{"id":"finder-location.will-a-locked-file-stay-locked-after-a-move","url":"/faq/finder-location/will-a-locked-file-stay-locked-after-a-move","category":{"id":"finder-location","title":"Finding things in Finder"},"subcategory":{"id":"spotlight-and-search","title":"Spotlight, tags and file details"},"question":"Will a file I locked in Finder stay locked after Storage Studio moves it?","alt_questions":["Finder Locked checkbox after moving","Does the Locked flag survive a move?","locked file unlocked after relocation Mac","Get Info Locked lost after moving to external drive"],"short_answer":"Not today — Finder's Locked checkbox isn't carried over, so the moved file arrives unlocked. Re-lock it with File → Get Info → Locked, or keep folders full of locked files on your Mac.","answer_markdown":"Not today. Finder's **Locked** checkbox (in **Get Info**) is one of the few attributes that isn't carried over when a file moves, so the copy on your drive arrives unlocked. Contents, names, dates, permissions and Finder tags are kept.\n\nIf locking matters for a file, re-lock it after the move:\n\n1. Select the file (through its shortcut or on the drive) and choose **File → Get Info**.\n2. Tick **Locked**.\n\nFor folders where many files are locked on purpose, consider leaving that folder on your Mac rather than moving it.","answer_html":"

Not today. Finder's Locked checkbox (in Get Info) is one of the few attributes that isn't carried over when a file moves, so the copy on your drive arrives unlocked. Contents, names, dates, permissions and Finder tags are kept.

\n

If locking matters for a file, re-lock it after the move:

\n
  1. Select the file (through its shortcut or on the drive) and choose File → Get Info.
  2. Tick Locked.
\n

For folders where many files are locked on purpose, consider leaving that folder on your Mac rather than moving it.

","answer_text":"Not today. Finder's Locked checkbox (in Get Info) is one of the few attributes that isn't carried over when a file moves, so the copy on your drive arrives unlocked. Contents, names, dates, permissions and Finder tags are kept.\n\nIf locking matters for a file, re-lock it after the move:\n\n1. Select the file (through its shortcut or on the drive) and choose File → Get Info.\n2. Tick Locked.\n\nFor folders where many files are locked on purpose, consider leaving that folder on your Mac rather than moving it.","tags":["locked","get info","metadata"],"related":[{"id":"moving-folders.does-moving-a-folder-keep-file-dates-and-tags","question":"Does moving a folder keep my files' dates, permissions and tags?","url":"/faq/moving-folders/does-moving-a-folder-keep-file-dates-and-tags"},{"id":"finder-location.can-i-edit-and-save-files-through-a-shortcut","question":"Can I open, edit and save files in a moved folder as usual?","url":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-edit-and-save-files-through-a-shortcut"},{"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"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Will a file I locked in Finder stay locked after Storage Studio moves it? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Not today — Finder's Locked checkbox isn't carried over, so the moved file arrives unlocked. Re-lock it with File → Get Info → Locked, or keep folders full of locked files on your Mac.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Finding things in Finder","path":"/faq/finder-location/"},{"name":"Will a file I locked in Finder stay locked after Storage Studio moves it?","path":"/faq/finder-location/will-a-locked-file-stay-locked-after-a-move"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/will-a-locked-file-stay-locked-after-a-move","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Will a file I locked in Finder stay locked after Storage Studio moves it?","alternateName":["Finder Locked checkbox after moving","Does the Locked flag survive a move?","locked file unlocked after relocation Mac","Get Info Locked lost after moving to external drive"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Not today. Finder's Locked checkbox (in Get Info) is one of the few attributes that isn't carried over when a file moves, so the copy on your drive arrives unlocked. Contents, names, dates, permissions and Finder tags are kept.\n\nIf locking matters for a file, re-lock it after the move:\n\n1. Select the file (through its shortcut or on the drive) and choose File → Get Info.\n2. Tick Locked.\n\nFor folders where many files are locked on purpose, consider leaving that folder on your Mac rather than moving it.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/will-a-locked-file-stay-locked-after-a-move"}}]},"fragment":"
\n
\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Finding things in Finder · Spotlight, tags and file details

\n

Will a file I locked in Finder stay locked after Storage Studio moves it?

\n

Short answer: Not today — Finder's Locked checkbox isn't carried over, so the moved file arrives unlocked. Re-lock it with File → Get Info → Locked, or keep folders full of locked files on your Mac.

\n

Not today. Finder's Locked checkbox (in Get Info) is one of the few attributes that isn't carried over when a file moves, so the copy on your drive arrives unlocked. Contents, names, dates, permissions and Finder tags are kept.

\n

If locking matters for a file, re-lock it after the move:

\n
  1. Select the file (through its shortcut or on the drive) and choose File → Get Info.
  2. Tick Locked.
\n

For folders where many files are locked on purpose, consider leaving that folder on your Mac rather than moving it.

\n\n

Last reviewed

\n\n

Related questions

\n

Also available as Markdown and JSON.

\n
"}