This is the SECOND version that won’t install as it is supposed to. Every time I try to install the version, it says I’ve encountered a problem and that I need to manually click “skip” for items that match existing files. The problem is that there is NO prompt that allows me to make that choice. It won’t even tell me WHICH items need to be skipped. The last time I had to wipe the previous version and install after. How do I make this work as it is supposed to? Here is the message after I drag the icon to the applications folder.
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Please do understand, the files are not locked. Even if there were some locked files, why would it not step through the files that need permission to replace so that I know which files they are?
What is your version of macOS?
What version(s) of Audacity did you try to install? Your screenshot says 3.7.7.0 - but its size seems much too big (my 3.6.4 is about 93 MB only). Where did you download it from?
Are you signed in as an Administrator or just as a “normal” user, or as a “guest user”?
Do you want to install into the “Applications” folder, or elsewhere?
Audacity can be installed and used (verified by my own experience) on macOS Sequoia, macOS Sonoma, macOS Monterey and macOS High Sierra. On these systems, I did install and use it, but others will also work.
If you follow the installation guidelines, the new version will replace the old one. But you are asked before the system does this. And you may not replace a running copy of any program - I guess Audacity was running at that time…
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Yeah, I followed the instructions to the letter. I don’t know why my Mac OS keeps refusing to function the way it says it’s supposed to function.
Mac OS v. Tahoe 26.1
Audacity version being installed 3.7.7
Downloaded from Audacityteam.org download page.
I was signed in one time and not signed in another time. Both times failed.
I am installing it directly into the Applications folder (drag and drop into the folder in the Audacity window.)
This is the second version in a row that fails to function properly when installing on my Mac.
Thanks for responding. If you have anything that may help in the future, please let me know! 
This sounds weird…
Can you install other programs this way (drag the icon into the Applications folder symbol)?
You did not mention whether the user profile you used is an administrator or not. Can you check? Go to System settings / Users and Groups and look what is written there. Does it say “Admin” below the username?
If you make a new admin user, log in as this new user and try to install - does it work then? If so, there is something wrong with the user settings.
Else, I think your macOS installation may be broken…
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I do use the admin profile. Other than “Guest,” it’s the only one on the system.
I can install ALL other programs by dragging them to the built-in “Applications” shortcut. That’s why this is so confusing to me.
I’m just afraid of losing all of my plugins and such since I have to remove the entire Audacity folder to get the new versions.
This has happened with the last two versions before 12/20/2025.
It’s so confusing.
If you delete the App in the Applications folder, you are losing nothing. All settings etc. are stored away from the app, in
~/Library/Application Support/audacity
(see the contents of my installation below)
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Thank you. I did find that after compressing the original. I hope that this is not happening to others though. It really seems intimidating for those not in the know. Thank you, again!
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