Dragging an app from DMG to Applications sometimes creates only alias, why?

[Adora]

Hello,

sometimes when I want to copy an app from a disk image file to the Applications folder, it only creates an alias and I have to hold the option/alt key to copy the file.

An alias to the Application folder is in my Dock and for 90% of apps copying just works when I drag it there from a DMG.

This is not really random. It depends on the app I think. Are there maybe different created DMG-types?

Or is it one of those many Finder mysteries I never really unterstand?

 

[gilby101]

Never used to see that behaviour, but it has become quite frequent in just the last few months (always latest release macOS version). I don't know why!

 

[arw]

Can confirm. For me it only happens (sometimes) if I drag the application to my Dock's 'Applications' folder or onto the Favorites icon in Finder.
But it always works with a simple drag and drop if I open the 'Applications' folder beforehand and drag and drop the application there.
I'm still on Big Sur though.