Why do applications I install only sometimes appear in the Applications directory? This is on OSX 10.7.5.

Often when I install a new application it wont appear in the Applications folder and the only way I can access it is by using Spotlight.

Any way I can make all applications appear in this folder?
Its the path of the installer. Most will automatically download in Applications.Notice how at the end of most installers, the finder window pops up with only its contents, and a symlink to your Applications folder for you to drag &amp; drop into it. If an application does not follow that installation structure, its because the developer didn't invest the time to do so.