{"id":"apps.which-folders-does-the-apps-window-scan","url":"/faq/apps/which-folders-does-the-apps-window-scan","category":{"id":"apps","title":"Apps"},"subcategory":{"id":"apps-window","title":"The Apps window and launcher"},"question":"Which folders does Storage Studio look in for apps?","alt_questions":["Where does the Apps window find apps?","Does Storage Studio see apps in my home Applications folder?","Does it scan the Utilities folder?","Does Storage Studio find Setapp apps?","app scan locations"],"short_answer":"It scans the main Applications folder, your personal Applications folder, the Setapp folder and Utilities, plus apps already on your fast drive. Protected system apps aren't offered for moving.","answer_markdown":"Storage Studio scans the standard places apps live on a Mac: the main **Applications** folder (shared by every user), your personal **Applications** folder in your home folder, the **Setapp** folder, and **Utilities**. It also shows apps you've already moved to your fast drive.\n\nApple's built-in system apps live in a protected, read-only part of macOS and can't be moved, so they aren't offered. When you bring an app back, it returns to exactly the folder it came from.","answer_html":"

Storage Studio scans the standard places apps live on a Mac: the main Applications folder (shared by every user), your personal Applications folder in your home folder, the Setapp folder, and Utilities. It also shows apps you've already moved to your fast drive.

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Apple's built-in system apps live in a protected, read-only part of macOS and can't be moved, so they aren't offered. When you bring an app back, it returns to exactly the folder it came from.

","answer_text":"Storage Studio scans the standard places apps live on a Mac: the main Applications folder (shared by every user), your personal Applications folder in your home folder, the Setapp folder, and Utilities. It also shows apps you've already moved to your fast drive.\n\nApple's built-in system apps live in a protected, read-only part of macOS and can't be moved, so they aren't offered. When you bring an app back, it returns to exactly the folder it came from.","tags":["scan","applications folder"],"related":[{"id":"apps.what-do-the-install-folder-chips-mean","question":"What do the small location chips next to each app mean?","url":"/faq/apps/what-do-the-install-folder-chips-mean"},{"id":"apps.why-is-an-app-missing-from-the-apps-window","question":"Why is one of my apps missing from the Apps window?","url":"/faq/apps/why-is-an-app-missing-from-the-apps-window"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Which folders does Storage Studio look in for apps? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"It scans the main Applications folder, your personal Applications folder, the Setapp folder and Utilities, plus apps already on your fast drive. Protected system apps aren't offered for moving.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Apps","path":"/faq/apps/"},{"name":"Which folders does Storage Studio look in for apps?","path":"/faq/apps/which-folders-does-the-apps-window-scan"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/apps/which-folders-does-the-apps-window-scan","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Which folders does Storage Studio look in for apps?","alternateName":["Where does the Apps window find apps?","Does Storage Studio see apps in my home Applications folder?","Does it scan the Utilities folder?","Does Storage Studio find Setapp apps?","app scan locations"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Storage Studio scans the standard places apps live on a Mac: the main Applications folder (shared by every user), your personal Applications folder in your home folder, the Setapp folder, and Utilities. It also shows apps you've already moved to your fast drive.\n\nApple's built-in system apps live in a protected, read-only part of macOS and can't be moved, so they aren't offered. When you bring an app back, it returns to exactly the folder it came from.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/apps/which-folders-does-the-apps-window-scan"}}]},"fragment":"
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Apps · The Apps window and launcher

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Which folders does Storage Studio look in for apps?

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Short answer: It scans the main Applications folder, your personal Applications folder, the Setapp folder and Utilities, plus apps already on your fast drive. Protected system apps aren't offered for moving.

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Storage Studio scans the standard places apps live on a Mac: the main Applications folder (shared by every user), your personal Applications folder in your home folder, the Setapp folder, and Utilities. It also shows apps you've already moved to your fast drive.

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Apple's built-in system apps live in a protected, read-only part of macOS and can't be moved, so they aren't offered. When you bring an app back, it returns to exactly the folder it came from.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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