. Dragging just creates an alias. Copy/paste doesn't do anything. Furthermore, if you were able to figure this out I don't think the App Store would recognize the app and provide updates. I don't know how to achieve what you want to do on modern macOS.

You right regards the app store, once that app has been moved from /Applications and moved to folder created in user folder app store can't see this app anymore and won't be updated by the looks of things

 

[ade555]

I can’t understand why apps just don’t install for specific user from App Store once you sign in using Apple ID, is bonkers how this works, having multiple users I had to update all apps x3 they all appears on each user App Store saying needs updating then you have the password problem as one app is install by user “a” and other by user “b” and another by user “c”. Yes you have an option not to update it ect. but that’s not the point, just such an inconvenience. Sorry for rant but this just frustrates me so much.

 

[antoine23]

I don't use the app store because of this and many other limitations.

However, even with apps from outside the app store create issues. I tried this years ago before catalina and while it was possible, it created all sort of issues when updates came, it usually required an admin password so autoupdate was broken

So, while what you want has its logic, it is not what apple want us to do, without freedom we are sheep

The same happens with apple ids which are a mess now: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250891238?page=1

 

[Spotlighter9]

System will update all my apps but it won't update the ones installed by other users and is asking for there icloud login, same applies for standard users.

I have a similar issue on Monterey. Two users (mine and my wife's). System will update all my apps but it will still show "updates available" for my wife's user account. However, I have never been able to successfully update hers...as they are all updates to older versions of the Apps. For example, in her App folder she has the latest Malwarebytes 2.01, but the App Store is prompting her to update to version 1.13.

So when it starts to download the update, an error message then says "cannot update Malwarebytes at this time...try again later." Its as if her system doesn't know that I've already updated them on my account for everyone.

Is there any way to clear out/reset the update prompts in the App Store?