---
id: external-drives.why-does-transfer-drive-ask-for-my-password
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/why-does-transfer-drive-ask-for-my-password
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Upgrading, transferring and backing up the drive"
question: "Why does Transfer Drive ask for my administrator password?"
alt_questions:
  - "Admin password at the end of drive transfer"
  - "Transfer Drive password prompt"
  - "Do I have to enter my password to switch drives?"
  - "What if I decline the password?"
  - "storage studio admin password transfer"
  - "Why does switching drives need admin rights?"
short_answer: "Some shortcuts it must update — such as moved apps in your Applications folder — are protected, so macOS needs your administrator password once. If you decline, nothing switches and your current drive stays active."
tags: ["administrator password", "transfer drive", "permissions"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-move-everything-to-a-new-external-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/transfer-drive-vs-backup-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-checks-run-before-transfer-drive-starts"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Why does Transfer Drive ask for my administrator password?

Switching over means updating the shortcuts that lead to your moved items, and some of them may be in protected places — for example apps you moved out of your Applications folder. macOS requires an administrator password to change those, so Storage Studio asks **once** at the end.

If you decline, or the final check finds a problem, nothing is switched: your current drive stays active and everything keeps working as before. The new drive keeps its verified copy, so you can try again later.