---
id: troubleshooting.app-installed-by-macos-password-cancelled
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/app-installed-by-macos-password-cancelled
category: "Troubleshooting & messages"
subcategory: "Moving, offloading and restoring apps"
question: "What happens if I cancel the password prompt when moving an app installed by macOS?"
alt_questions:
  - "this app was installed by macos and needs administrator access to move but the password prompt was cancelled"
  - "cancelled admin password app move"
  - "nothing was changed app move cancelled"
  - "system-owned app move password"
short_answer: "System-owned apps need your administrator password to move. Cancelling stops Storage Studio before anything changes — the app stays put and works as before."
tags: ["apps", "administrator password"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/cant-determine-how-app-is-updated", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/force-quit-unsaved-work-warning"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What happens if I cancel the password prompt when moving an app installed by macOS?

Apps installed by an installer package (rather than dragged to Applications) are owned by the system, so moving them needs your administrator password. If you cancel that prompt, Storage Studio stops before touching anything — the app stays exactly where it was and keeps working.

To move it, try again and enter your password. If it's a Mac App Store app, App Store updates may not follow it to your drive, which is why Storage Studio lets you decide.