Mounted DMG's Not Appearing IN Applications Folder

[frogboy2727]

I just received a new 16" MacBook Pro. I've tried to install several DMG's (VLC, 1Password, etc). I am able to mount the DMG files. The DMG files indicate, that they are installing into the Applications folder. I receive no errors, whatsoever. But, when I open the Applications folder, the programs are no where to be found. I've attempted this procedure, with several DMG's, already. From what I can tell, the DMG's are not 32 bit. What am I missing here ??

 

[KALLT]

Did you drag them to your applications directory? It doesn’t happen by itself.

 

[casperes1996]

Is this your first Mac? A DMG is not an installer. Think of it more like a .zip archive (not entirely accurate either - it’s a disk image). It mounts to your /Volumes, just like if you attach a USB drive. Inside it you’ll most often see the .app and a shortcut to your Applications folder - You then drag the .app to your Applications folder, with the shortcut inside the DMG being a convenience.

Most apps just need to be copied over like that. Some need an explicit installer which will be a .pkg

If you’ve ever used Linux you can also install Homebrew to get a package manager so you can install programs simply by writing
brew install <package>
Or for most GUI programs
brew cask install <package>

 

[frogboy2727]

Is this your first Mac? A DMG is not an installer. Think of it more like a .zip archive (not entirely accurate either - it’s a disk image). It mounts to your /Volumes, just like if you attach a USB drive. Inside it you’ll most often see the .app and a shortcut to your Applications folder - You then drag the .app to your Applications folder, with the shortcut inside the DMG being a convenience.

Most apps just need to be copied over like that. Some need an explicit installer which will be a .pkg

If you’ve ever used Linux you can also install Homebrew to get a package manager so you can install programs simply by writing
brew install <package>
Or for most GUI programs
brew cask install <package>

Thanks for the replies. No, this is not my first Mac. Usually, when I'm opening a DMG, I use the "built in" shortcut, to drive the file over to the Applications folder. I've used this procedure for many years. For some reason, the Applications folder was not populating. I rebooted and the Applications folder was still void. I (then) mounted the DMG files, dragged the files over to the Applications folder and the Applications folder showed the files. All of the files I installed this way, worked perfectly, with no errors. I guess, I will continue using this method. *Shrugs Shoulders*.

Al ..

 

[fisherking]

but are you just putting package files in the Applications folder? as many apps NEED their installers, to place the app & support files in the correct locations.

sounds like the path is reading incorrectly from apple's installer app; going into 'applications' on the data drive ? not sure of this (& hard to tell from here). anyone???

 

[casperes1996]

Thanks for the replies. No, this is not my first Mac. Usually, when I'm opening a DMG, I use the "built in" shortcut, to drive the file over to the Applications folder. I've used this procedure for many years. For some reason, the Applications folder was not populating. I rebooted and the Applications folder was still void. I (then) mounted the DMG files, dragged the files over to the Applications folder and the Applications folder showed the files. All of the files I installed this way, worked perfectly, with no errors. I guess, I will continue using this method. *Shrugs Shoulders*.

Al ..

My understanding is that it the issue pertains to self contained .app bundles, not applications that go through the installer like .pkg

but are you just putting package files in the Applications folder? as many apps NEED their installers, to place the app & support files in the correct locations.

sounds like the path is reading incorrectly from apple's installer app; going into 'applications' on the data drive ? not sure of this (& hard to tell from here). anyone???

Right; I think the confusion came from the way the original post was phrased making it sound like you were only opening the DMG and nothing else

This sounds like a sky link issue - Have you moved the location of your Applications folder? These DMGs will expect it to be at /Applications

 

[tyc0746]

I wonder where all these installations have gone if there's been no error message saying it can't find the original folder the shortcut it aiming for?

I wonder if some are going into User>Applications rather than MacintoshHD>Applications

 

[frogboy2727]

Very strange .. Even before I went to the "new" way of installing the DMG's .. With the apps missing from the Applications folder .. I went into About This Mac/Software and found the affected software listed. So, I really can't figure out, what happened to the "missing" app icons. Anyways, I've completely configured my new MacBook Pro, to my liking and everything works perfectly. So far, Catalina is behaving itself.

Al ..

 

[fisherking]

am wondering about the path. i installed a 3rd-party plugin for logic x recently; it showed up in the app, but NOT in the components folder (in the main library), where it's supposed to be (& where all my other plugins were).

when i searched for it (with 'find any file'), it showed up... in that exact folder. 🤔

there's something up between the system drive and the data drive sometimes (anyway, seems like this could explain it).