When I mistakenly copy document files, I press Command Z, or use Edit undo copy. But when I copied some Mac application files ie .app files, I couldn't find the option to undo the copy. How do I know which of these .app files is the original app and which is the copy, so that I may retain the original application file. Then, should I just drag the copies to the trash? When I tried doing that, I was prompted to type a password to confirm, so that made me wonder if that could be problematic, and since I'm using a brand new computer with no files on it yet should I just reset the system and start over?
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How to "Edit undo" copying of .app files on 2021 Macbook Pro
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Where are you dragging these apps to and from?
I would suggest copying apps like this isn't good practice: either download from the App Store, or using a DMG or installer PKG from the app's website. Or use Time Machine or Migration Assistant.
You're being asked for authorisation because the Application folder is protected.
As for "how do I know which is the original and which is the copy" -- if they are in the same folder, then duplicates will have a different name. If they are in different folders -- well, you should know which is the source and which the destination. But you can look at the Creation Date metadata. Of course, copies should be identical, so there's no difference in operation.
"Should I just reset the system and start over?"
That's usually massive overkill for any problem, particularly on one that's almost 'brand new' already.
I would suggest copying apps like this isn't good practice: either download from the App Store, or using a DMG or installer PKG from the app's website. Or use Time Machine or Migration Assistant.
You're being asked for authorisation because the Application folder is protected.
As for "how do I know which is the original and which is the copy" -- if they are in the same folder, then duplicates will have a different name. If they are in different folders -- well, you should know which is the source and which the destination. But you can look at the Creation Date metadata. Of course, copies should be identical, so there's no difference in operation.
"Should I just reset the system and start over?"
That's usually massive overkill for any problem, particularly on one that's almost 'brand new' already.
Thank you very much, benwiggy. These are not downloaded apps, but the ones that came with the system, like Activity Monitor or Disk Utility that are tucked away in the /Applications/other folder, and I wanted them in the normal /Applications folder. I had watched an instructional video on setting up a new mac, and they were organising their Application folder and its subfolder /Applications/other by moving the .apps by dragging them from one folder to the other. But unlike in the instructional video, it didn't move the files, it just copied them, even when I held the command key. I have since read it's not advisable to move the apps in the first place. Is it best for me to just keep the setup exactly as it was intended, or does it matter if I keep the .apps I moved, and delete the original .apps?
That's a very bad idea. Leave Apple's apps in the Utility folder.
The Operating System is now on a read-only, secure disk volume (which is invisibly merged with the rest of your disk, so that it looks all one big disk).
You can't move those apps, which is why you make a copy instead. Delete all the copies in /Applications.
The Operating System is now on a read-only, secure disk volume (which is invisibly merged with the rest of your disk, so that it looks all one big disk).
You can't move those apps, which is why you make a copy instead. Delete all the copies in /Applications.
What year was that video made? The last few years of macOS releases have had read-only /Applications folders, so it would have been impractical to move or copy any apps therein, without taking some additional steps first.
Even in much older OS releases, moving apps around in /Applications was a bad idea, because it would break OS updaters, which often assumed that the Apple-provided apps were in their original places. An app in a different place wouldn't be updated, or sometimes a partial app would be placed in the original location.
You can put aliases to apps in folders you create, and arrange those however you want. For example, if you wanted a folder of certain apps arranged in a specific way, which you kept in your Dock for easy access.
Thank you both very much! I appreciate the information and I'm very glad I asked. I ran an update to 12.1, and then I deleted all the dragged copies and kept the originals in their proper spots. I will organize the apps in the Launchpad instead.