Mac – Is it possible to keep Mac App Store apps in the user application directory

applicationsmac-appstore

I have a MacBook Pro configured in the following way:

120GB SSD
70GB OS X boot partition (10.8.2)
50GB BootCamp partition
750GB WD HDD
Essentially all used as my Home folder

Is it possible to keep some of the larger (less frequently used) application in my ~/Applications folder while still allowing the MAS purchased apps to receive updates? A simple alias will certainly not do the trick, but is there a way to create a symlink that will allow the linked file to receive the upgrade?

I'd like to remove some of the larger, less frequently used applications from the (space-limited) SSD… This makes me appreciated the elegance required in creating the FusionDrive framework!

Thanks in advance!

Best Answer

I do not know if there is such a possibility to have this as a default behavior but you could simply move the application to your user application directory or anywhere else.

Finder by default creates an alias when you drag an application out of the /Applications folder. However, if you hold down the "Command" key while dragging your applications, they will move to wherever you drag them.

If you want to go a geekier route, you can also use Terminal and execute this command:

sudo mv /Applications/your-application.app ~/Applications/

After promting for your login password everything is fine. Be sure to be administrator of your system.

This certainly works for me. I can use the application as usual and it receives all updates via the Mac App Store.

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