Finding things in Finder · Opening and using moved files

If I copy a moved folder to a USB stick or another Mac, do I get the files or just the shortcut?

Short answer: You may copy just the shortcut. Use File → Show Original and copy the real item from the external drive, Move back to bring it home, or Backup Drive to copy everything Storage Studio manages onto another drive.

You may get only the shortcut. Copying the link itself copies a pointer to your external drive, which is useless on another disk or another Mac.

To copy the real contents:

  1. Connect the external drive.
  2. Select the shortcut and choose File → Show Original (⌘R).
  3. Copy the item Finder reveals on the drive.

If you want the whole folder back on your Mac permanently, use Move back in What's Using Space → Relocated (N) instead. And to copy everything Storage Studio manages onto a second drive, use Backup Drive in the popover's More → Drive section, which copies and verifies the real data.

See Transfer or back up your drive.

Last reviewed

Related questions

Also available as Markdown and JSON.