Resolving the MacOS Helper Tool Popup in Evernote

The "Helper Tool" popup issue is not specific to Evernote but is instead due to permission settings on your system that affect how the app is installed and updated. It usually occurs when the application is installed with different user privileges (e.g., root) and is used by a user with lower or different access privileges.

To check if this applies to your Evernote installation, follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal app (located in Applications > Utilities).

2. Run the following command:

   ls -alh /Applications/ | grep Evernote

3. Check the output. Look for a line similar to this:

   drwxr-xr-x@  3 root  staff    96B 3 Feb 00:54 Evernote.app  

4. Identify the owner: If Evernote is owned by root instead of your user account, this is likely the cause of the repeated prompts.

Fixing the Issue

There are some possible workarounds to resolve this issue.
Before trying any of them, ensure you have completely closed the Evernote app.

Solution 1: Changing App Ownership

One way to fix the issue is to change the ownership of the Evernote app to your user account.
Follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal app.

2. Find your username by running:

   whoami

   The output will be your system username (e.g., USER).

3. Run the following command to change ownership:

   sudo chown -R USER:staff /Applications/Evernote.app

   Replace USER with your actual username.

4. Enter your administrator password when prompted.

5. Verify the ownership change by running the first command again:

   ls -alh /Applications/ | grep Evernote

   The output should now look like:

   drwxr-xr-x@  3 USER  staff    96B 3 Feb 00:54 Evernote.app

6. Reopen Evernote – the app should no longer prompt you to install the Helper Tool.

Note: Ownership may revert to root after an app update. If this happens, you may need to repeat the steps above.

Solution 2: Install Evernote for your user only

An alternative approach is to install Evernote in your user-level Applications folder instead of the system-wide Applications folder (/Applications).
This should install Evernote only for your current user and should maintain the correct permissions.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Finder.
2. Navigate to the system-level Applications folder (/Applications) and delete Evernote.app.
3. Download the installer from the website. Open it but do not drag the Evernote icon to the Applications folder yet.
4. Open your user-level Applications folder (/Users/USER/Applications) in Finder, where USER is your username.
5. Drag the Evernote icon from the installer window to finder /Users/USER/Applications

Note: If you choose this option, Evernote will be installed for the active user only. The Evernote.app file will be located in /Users/USER/Applications instead of the standard /Applications folder.

Solution 3: Installing from the Mac App Store

If the issue persists or recurs after a software update, switching to the Mac App Store version of Evernote may be the best solution. The installation and update process for this version is managed by Apple and does not require manual folder or permission adjustments.

How to Switch to the Mac App Store Version:

1. Uninstall the website-downloaded version (see this guide).

2. Download and install Evernote from the Mac App Store: Evernote on Mac App Store.

Considerations When Choosing This Option:

• Delayed updates – App updates may take longer due to Apple’s review process and staged rollouts. More info on update release processes here.

• Manual updates check (if auto-update is off) – Updates must be manually checked and installed through the App Store app. Ensure automatic updates are enabled in App Store > Settings to reduce manual intervention.

• Switching back requires extra steps – If you later decide to use the direct download version, you must first uninstall the App Store version to prevent file conflicts.

Updated February 04, 2025 10:10