App Automatically Deleted from Applications Folder - OSX

Question

Created Feb ’24

Replies 3

Boosts 1

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I made an application in Script Editor and it works as expected. But the app seems to be getting automatically deleted at random times. For example, I made it a few days ago, tested it successfully, then went back today to look for it and it was gone. Tested this multiple times.

I bit more detail about my process:

I wrote the app in Script editor, exported it as an Application with run-only checked and no code signing
after manipulating a few things (.plist file, .icns file), I then remove extended attributes and code-sign using terminal. I have an Apple developer account that I use to code-sign:

xattr -cr <path_to_app>
codesign -s <my_developer_account> <path_to_app_bundle>

then I copy the app into my Applications folder and test it successfully
a day or more later, the app is gone (and I haven't even opened it again)

Ventura 13.1, Mac Book Pro 2021

Boost

Answer 1

jiffjaff OP

Feb ’24

Just to close the loop, after some testing, I believe the issue was with my certificate. I downloaded it again from the Apple developer site and ran through the same process and it appears to have worked.

So despite there being no flag when codesigning with a bad certificate, the app was seen to be from an untrusted developer and was deleted automatically.

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Answer 2

gulevich OP

4w

Same happens with freshly installed Firefox and Google Chrome, so certificate problem seems unlikely.

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Answer 3

gulevich OP

4w

User's directory does not seem to be a subject for this cleanup. Applications installed from AppStore are also unaffected.

Workaround: install any non App Store applications to ~/Applications instead of /Applications.

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