How to update a tool if "The installation path is not writable" error is shown?

Behind the company firewall also raised this error. After connecting to a public internet, it worked.

For Mac OS : 

System Settings >> Privacy & Security >> App Management >> Enable for JetBrains Toolbox

Running as admin on windows is what worked for me. Reinstalling did nothing.

Don't follow the advice to reinstall the tool – you will probably loose all your settings

There are checkboxes in the uninstaller for clearing settings, history, etc., but they are off by default. As long as you don't enable them, all your settings will be preserved.

This worked for me:

1. Open the tool directory specified in the tool settings, e.g. C:\Program Files\JetBrains\GoLand 2023.1.3

2. Navigate to the parent directory (e.g. C:\Program Files\JetBrains) and modify its permissions so that the current user has write access.

3. Close toolbox, and then open it as admin.
 

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Fix: JetBrains Toolbox Updates failing on MacOS
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The Problem:
If you are unable to update IntelliJ (or other JetBrains IDEs) via the Toolbox App, it is likely because our corporate Macs have the main /Applications folder set to Read-Only for security.

The specified directory is not writable. Tool updates are disabled

Toolbox tries to update the existing app in /Applications.
It fails with a "Not Writable" or "Updates Disabled" error.
You cannot uninstall the old version for the same reason.

The Solution:
You need to point Toolbox to your local user directory and install a fresh parallel copy there.
Steps:
- Open JetBrains Toolbox and click the Settings (Gear) icon in the top right.
Under Tools, find "Tools install location".
- Change the path to your user applications folder: ~/Applications 
  (This is short for /Users/<your_username>/Applications).
- Go back to the main list. Do not click the main "Update" button on the “broken” instance.
- Click the three dots (⋮) next to IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate.
- Select "Other versions" -> Choose the latest version -> Install.

Result:
You will now have a new, fully updatable version of IntelliJ installed in your user folder. You can ignore the old "frozen" corporate version.

Thanks Justinas Urbanavicius This worked for macOS Tahoe 26.2!

For anyone still facing this: make sure to grant JetBrains Toolbox access under Settings → Privacy & Security → App Management.

I can't even find the update option for the toolbox itself. It it not listed in “Tools” or “Installed Tools". Why can't it simply start the setup process and ask for permissions then? And why is there no update notification anymore as soon as the Toolbox is used? I found out there is an update available by sheer luck.

Argh, now the update can't proceed because “the tool files are in use”. Why is so broken :(

I have come from the future to tell you that JB still hasn't fixed this….

>Open "Other versions" list from the tool actions.

I don't even find that (JetBrains Toolbox 3.4.1.78303, Windows 11, x64).

Where is this hidden? Can't find that in the list of “Tools” and also not in the settings.

I updated manually now by downloading and reinstalling the current version. Still the same message:

And not, I will certainly _not_ just give the current user full write permissions for the whole IDE. This is really dangerous and should not be the suggested solution. Instead, the _Update Installer_ should just ask for admin rights when started. 

Just enable this

For MacOS users: Grant "App Management" Permissions

macOS has a security layer that prevents one app (Toolbox) from altering or replacing another app (like IntelliJ or WebStorm) inside your /Applications folder without explicit permission.

1. Open your Mac's System Settings.
2. Navigate to Privacy & Security in the left sidebar.
3. Scroll down on the right side and click on App Management.
4. Look for JetBrains Toolbox in the list and toggle the switch to On. (If it's already on, toggle it off, wait 5 seconds, and toggle it back on).
5. Fully close the JetBrains Toolbox app (click the gear icon in the app -> Quit) and re-open it. Try updating again.