---
id: external-drives.an-app-started-keeping-its-own-copy-of-moved-files
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/an-app-started-keeping-its-own-copy-of-moved-files
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Checking your drive"
question: "What does \"An app has started keeping its own copy of files we'd moved to your fast drive\" mean?"
alt_questions:
  - "Two copies of moved app data"
  - "App recreated folder on internal drive"
  - "Both copies left alone Storage Studio"
  - "app copy forked fast drive"
  - "Why is the moved data back on my Mac?"
  - "App ignored the shortcut and made new files"
short_answer: "An app replaced Storage Studio's shortcut with its own folder, so there are now two copies — one on your Mac, one on the drive. Storage Studio leaves both untouched until you decide which to keep."
tags: ["integrity", "app data", "notice"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/files-moved-to-the-fast-drive-are-not-on-it-any-more", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/files-on-the-fast-drive-nothing-points-to", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/something-changed-files-moved-to-the-fast-drive"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What does "An app has started keeping its own copy of files we'd moved to your fast drive" mean?

An app replaced the shortcut Storage Studio left with a real folder of its own — so there's now one copy on your Mac and the moved copy on the fast drive. Apps sometimes do this after an update or a reset. Storage Studio leaves **both** copies alone rather than guessing which one you want.

Check which copy the app is now using — usually the new one on your Mac. Once you are sure you no longer need the older copy on the drive, you can remove it; until you decide, nothing is deleted.