---
id: external-drives.files-on-the-fast-drive-nothing-points-to
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/files-on-the-fast-drive-nothing-points-to
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Checking your drive"
question: "What does \"Some files are still on your fast drive but nothing on this Mac points to them any more\" mean?"
alt_questions:
  - "Orphaned files on fast drive"
  - "Files on drive with no shortcut"
  - "Leftover data on external drive Storage Studio"
  - "fast drive orphaned files notice"
  - "Shortcut removed but data still on drive"
  - "Should I delete orphaned files on the fast drive?"
short_answer: "Data Storage Studio moved is still on the drive, but its shortcut on your Mac is gone — often because the app or folder was deleted or reinstalled. Copy it back if you need it, or use Storage Studio's Delete option to clean it up."
tags: ["orphaned files", "integrity", "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/something-changed-files-moved-to-the-fast-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/an-app-started-keeping-its-own-copy-of-moved-files"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What does "Some files are still on your fast drive but nothing on this Mac points to them any more" mean?

Data that Storage Studio moved is still on the drive, but the shortcut on your Mac that led to it has gone — usually because the app or folder was deleted, reinstalled or replaced on the Mac. The data is safe; it just isn't connected to anything.

Look at the item before deciding. If you still need it, copy it back to your Mac. If you don't, Storage Studio's tidy-up options remove the leftover data, the record and any dead link together — in Storage Inspector these broken rows show a **Delete** option with a confirmation that explains exactly what will be removed.