{"id":"finder-location.how-can-i-tell-where-an-app-lives-in-the-apps-grid","url":"/faq/finder-location/how-can-i-tell-where-an-app-lives-in-the-apps-grid","category":{"id":"finder-location","title":"Finding things in Finder"},"subcategory":{"id":"apps-in-finder","title":"Moved and offloaded apps in Finder"},"question":"How can I tell whether an app is on my Mac or on the external drive?","alt_questions":["Apps grid badge external drive","Which apps have I moved?","Is this app on the fast drive?","All Apps tile badge meaning","find apps stored on external SSD"],"short_answer":"In the Apps window, each All Apps tile has a badge showing where it lives, and the Internal, Moved and Offloaded tabs split them out. In Finder, a moved app shows a shortcut arrow in Applications.","answer_markdown":"Open the Apps window. In **All Apps**, every app tile carries a small badge showing where it lives — on your Mac or on your external drive. The tabs split them out too:\n\n- **Internal** — still on your built-in drive.\n- **Moved** — on the external drive, opening through a shortcut.\n- **Offloaded** — archived on the external drive and not runnable until restored.\n\nIn Finder, a moved app shows the small shortcut arrow on its icon in the Applications folder. The **?** button in the Apps toolbar explains every badge and chip.\n\nSee [the Apps window](/manual/apps).","answer_html":"

Open the Apps window. In All Apps, every app tile carries a small badge showing where it lives — on your Mac or on your external drive. The tabs split them out too:

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In Finder, a moved app shows the small shortcut arrow on its icon in the Applications folder. The ? button in the Apps toolbar explains every badge and chip.

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See the Apps window.

","answer_text":"Open the Apps window. In All Apps, every app tile carries a small badge showing where it lives — on your Mac or on your external drive. The tabs split them out too:\n\n- Internal — still on your built-in drive.\n- Moved — on the external drive, opening through a shortcut.\n- Offloaded — archived on the external drive and not runnable until restored.\n\nIn Finder, a moved app shows the small shortcut arrow on its icon in the Applications folder. The ? button in the Apps toolbar explains every badge and chip.\n\nSee the Apps window.","tags":["apps","badge","external drive"],"related":[{"id":"finder-location.will-a-moved-app-still-appear-in-applications","question":"Will an app I moved still show up in my Applications folder?","url":"/faq/finder-location/will-a-moved-app-still-appear-in-applications"},{"id":"finder-location.reveal-a-moved-app-on-the-drive","question":"How do I see where a moved app actually lives on my external drive?","url":"/faq/finder-location/reveal-a-moved-app-on-the-drive"},{"id":"finder-location.where-are-offloaded-apps-kept","question":"Where are offloaded apps kept, and can I open them from Finder?","url":"/faq/finder-location/where-are-offloaded-apps-kept"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How can I tell whether an app is on my Mac or on the external drive? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"In the Apps window, each All Apps tile has a badge showing where it lives, and the Internal, Moved and Offloaded tabs split them out. In Finder, a moved app shows a shortcut arrow in Applications.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Finding things in Finder","path":"/faq/finder-location/"},{"name":"How can I tell whether an app is on my Mac or on the external drive?","path":"/faq/finder-location/how-can-i-tell-where-an-app-lives-in-the-apps-grid"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/how-can-i-tell-where-an-app-lives-in-the-apps-grid","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How can I tell whether an app is on my Mac or on the external drive?","alternateName":["Apps grid badge external drive","Which apps have I moved?","Is this app on the fast drive?","All Apps tile badge meaning","find apps stored on external SSD"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Open the Apps window. In All Apps, every app tile carries a small badge showing where it lives — on your Mac or on your external drive. The tabs split them out too:\n\n- Internal — still on your built-in drive.\n- Moved — on the external drive, opening through a shortcut.\n- Offloaded — archived on the external drive and not runnable until restored.\n\nIn Finder, a moved app shows the small shortcut arrow on its icon in the Applications folder. The ? button in the Apps toolbar explains every badge and chip.\n\nSee the Apps window.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/how-can-i-tell-where-an-app-lives-in-the-apps-grid"}}]},"fragment":"
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Finding things in Finder · Moved and offloaded apps in Finder

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How can I tell whether an app is on my Mac or on the external drive?

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Short answer: In the Apps window, each All Apps tile has a badge showing where it lives, and the Internal, Moved and Offloaded tabs split them out. In Finder, a moved app shows a shortcut arrow in Applications.

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Open the Apps window. In All Apps, every app tile carries a small badge showing where it lives — on your Mac or on your external drive. The tabs split them out too:

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  • Internal — still on your built-in drive.
  • Moved — on the external drive, opening through a shortcut.
  • Offloaded — archived on the external drive and not runnable until restored.
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In Finder, a moved app shows the small shortcut arrow on its icon in the Applications folder. The ? button in the Apps toolbar explains every badge and chip.

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See the Apps window.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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