---
id: finder-location.how-do-i-recognise-a-moved-item-in-finder
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-recognise-a-moved-item-in-finder
category: "Finding things in Finder"
subcategory: "The shortcut left behind"
question: "How can I tell in Finder which files or folders have been moved to my external drive?"
alt_questions:
  - "How do I know which files are on the external drive in Finder?"
  - "What does the little arrow on a Finder icon mean after a move?"
  - "finder arrow icon moved folder"
  - "How do I spot relocated items in Finder?"
  - "Which of my files are shortcuts now?"
  - "Why does a folder icon have a curved arrow on it?"
short_answer: "Moved items stay in their usual place but show a small curved arrow on their Finder icon. For a full list, open What's Using Space and click Relocated (N); moved apps are in the Apps window's Moved tab."
tags: ["finder", "shortcut", "relocated"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-is-the-shortcut-left-behind-after-a-move", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-find-the-real-file-behind-a-shortcut", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/where-do-i-see-everything-storage-studio-has-moved"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# How can I tell in Finder which files or folders have been moved to my external drive?

Moved items keep their place in Finder but show a small curved arrow on their icon — Finder's mark for a shortcut. The arrow means the item opens from your external drive.

For the full picture, Storage Studio keeps the list for you:

1. Open **What's Using Space** (the Storage Inspector).
2. Click **Relocated (N)** in the header.
3. Each row shows the folder, where it came from, when it moved, and a **Reveal in Finder** button for the copy on your drive.

Moved apps are listed separately in the **Moved** tab of the Apps window.

See [Finding the original of a shortcut](https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-find-the-real-file-behind-a-shortcut) and [What's Using Space](https://storagestudio.us/manual/whats-using-space).