{"id":"finder-location.what-happens-if-i-delete-a-shortcut-in-finder","url":"/faq/finder-location/what-happens-if-i-delete-a-shortcut-in-finder","category":{"id":"finder-location","title":"Finding things in Finder"},"subcategory":{"id":"shortcuts","title":"The shortcut left behind"},"question":"What happens if I delete one of Storage Studio's shortcuts in Finder?","alt_questions":["I deleted the arrow folder by accident","Does deleting the shortcut delete the files on the external drive?","I moved a shortcut to the Trash, are my files gone?","trashed storage studio shortcut","What if I remove the link left after a move?","Deleted a relocated folder in Finder, what now?"],"short_answer":"Only the link is removed — your data stays on the external drive. Put the shortcut back from the Trash, or check the Relocated panel in What's Using Space, which flags the item and helps you resolve it.","answer_markdown":"Deleting the shortcut removes only the link — your data stays safe on the external drive. But the original location no longer leads anywhere, so apps looking there won't find the files.\n\nThe easiest fix, if it's still in the Trash, is to put it back:\n\n1. Open the Trash in Finder.\n2. Right-click the shortcut and choose **Put Back**.\n\nIf the Trash has been emptied, open **What's Using Space** and click **Relocated (N)**. The item shows as needing attention, with a warning explaining that the data is on the drive with no shortcut at the original spot. From there you can deal with it in one confirmation.\n\nTo stop using the drive copy altogether, use **Move back** before deleting anything — see [moving things back](/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-get-a-moved-folder-back-into-the-same-place-in-finder).","answer_html":"

Deleting the shortcut removes only the link — your data stays safe on the external drive. But the original location no longer leads anywhere, so apps looking there won't find the files.

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The easiest fix, if it's still in the Trash, is to put it back:

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  1. Open the Trash in Finder.
  2. Right-click the shortcut and choose Put Back.
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If the Trash has been emptied, open What's Using Space and click Relocated (N). The item shows as needing attention, with a warning explaining that the data is on the drive with no shortcut at the original spot. From there you can deal with it in one confirmation.

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To stop using the drive copy altogether, use Move back before deleting anything — see moving things back.

","answer_text":"Deleting the shortcut removes only the link — your data stays safe on the external drive. But the original location no longer leads anywhere, so apps looking there won't find the files.\n\nThe easiest fix, if it's still in the Trash, is to put it back:\n\n1. Open the Trash in Finder.\n2. Right-click the shortcut and choose Put Back.\n\nIf the Trash has been emptied, open What's Using Space and click Relocated (N). The item shows as needing attention, with a warning explaining that the data is on the drive with no shortcut at the original spot. From there you can deal with it in one confirmation.\n\nTo stop using the drive copy altogether, use Move back before deleting anything — see moving things back.","tags":["shortcut","delete","trash","recovery"],"related":[{"id":"moving-folders.what-is-the-shortcut-left-behind-after-a-move","question":"What is the shortcut Storage Studio leaves behind after a move?","url":"/faq/moving-folders/what-is-the-shortcut-left-behind-after-a-move"},{"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.how-do-i-get-a-moved-folder-back-into-the-same-place-in-finder","question":"How do I put a moved folder back as a normal folder in its original place?","url":"/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-get-a-moved-folder-back-into-the-same-place-in-finder"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What happens if I delete one of Storage Studio's shortcuts in Finder? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Only the link is removed — your data stays on the external drive. Put the shortcut back from the Trash, or check the Relocated panel in What's Using Space, which flags the item and helps you resolve it.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Finding things in Finder","path":"/faq/finder-location/"},{"name":"What happens if I delete one of Storage Studio's shortcuts in Finder?","path":"/faq/finder-location/what-happens-if-i-delete-a-shortcut-in-finder"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/what-happens-if-i-delete-a-shortcut-in-finder","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What happens if I delete one of Storage Studio's shortcuts in Finder?","alternateName":["I deleted the arrow folder by accident","Does deleting the shortcut delete the files on the external drive?","I moved a shortcut to the Trash, are my files gone?","trashed storage studio shortcut","What if I remove the link left after a move?","Deleted a relocated folder in Finder, what now?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Deleting the shortcut removes only the link — your data stays safe on the external drive. But the original location no longer leads anywhere, so apps looking there won't find the files.\n\nThe easiest fix, if it's still in the Trash, is to put it back:\n\n1. Open the Trash in Finder.\n2. Right-click the shortcut and choose Put Back.\n\nIf the Trash has been emptied, open What's Using Space and click Relocated (N). The item shows as needing attention, with a warning explaining that the data is on the drive with no shortcut at the original spot. From there you can deal with it in one confirmation.\n\nTo stop using the drive copy altogether, use Move back before deleting anything — see moving things back.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/what-happens-if-i-delete-a-shortcut-in-finder"}}]},"fragment":"
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Finding things in Finder · The shortcut left behind

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What happens if I delete one of Storage Studio's shortcuts in Finder?

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Short answer: Only the link is removed — your data stays on the external drive. Put the shortcut back from the Trash, or check the Relocated panel in What's Using Space, which flags the item and helps you resolve it.

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Deleting the shortcut removes only the link — your data stays safe on the external drive. But the original location no longer leads anywhere, so apps looking there won't find the files.

\n

The easiest fix, if it's still in the Trash, is to put it back:

\n
  1. Open the Trash in Finder.
  2. Right-click the shortcut and choose Put Back.
\n

If the Trash has been emptied, open What's Using Space and click Relocated (N). The item shows as needing attention, with a warning explaining that the data is on the drive with no shortcut at the original spot. From there you can deal with it in one confirmation.

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To stop using the drive copy altogether, use Move back before deleting anything — see moving things back.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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