---
id: finder-location.how-can-i-tell-where-an-app-lives-in-the-apps-grid
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/how-can-i-tell-where-an-app-lives-in-the-apps-grid
category: "Finding things in Finder"
subcategory: "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."
tags: ["apps", "badge", "external drive"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/will-a-moved-app-still-appear-in-applications", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/reveal-a-moved-app-on-the-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/where-are-offloaded-apps-kept"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

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

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:

- **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.

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.

See [the Apps window](https://storagestudio.us/manual/apps).