---
id: apps.what-if-i-delete-a-moved-app-from-the-external-drive
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/apps/what-if-i-delete-a-moved-app-from-the-external-drive
category: "Apps"
subcategory: "Drive, safety and recovery"
question: "What happens if I delete a moved app from the external drive in Finder?"
alt_questions:
  - "Deleted app on fast drive by hand"
  - "Broken shortcut after deleting app on SSD"
  - "Removed moved app from drive manually"
short_answer: "The shortcut then points at nothing and the app won't open. Put it back from the Trash or reinstall it; next time use Uninstall on the Moved tab instead."
tags: ["troubleshooting", "external drive"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/apps/can-i-uninstall-an-app-i-moved-to-the-external-drive"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What happens if I delete a moved app from the external drive in Finder?

The shortcut on your Mac then points at nothing, so the app won't open. If it's still in the Trash, put it back. Otherwise reinstall the app from its developer — its settings were never moved, so they're still on your Mac.

To get rid of a moved app on purpose, use **Uninstall** on the **Moved** tab instead; it removes the app, the shortcut and its leftovers together.