{"id":"finder-location.can-i-attach-or-upload-a-moved-file","url":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-attach-or-upload-a-moved-file","category":{"id":"finder-location","title":"Finding things in Finder"},"subcategory":{"id":"opening-files","title":"Opening and using moved files"},"question":"Can I attach a moved file to an email or upload it from its usual folder?","alt_questions":["Attach relocated file to email Mac","Upload a file that Storage Studio moved","Does Mail attach the shortcut or the real file?","Can I share a moved file with AirDrop?","Sending a file that lives on the external drive"],"short_answer":"Yes. Choosing the file from its usual folder in an Open or Attach window gives the app the real file from your external drive, as long as it's connected. To copy the actual file elsewhere, use Show Original first.","answer_markdown":"Yes. When you pick the file from its usual folder in an app's Open or Attach window, macOS follows the shortcut and hands the app the real file from your external drive. The drive must be connected.\n\nIf you *copy* the shortcut itself somewhere — onto a USB stick, or to another Mac — you may only copy the link, not the file. To give someone the actual file, copy it from the drive: select the shortcut, choose **File → Show Original**, and copy the item Finder shows you.\n\nSee [How to find the real file behind a shortcut](/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-find-the-real-file-behind-a-shortcut).","answer_html":"

Yes. When you pick the file from its usual folder in an app's Open or Attach window, macOS follows the shortcut and hands the app the real file from your external drive. The drive must be connected.

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If you copy the shortcut itself somewhere — onto a USB stick, or to another Mac — you may only copy the link, not the file. To give someone the actual file, copy it from the drive: select the shortcut, choose File → Show Original, and copy the item Finder shows you.

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See How to find the real file behind a shortcut.

","answer_text":"Yes. When you pick the file from its usual folder in an app's Open or Attach window, macOS follows the shortcut and hands the app the real file from your external drive. The drive must be connected.\n\nIf you copy the shortcut itself somewhere — onto a USB stick, or to another Mac — you may only copy the link, not the file. To give someone the actual file, copy it from the drive: select the shortcut, choose File → Show Original, and copy the item Finder shows you.\n\nSee How to find the real file behind a shortcut.","tags":["email","attach","upload","shortcut"],"related":[{"id":"finder-location.how-do-i-find-the-real-file-behind-a-shortcut","question":"How do I find the real file on my external drive behind a shortcut?","url":"/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-find-the-real-file-behind-a-shortcut"},{"id":"finder-location.can-i-copy-a-moved-folder-to-another-drive","question":"If I copy a moved folder to a USB stick or another Mac, do I get the files or just the shortcut?","url":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-copy-a-moved-folder-to-another-drive"},{"id":"finder-location.can-i-edit-and-save-files-through-a-shortcut","question":"Can I open, edit and save files in a moved folder as usual?","url":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-edit-and-save-files-through-a-shortcut"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Can I attach a moved file to an email or upload it from its usual folder? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Yes. Choosing the file from its usual folder in an Open or Attach window gives the app the real file from your external drive, as long as it's connected. To copy the actual file elsewhere, use Show Original first.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Finding things in Finder","path":"/faq/finder-location/"},{"name":"Can I attach a moved file to an email or upload it from its usual folder?","path":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-attach-or-upload-a-moved-file"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/can-i-attach-or-upload-a-moved-file","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I attach a moved file to an email or upload it from its usual folder?","alternateName":["Attach relocated file to email Mac","Upload a file that Storage Studio moved","Does Mail attach the shortcut or the real file?","Can I share a moved file with AirDrop?","Sending a file that lives on the external drive"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. When you pick the file from its usual folder in an app's Open or Attach window, macOS follows the shortcut and hands the app the real file from your external drive. The drive must be connected.\n\nIf you copy the shortcut itself somewhere — onto a USB stick, or to another Mac — you may only copy the link, not the file. To give someone the actual file, copy it from the drive: select the shortcut, choose File → Show Original, and copy the item Finder shows you.\n\nSee How to find the real file behind a shortcut.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/can-i-attach-or-upload-a-moved-file"}}]},"fragment":"
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Finding things in Finder · Opening and using moved files

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Can I attach a moved file to an email or upload it from its usual folder?

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Short answer: Yes. Choosing the file from its usual folder in an Open or Attach window gives the app the real file from your external drive, as long as it's connected. To copy the actual file elsewhere, use Show Original first.

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Yes. When you pick the file from its usual folder in an app's Open or Attach window, macOS follows the shortcut and hands the app the real file from your external drive. The drive must be connected.

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If you copy the shortcut itself somewhere — onto a USB stick, or to another Mac — you may only copy the link, not the file. To give someone the actual file, copy it from the drive: select the shortcut, choose File → Show Original, and copy the item Finder shows you.

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See How to find the real file behind a shortcut.

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