Finding things in Finder · When the drive isn't connected

Finder says the original item can't be found, but my external drive is plugged in — what's wrong?

Short answer: Usually the drive is connected but not mounted or not yet recognised — click Remount fast drive and check Inspect fast drive reads Verified. If it still fails, the Relocated panel flags shortcuts whose data is missing.

Usually the drive is physically connected but not mounted, or Storage Studio can't confirm it's your prepared drive yet. Less often, the item's data was moved or deleted on the drive outside Storage Studio.

Try these in order:

  1. Look at the popover. If the header is red, click Remount fast drive, then check Inspect fast drive reads Verified.
  2. Make sure it's the same drive you set up — another disk with the same name won't do.
  3. Open What's Using Space → Relocated (N) and read the item's warning. A shortcut whose data is gone is flagged there with what you can do about it.

See what a broken relocation means.

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