In the latest macOS Sequoia developer beta, Apple has introduced a new feature that allows users to install Mac App Store apps directly onto external drives, thereby saving storage space and costs.
This change, though appearing minor, has significant implications for storage management and offers users more flexibility in how they use and manage applications.
Usually, Mac App Store apps are installed in the internal Applications folder, consuming limited internal storage. Now, users can install larger apps (over 1GB) on external drives, which aligns with how third-party apps are managed. This change should help users manage and maximise their internal storage, which is often limited (256GB or even 128GB) and costly to upgrade.
This new feature also allows users to try apps temporarily without adding them to the internal Applications folder. Apps can be easily installed and removed from external drives, making it convenient for those who need to use an app for a specific task or test multiple versions without cluttering internal storage.
While this offers flexibility and space-saving benefits, it may, however, impact performance depending on the speed of the external drive. Also, users will need to keep the external drive connected to access these apps, which might be less convenient for those who use their Macs on the move. Despite these drawbacks, this new option looks like providing a more adaptable way to manage Mac storage and applications.