Finding things in Finder · The shortcut left behind
Why does Finder's Get Info show only a few kilobytes for a folder I moved?
Short answer: Finder is measuring the shortcuts left on your Mac, not the data on your external drive — which is why space was freed. Use Show Original and Get Info on the drive copy, or check the Relocated panel, to see the real size.
Because Finder is measuring what's on your Mac — the shortcuts — not the data they point to on your external drive. That small number is exactly why the move freed space.
To see the real size, measure the copy on the drive: use File → Show Original on the shortcut (or Reveal in Finder in the Relocated panel) and choose Get Info on the item there.
Storage Studio's own windows show what a folder really holds. In What's Using Space, the Relocated (N) panel lists each moved folder with its size, and Data Parking measures folders at every depth.