{"id":"finder-location.why-does-get-info-show-a-tiny-size-for-a-moved-folder","url":"/faq/finder-location/why-does-get-info-show-a-tiny-size-for-a-moved-folder","category":{"id":"finder-location","title":"Finding things in Finder"},"subcategory":{"id":"shortcuts","title":"The shortcut left behind"},"question":"Why does Finder's Get Info show only a few kilobytes for a folder I moved?","alt_questions":["Moved folder shows tiny size in Finder","Why is my relocated folder only 4 KB in Get Info?","finder folder size wrong after moving to external drive","Get Info says almost zero bytes for my big folder","Why does Finder think my folder is empty-ish after Storage Studio?"],"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.","answer_markdown":"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.\n\nTo 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.\n\nStorage 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.\n\nSee [How to find the real file behind a shortcut](/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-find-the-real-file-behind-a-shortcut).","answer_html":"

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.

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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.

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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.

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See How to find the real file behind a shortcut.

","answer_text":"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.\n\nTo 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.\n\nStorage 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.\n\nSee How to find the real file behind a shortcut.","tags":["finder","get info","folder size"],"related":[{"id":"finder-location.how-do-i-find-the-real-file-behind-a-shortcut","question":"How do I find the real file on my external drive behind a shortcut?","url":"/faq/finder-location/how-do-i-find-the-real-file-behind-a-shortcut"},{"id":"finder-location.where-do-i-see-everything-storage-studio-has-moved","question":"Where can I see a list of everything Storage Studio has moved to my drive?","url":"/faq/finder-location/where-do-i-see-everything-storage-studio-has-moved"},{"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"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Why does Finder's Get Info show only a few kilobytes for a folder I moved? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"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.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Finding things in Finder","path":"/faq/finder-location/"},{"name":"Why does Finder's Get Info show only a few kilobytes for a folder I moved?","path":"/faq/finder-location/why-does-get-info-show-a-tiny-size-for-a-moved-folder"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/why-does-get-info-show-a-tiny-size-for-a-moved-folder","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why does Finder's Get Info show only a few kilobytes for a folder I moved?","alternateName":["Moved folder shows tiny size in Finder","Why is my relocated folder only 4 KB in Get Info?","finder folder size wrong after moving to external drive","Get Info says almost zero bytes for my big folder","Why does Finder think my folder is empty-ish after Storage Studio?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"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.\n\nTo 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.\n\nStorage 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.\n\nSee How to find the real file behind a shortcut.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/why-does-get-info-show-a-tiny-size-for-a-moved-folder"}}]},"fragment":"
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Finding things in Finder · The shortcut left behind

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Why does Finder's Get Info show only a few kilobytes for a folder I moved?

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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.

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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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

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See How to find the real file behind a shortcut.

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