# Xway can’t be updated if it’s running from the location it was downloaded to
**URL:** https://discourse.softpress.com/t/xway-can-t-be-updated-if-it-s-running-from-the-location-it-was-downloaded-to/26231
**Category:** Xway
**Created:** [July 17, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/xway-can-t-be-updated-if-it-s-running-from-the-location-it-was-downloaded-to/26231 "2025-07-17T21:35:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Tony1](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/Tony1)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/xway-can-t-be-updated-if-it-s-running-from-the-location-it-was-downloaded-to/26231/1 "2025-07-17T21:35:10Z")
“Xway can’t be updated if it’s running from the location it was downloaded to.”
That’s the msg I get when I “Check for updates…”
Sigh
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### Author:  [@Jeremy](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/Jeremy)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2025, 9:57pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/xway-can-t-be-updated-if-it-s-running-from-the-location-it-was-downloaded-to/26231/2 "2025-07-17T21:57:39Z")
> “Xway can’t be updated if it’s running from the location it was downloaded to.”
This is caused by a security feature of macOS called “translocation”.
It basically means that if you download a macOS application, you should move it before running it. In most cases this happens naturally: someone downloads a zip file containing an app, decompresses it, and then moves the app to their Applications folder. But if you moved the zip file to your Applications folder and decompressed it there, you could run into problems.
Assuming that Xway is currently in your Applications folder, what I suggest is:
1. Move it outside the folder
2. Run it outside the folder (I don’t think this is necessary)
3. Move it back into the Applications folder and run it from there.
If Xway isn’t in your Applications folder, move it there.
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### Author:  [@Jeremy](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/Jeremy)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/xway-can-t-be-updated-if-it-s-running-from-the-location-it-was-downloaded-to/26231/3 "2025-07-17T22:20:01Z")
Translocation essentially means that if you run a macOS app from the location it was downloaded to, it will be randomly copied to a different location each time it is launched, and run from this random location.
Translocation can also cause other problems, so it’s a good thing if you’re prompted to fix this.
For more information see this [TidBITS article](https://tidbits.com/2022/09/06/move-downloaded-mac-apps-before-initial-launch/).
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### Author:  [@Tony1](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/Tony1)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/xway-can-t-be-updated-if-it-s-running-from-the-location-it-was-downloaded-to/26231/4 "2025-07-18T20:44:50Z")
Dragging Xway out of the App folder to the desktop creates an alias and does not move the Xway app.
So I created an empty desktop folder, dragged Xway into it, opened and closed Xway, and then dragged it back into the Apps folder. But I still get the same error msg when I open Xway and check for updates.
This is really frustrating. I never encountered this before.
Can I somehow just download the latest version of Xway? …although I would likely have the same problem with future updates.
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### Author:  [@simonmanning](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/simonmanning)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/xway-can-t-be-updated-if-it-s-running-from-the-location-it-was-downloaded-to/26231/5 "2025-07-18T22:08:18Z")
Apple doesn’t document how exactly translocation behaves but the only obvious reason I can think of why it might continue to happen after moving it away and back again would be if the zip was originally extracted in the Applications folder and the system has recorded that as the location it was downloaded.
You can download Xway using the Try link at the top of the [Xway](http://softpress.com/xway) page. I would recommend trashing Xway first rather than dragging the new version on top and replacing it.
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### Author:  [@Jeremy](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/Jeremy)
#### Post date: [July 19, 2025, 9:54am UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/xway-can-t-be-updated-if-it-s-running-from-the-location-it-was-downloaded-to/26231/6 "2025-07-19T09:54:00Z")
Holding down the Command key while dragging will prevent macOS from creating an alias. But if you’re finding it difficult to move Xway out of the Applications folder, the simplest thing is to delete it from there and start again.
You can click on the Try button on the Xway page, or use the download link that you originally received by email.
Decompress the zip file outside of Applications first, then move Xway there.
To test whether Xway is installed correctly: choose Check for Updates from the Xway menu. This will display an error message if you’re running Xway from the location it was downloaded to.
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### Author:  [@Tony1](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/Tony1)
#### Post date: [July 19, 2025, 8:00pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/xway-can-t-be-updated-if-it-s-running-from-the-location-it-was-downloaded-to/26231/7 "2025-07-19T20:00:51Z")
Aaaaahhhhh…success.
I downloaded v.1.04 and could check for updates…AND…finally…could open my (now barely recognizable) Seeworthybirds.freeway document
Now I have to figure out restore the appearance.
Many thanks for your prompt and patient help.
I hope I don’t have to many more pleas for assistance.
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### Author:  [@Jeremy](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/Jeremy)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2025, 10:17am UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/xway-can-t-be-updated-if-it-s-running-from-the-location-it-was-downloaded-to/26231/8 "2025-07-20T10:17:16Z")
I’d suggest looking at some of the [tutorials](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/tutorial-need-one-for-x-way/26227/2), especially the introductory tutorial.