{"id":"finder-location.can-i-copy-a-moved-folder-to-another-drive","url":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-copy-a-moved-folder-to-another-drive","category":{"id":"finder-location","title":"Finding things in Finder"},"subcategory":{"id":"opening-files","title":"Opening and using moved files"},"question":"If I copy a moved folder to a USB stick or another Mac, do I get the files or just the shortcut?","alt_questions":["Copying a relocated folder only copies the shortcut","Why did my copied folder not contain the files?","copy symlink instead of file Mac","How do I copy the real contents of a moved folder?","Transferring a moved folder to a new Mac"],"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.","answer_markdown":"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.\n\nTo copy the real contents:\n\n1. Connect the external drive.\n2. Select the shortcut and choose **File → Show Original** (⌘R).\n3. Copy the item Finder reveals on the drive.\n\nIf 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.\n\nSee [Transfer or back up your drive](/manual/transfer).","answer_html":"

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.

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To copy the real contents:

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

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.

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See Transfer or back up your drive.

","answer_text":"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.\n\nTo copy the real contents:\n\n1. Connect the external drive.\n2. Select the shortcut and choose File → Show Original (⌘R).\n3. Copy the item Finder reveals on the drive.\n\nIf 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.\n\nSee Transfer or back up your drive.","tags":["copy","usb","shortcut","backup drive"],"related":[{"id":"finder-location.can-i-attach-or-upload-a-moved-file","question":"Can I attach a moved file to an email or upload it from its usual folder?","url":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-attach-or-upload-a-moved-file"},{"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.where-is-the-backup-made-by-backup-drive","question":"Where do I find the copy that Backup Drive made?","url":"/faq/finder-location/where-is-the-backup-made-by-backup-drive"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"If I copy a moved folder to a USB stick or another Mac, do I get the files or just the shortcut? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"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.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Finding things in Finder","path":"/faq/finder-location/"},{"name":"If I copy a moved folder to a USB stick or another Mac, do I get the files or just the shortcut?","path":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-copy-a-moved-folder-to-another-drive"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/can-i-copy-a-moved-folder-to-another-drive","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"If I copy a moved folder to a USB stick or another Mac, do I get the files or just the shortcut?","alternateName":["Copying a relocated folder only copies the shortcut","Why did my copied folder not contain the files?","copy symlink instead of file Mac","How do I copy the real contents of a moved folder?","Transferring a moved folder to a new Mac"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"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.\n\nTo copy the real contents:\n\n1. Connect the external drive.\n2. Select the shortcut and choose File → Show Original (⌘R).\n3. Copy the item Finder reveals on the drive.\n\nIf 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.\n\nSee Transfer or back up your drive.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/can-i-copy-a-moved-folder-to-another-drive"}}]},"fragment":"
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Finding things in Finder · Opening and using moved files

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

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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.

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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.

\n

To copy the real contents:

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

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.

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See Transfer or back up your drive.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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