{"id":"data-transfers.is-move-safe","url":"/faq/data-transfers/is-move-safe","category":{"id":"data-transfers","title":"Data Transfers"},"subcategory":{"id":"operations","title":"Copy, Move and Sync"},"question":"Is Move safe — when are the original files removed?","alt_questions":["Does Move delete the source before copying?","move files to cloud and delete local copy safely","when does storage studio delete originals after a move","is moving files to the cloud risky","move verifies before deleting","Will I lose files if a move fails?"],"short_answer":"Yes. Move copies each file, checks it at the destination, and only then removes the original. If something fails, the originals that didn't make it across stay where they were.","answer_markdown":"Yes. **Move** copies first, checks what arrived at the destination, and only then removes the source. If a file doesn't make it across, its original stays where it was.\n\nIf a Move is cancelled or fails part-way, files that already finished are at the destination and everything else is still at the source — nothing is left in neither place. Open the transfer's detail to see what happened, then start a new Move to finish the rest; already-moved files are no longer in the source, so only what's left is sent.\n\nIf you're unsure, run a **Copy** first, check the destination, and delete the originals yourself.\n\nRelated: [Copy, Move or Sync?](/faq/data-transfers/copy-vs-move-vs-sync) · [A transfer failed — what now?](/faq/data-transfers/a-transfer-failed-what-now)","answer_html":"

Yes. Move copies first, checks what arrived at the destination, and only then removes the source. If a file doesn't make it across, its original stays where it was.

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If a Move is cancelled or fails part-way, files that already finished are at the destination and everything else is still at the source — nothing is left in neither place. Open the transfer's detail to see what happened, then start a new Move to finish the rest; already-moved files are no longer in the source, so only what's left is sent.

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If you're unsure, run a Copy first, check the destination, and delete the originals yourself.

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Related: Copy, Move or Sync? · A transfer failed — what now?

","answer_text":"Yes. Move copies first, checks what arrived at the destination, and only then removes the source. If a file doesn't make it across, its original stays where it was.\n\nIf a Move is cancelled or fails part-way, files that already finished are at the destination and everything else is still at the source — nothing is left in neither place. Open the transfer's detail to see what happened, then start a new Move to finish the rest; already-moved files are no longer in the source, so only what's left is sent.\n\nIf you're unsure, run a Copy first, check the destination, and delete the originals yourself.\n\nRelated: Copy, Move or Sync? · A transfer failed — what now?","tags":["move","safety","verification"],"related":[{"id":"data-transfers.copy-vs-move-vs-sync","question":"What's the difference between Copy, Move and Sync in Data Transfers?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/copy-vs-move-vs-sync"},{"id":"data-transfers.a-transfer-failed-what-now","question":"A transfer failed — how do I find out why and try again?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/a-transfer-failed-what-now"},{"id":"data-transfers.what-happens-when-i-cancel","question":"What happens to my files when I cancel a transfer?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/what-happens-when-i-cancel"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Is Move safe — when are the original files removed? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Yes. Move copies each file, checks it at the destination, and only then removes the original. If something fails, the originals that didn't make it across stay where they were.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Data Transfers","path":"/faq/data-transfers/"},{"name":"Is Move safe — when are the original files removed?","path":"/faq/data-transfers/is-move-safe"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/is-move-safe","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Is Move safe — when are the original files removed?","alternateName":["Does Move delete the source before copying?","move files to cloud and delete local copy safely","when does storage studio delete originals after a move","is moving files to the cloud risky","move verifies before deleting","Will I lose files if a move fails?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Move copies first, checks what arrived at the destination, and only then removes the source. If a file doesn't make it across, its original stays where it was.\n\nIf a Move is cancelled or fails part-way, files that already finished are at the destination and everything else is still at the source — nothing is left in neither place. Open the transfer's detail to see what happened, then start a new Move to finish the rest; already-moved files are no longer in the source, so only what's left is sent.\n\nIf you're unsure, run a Copy first, check the destination, and delete the originals yourself.\n\nRelated: Copy, Move or Sync? · A transfer failed — what now?","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/is-move-safe"}}]},"fragment":"
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Data Transfers · Copy, Move and Sync

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Is Move safe — when are the original files removed?

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Short answer: Yes. Move copies each file, checks it at the destination, and only then removes the original. If something fails, the originals that didn't make it across stay where they were.

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Yes. Move copies first, checks what arrived at the destination, and only then removes the source. If a file doesn't make it across, its original stays where it was.

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If a Move is cancelled or fails part-way, files that already finished are at the destination and everything else is still at the source — nothing is left in neither place. Open the transfer's detail to see what happened, then start a new Move to finish the rest; already-moved files are no longer in the source, so only what's left is sent.

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If you're unsure, run a Copy first, check the destination, and delete the originals yourself.

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Related: Copy, Move or Sync? · A transfer failed — what now?

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