{"id":"apps.how-do-i-move-an-app-back-to-my-mac","url":"/faq/apps/how-do-i-move-an-app-back-to-my-mac","category":{"id":"apps","title":"Apps"},"subcategory":{"id":"moving-back","title":"Moving apps back"},"question":"How do I move an app back from my external drive to my Mac?","alt_questions":["Undo an app move","Use Move back on the Moved tab for an app","Return app to Applications folder","Bring a moved app back to internal drive","Reverse moving an app"],"short_answer":"Open Apps → Moved and click Move back. Storage Studio copies the app back to its original folder, removes the shortcut, and cleans up the fast-drive copy. The drive must be connected.","answer_markdown":"Open the Apps window, go to the **Moved** tab, and click **Move back** on the app. Storage Studio copies it back to the exact folder it came from, removes the shortcut, and reinstates it so Spotlight, the Dock and Launchpad find it immediately. The copy on your fast drive is then removed.\n\nYour fast drive must be connected, and your Mac needs enough free space for the app. Quit the app first if it's open.","answer_html":"

Open the Apps window, go to the Moved tab, and click Move back on the app. Storage Studio copies it back to the exact folder it came from, removes the shortcut, and reinstates it so Spotlight, the Dock and Launchpad find it immediately. The copy on your fast drive is then removed.

\n

Your fast drive must be connected, and your Mac needs enough free space for the app. Quit the app first if it's open.

","answer_text":"Open the Apps window, go to the Moved tab, and click Move back on the app. Storage Studio copies it back to the exact folder it came from, removes the shortcut, and reinstates it so Spotlight, the Dock and Launchpad find it immediately. The copy on your fast drive is then removed.\n\nYour fast drive must be connected, and your Mac needs enough free space for the app. Quit the app first if it's open.","tags":["move back","undo"],"related":[{"id":"apps.can-i-move-an-app-back-without-the-drive","question":"Can I move an app back if my external drive isn't connected?","url":"/faq/apps/can-i-move-an-app-back-without-the-drive"},{"id":"apps.how-much-internal-space-do-i-need-to-move-an-app-back","question":"How much free space do I need on my Mac to move an app back?","url":"/faq/apps/how-much-internal-space-do-i-need-to-move-an-app-back"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I move an app back from my external drive to my Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Open Apps → Moved and click Move back. Storage Studio copies the app back to its original folder, removes the shortcut, and cleans up the fast-drive copy. The drive must be connected.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Apps","path":"/faq/apps/"},{"name":"How do I move an app back from my external drive to my Mac?","path":"/faq/apps/how-do-i-move-an-app-back-to-my-mac"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/apps/how-do-i-move-an-app-back-to-my-mac","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I move an app back from my external drive to my Mac?","alternateName":["Undo an app move","Use Move back on the Moved tab for an app","Return app to Applications folder","Bring a moved app back to internal drive","Reverse moving an app"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Open the Apps window, go to the Moved tab, and click Move back on the app. Storage Studio copies it back to the exact folder it came from, removes the shortcut, and reinstates it so Spotlight, the Dock and Launchpad find it immediately. The copy on your fast drive is then removed.\n\nYour fast drive must be connected, and your Mac needs enough free space for the app. Quit the app first if it's open.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/apps/how-do-i-move-an-app-back-to-my-mac"}}]},"fragment":"
\n
\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Apps · Moving apps back

\n

How do I move an app back from my external drive to my Mac?

\n

Short answer: Open Apps → Moved and click Move back. Storage Studio copies the app back to its original folder, removes the shortcut, and cleans up the fast-drive copy. The drive must be connected.

\n

Open the Apps window, go to the Moved tab, and click Move back on the app. Storage Studio copies it back to the exact folder it came from, removes the shortcut, and reinstates it so Spotlight, the Dock and Launchpad find it immediately. The copy on your fast drive is then removed.

\n

Your fast drive must be connected, and your Mac needs enough free space for the app. Quit the app first if it's open.

\n\n

Last reviewed

\n\n

Related questions

\n

Also available as Markdown and JSON.

\n
"}