{"id":"finder-location.finder-cant-find-the-original-but-the-drive-is-connected","url":"/faq/finder-location/finder-cant-find-the-original-but-the-drive-is-connected","category":{"id":"finder-location","title":"Finding things in Finder"},"subcategory":{"id":"drive-disconnected","title":"When the drive isn't connected"},"question":"Finder says the original item can't be found, but my external drive is plugged in — what's wrong?","alt_questions":["Shortcut broken even though drive is connected","original item can't be found Mac external drive connected","Moved file won't open with drive attached","Storage Studio shortcut not working drive plugged in","Relocated folder opens nothing"],"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.","answer_markdown":"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.\n\nTry these in order:\n\n1. Look at the popover. If the header is red, click **Remount fast drive**, then check **Inspect fast drive** reads **Verified**.\n2. Make sure it's the same drive you set up — another disk with the same name won't do.\n3. 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.\n\nSee [what a broken relocation means](/faq/finder-location/what-does-a-broken-relocation-mean).","answer_html":"

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.

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Try these in order:

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  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.
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See what a broken relocation means.

","answer_text":"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.\n\nTry these in order:\n\n1. Look at the popover. If the header is red, click Remount fast drive, then check Inspect fast drive reads Verified.\n2. Make sure it's the same drive you set up — another disk with the same name won't do.\n3. 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.\n\nSee what a broken relocation means.","tags":["troubleshooting","shortcut","remount"],"related":[{"id":"finder-location.what-does-a-broken-relocation-mean","question":"What does it mean when a moved folder shows as broken or needing attention?","url":"/faq/finder-location/what-does-a-broken-relocation-mean"},{"id":"finder-location.why-is-show-in-finder-greyed-out","question":"Why is Show in Finder greyed out in Storage Studio?","url":"/faq/finder-location/why-is-show-in-finder-greyed-out"},{"id":"finder-location.what-happens-to-shortcuts-when-the-drive-is-unplugged","question":"What do moved files look like in Finder when my external drive is unplugged?","url":"/faq/finder-location/what-happens-to-shortcuts-when-the-drive-is-unplugged"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Finder says the original item can't be found, but my external drive is plugged in — what's wrong? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"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.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Finding things in Finder","path":"/faq/finder-location/"},{"name":"Finder says the original item can't be found, but my external drive is plugged in — what's wrong?","path":"/faq/finder-location/finder-cant-find-the-original-but-the-drive-is-connected"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/finder-cant-find-the-original-but-the-drive-is-connected","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Finder says the original item can't be found, but my external drive is plugged in — what's wrong?","alternateName":["Shortcut broken even though drive is connected","original item can't be found Mac external drive connected","Moved file won't open with drive attached","Storage Studio shortcut not working drive plugged in","Relocated folder opens nothing"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"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.\n\nTry these in order:\n\n1. Look at the popover. If the header is red, click Remount fast drive, then check Inspect fast drive reads Verified.\n2. Make sure it's the same drive you set up — another disk with the same name won't do.\n3. 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.\n\nSee what a broken relocation means.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/finder-cant-find-the-original-but-the-drive-is-connected"}}]},"fragment":"
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Finding things in Finder · When the drive isn't connected

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

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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.

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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.

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Try these in order:

\n
  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.
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See what a broken relocation means.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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