---
id: finder-location.will-sidebar-favorites-and-open-recent-still-work
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/will-sidebar-favorites-and-open-recent-still-work
category: "Finding things in Finder"
subcategory: "Opening and using moved files"
question: "Will my Finder sidebar favourites and apps' Open Recent lists still work after a move?"
alt_questions:
  - "Do Finder Favourites break after moving a folder?"
  - "Open Recent not working after relocation?"
  - "Will recent documents still open after moving to external drive?"
  - "sidebar favourite folder moved to external drive"
  - "Do bookmarks to moved folders still work?"
short_answer: "Yes, while the drive is connected — the shortcut sits exactly where the item was, so favourites, Open Recent and saved paths still lead to it. With the drive unplugged they appear but won't open until you reconnect it."
tags: ["finder", "favorites", "open recent"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/what-happens-to-shortcuts-when-the-drive-is-unplugged", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/can-i-get-to-moved-files-without-the-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/do-command-line-tools-and-scripts-follow-shortcuts"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Will my Finder sidebar favourites and apps' Open Recent lists still work after a move?

Yes, while the drive is connected. Nothing about the original location changes from your point of view — the shortcut sits exactly where the item was — so Finder favourites, **Open Recent** menus, Dock stacks and saved paths all lead to the same place and simply follow it to the drive.

When the drive is unplugged, those entries still appear, but opening one fails because the real item isn't reachable. Plug the drive back in and they work again with nothing to fix.

If you want a folder to stay reachable on the go without the drive, move it back first — see [travelling without your drive](https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/can-i-get-to-moved-files-without-the-drive).