{"id":"finder-location.how-do-i-find-the-real-file-behind-a-shortcut","url":"/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-find-the-real-file-behind-a-shortcut","category":{"id":"finder-location","title":"Finding things in Finder"},"subcategory":{"id":"shortcuts","title":"The shortcut left behind"},"question":"How do I find the real file on my external drive behind a shortcut?","alt_questions":["How do I open the original of a moved folder?","Show Original for a Storage Studio shortcut","Where is the actual file a shortcut points to?","finder show original moved file","How do I jump from a shortcut to the drive copy?","Reveal the external drive copy of a relocated folder"],"short_answer":"Select the shortcut in Finder and choose File → Show Original (⌘R) while the drive is connected. Or use Reveal in Finder on the row in the Relocated panel (folders) or the Apps window's Moved tab (apps).","answer_markdown":"Select the shortcut in Finder and choose **File → Show Original** (⌘R). Finder opens the folder on your external drive with the real item selected. The drive must be connected for this to work.\n\nYou can also start from Storage Studio:\n\n- **Folders:** open **What's Using Space**, click **Relocated (N)**, and use the folder icon (**Reveal in Finder**) on the row.\n- **Apps:** open the Apps window's **Moved** tab and use **Reveal in Finder**, which shows the app on your drive rather than the shortcut in Applications.\n\nIt's fine to look, but make changes from the original location (through the shortcut) rather than reorganising the drive copy — see [what's safe to change on the drive](/faq/finder-location/can-i-rename-or-reorganise-files-on-the-drive-directly).","answer_html":"

Select the shortcut in Finder and choose File → Show Original (⌘R). Finder opens the folder on your external drive with the real item selected. The drive must be connected for this to work.

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You can also start from Storage Studio:

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It's fine to look, but make changes from the original location (through the shortcut) rather than reorganising the drive copy — see what's safe to change on the drive.

","answer_text":"Select the shortcut in Finder and choose File → Show Original (⌘R). Finder opens the folder on your external drive with the real item selected. The drive must be connected for this to work.\n\nYou can also start from Storage Studio:\n\n- Folders: open What's Using Space, click Relocated (N), and use the folder icon (Reveal in Finder) on the row.\n- Apps: open the Apps window's Moved tab and use Reveal in Finder, which shows the app on your drive rather than the shortcut in Applications.\n\nIt's fine to look, but make changes from the original location (through the shortcut) rather than reorganising the drive copy — see what's safe to change on the drive.","tags":["finder","show original","shortcut"],"related":[{"id":"finder-location.how-do-i-recognise-a-moved-item-in-finder","question":"How can I tell in Finder which files or folders have been moved to my external drive?","url":"/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-recognise-a-moved-item-in-finder"},{"id":"finder-location.can-i-rename-or-reorganise-files-on-the-drive-directly","question":"Can I rename, move or delete things inside Storage Studio's folder on the drive?","url":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-rename-or-reorganise-files-on-the-drive-directly"},{"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"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I find the real file on my external drive behind a shortcut? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Select the shortcut in Finder and choose File → Show Original (⌘R) while the drive is connected. Or use Reveal in Finder on the row in the Relocated panel (folders) or the Apps window's Moved tab (apps).","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Finding things in Finder","path":"/faq/finder-location/"},{"name":"How do I find the real file on my external drive behind a shortcut?","path":"/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-find-the-real-file-behind-a-shortcut"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-find-the-real-file-behind-a-shortcut","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I find the real file on my external drive behind a shortcut?","alternateName":["How do I open the original of a moved folder?","Show Original for a Storage Studio shortcut","Where is the actual file a shortcut points to?","finder show original moved file","How do I jump from a shortcut to the drive copy?","Reveal the external drive copy of a relocated folder"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Select the shortcut in Finder and choose File → Show Original (⌘R). Finder opens the folder on your external drive with the real item selected. The drive must be connected for this to work.\n\nYou can also start from Storage Studio:\n\n- Folders: open What's Using Space, click Relocated (N), and use the folder icon (Reveal in Finder) on the row.\n- Apps: open the Apps window's Moved tab and use Reveal in Finder, which shows the app on your drive rather than the shortcut in Applications.\n\nIt's fine to look, but make changes from the original location (through the shortcut) rather than reorganising the drive copy — see what's safe to change on the drive.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-find-the-real-file-behind-a-shortcut"}}]},"fragment":"
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Finding things in Finder · The shortcut left behind

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How do I find the real file on my external drive behind a shortcut?

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Short answer: Select the shortcut in Finder and choose File → Show Original (⌘R) while the drive is connected. Or use Reveal in Finder on the row in the Relocated panel (folders) or the Apps window's Moved tab (apps).

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Select the shortcut in Finder and choose File → Show Original (⌘R). Finder opens the folder on your external drive with the real item selected. The drive must be connected for this to work.

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You can also start from Storage Studio:

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  • Folders: open What's Using Space, click Relocated (N), and use the folder icon (Reveal in Finder) on the row.
  • Apps: open the Apps window's Moved tab and use Reveal in Finder, which shows the app on your drive rather than the shortcut in Applications.
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It's fine to look, but make changes from the original location (through the shortcut) rather than reorganising the drive copy — see what's safe to change on the drive.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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