Finder asking for password to move files

[YMark]

I have a new MBA M2 that I updated to Ventura. Any time I want to move a file in Finder, I'm being asked for my password. I'm the only user on this laptop, so by default I'm an Admin (and have also checked).

I'm at a loss as to how to fix this. One of the things I did was Open Finder, highlight "Macintosh HD", select Info and then look at Sharing and Permissions. Listed is system, wheel, everyone. Only system has Read & Write. If click on the Lock and unlock this with password, I'm still not allowed to make any changes to these sharing permissions. I selected the + and was going to add my UserName. But I get an error that says "The operation can't be completed because you don't have the necessary permission."

Something must be wrong with permissions somewhere. Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[gilby101]

Any time I want to move a file in Finder, I'm being asked for my password.

Is that all files? Or just specific ones (e.g. those in /Applications)? Give examples.
Can you copy files from ~/Desktop to ~/Documents?

One of the things I did was Open Finder, highlight "Macintosh HD", select Info and then look at Sharing and Permissions. Listed is system, wheel, everyone. Only system has Read & Write.

That is standard. Don't try to modify. In general, don't attempt to change permissions until you know exactly what you are changing and why the change is required?

 

[YMark]

Is that all files? Or just specific ones (e.g. those in /Applications)? Give examples.
Can you copy files from ~/Desktop to ~/Documents?

That is standard. Don't try to modify. In general, don't attempt to change permissions until you know exactly what you are changing and why the change is required?

I tried to copy an application Stats from the application folder to Applications>Utilities and was asked for password.

I just copied a file from ~/Desktop to ~/Documents and was NOT asked for a password.

 

[kitKAC]

I tried to copy an application Stats from the application folder to Applications>Utilities and was asked for password.

I just tried to move an App from Applications into the Utilities folder as a test and was also asked for a password (or Touch ID to approve).

Guess that's how it's supposed to work on Ventura.

 

[gilby101]

I tried to copy an application Stats from the application folder to Applications>Utilities and was asked for password.

I just copied a file from ~/Desktop to ~/Documents and was NOT asked for a password.

It is normal to be asked when moving files in or out of /Applications. Be aware that some applications do not run properly unless in /Applications. In particular, Stats has background processes which may be tied to being inside /Applications/Stats/. I strongly recommend that you leave all apps in /Applications.

Relief that ~/Desktop, etc. are working.

 

[kitKAC]

It is normal to be asked when moving files in or out of /Applications. Be aware that some applications do not run properly unless in /Applications. In particular, Stats has background processes which may be tied to being inside /Applications/Stats/. I strongly recommend that you leave all apps in /Applications.

Relief that ~/Desktop, etc. are working.

If your account is admin, you shouldn't be asked for a password moving Apps in and out of /Applications - the folder has [Admin - Read/Write] permissions set on it. The Utilities folder doesn't have any permissions set for Admin, hence the password requirement.

Apps that come as drag and drop installs can be run from anywhere (one of the beauties of macOS), if it needs to be in Applications, it'll come with a full installer to put it there.

 

[YMark]

Thanks guys, that makes a lot of sense now. Is this new with Ventura? My old iMac was running Mohave and I don't remember if it functioned like this..

 

[Shazaam!]

There are two parts to Ventura. The system part that an admin can't change without system approval each time for security reasons — and the data part that the user and admin can change (read & write). You will not be given permission to read and write to the system part in Ventura.

 

[gilby101]

If your account is admin, you shouldn't be asked for a password moving Apps in and out of /Applications - the folder has [Admin - Read/Write] permissions set on it. The Utilities folder doesn't have any permissions set for Admin, hence the password requirement.

More than half the apps in my /Applications are owned by system:wheel and those are the ones that can't be moved out without a password.

 

[kitKAC]

More than half the apps in my /Applications are owned by system:wheel and those are the ones that can't be moved out without a password.

System Apps have those permissions because they are on the sealed System volume, anything that you put in there is actually stored on the Data Volume (but appears to be in Applications) and has different permissions.

 

[gilby101]

System Apps have those permissions because they are on the sealed System volume, anything that you put in there is actually stored on the Data Volume (but appears to be in Applications) and has different permissions.

Yes, apps part of macOS do have system:wheel ownership. Have you looked at other apps in /Applications? Lots have system:wheel ownership.

Just shows that changing apps in any way needs to be done with care and understanding of the implications.