{"id":"freeing-space.do-space-efficient-files-stay-small","url":"/faq/freeing-space/do-space-efficient-files-stay-small","category":{"id":"freeing-space","title":"Freeing up space"},"subcategory":{"id":"stopping-and-safety","title":"Stopping, undoing and apps in the way"},"question":"Will virtual machine disks and disk images grow bigger when moved to the fast drive?","alt_questions":["Sparse files after moving","VM disk doubled in size after move","Disk image larger on external drive","Space-efficient files moving","Preallocated database moved"],"short_answer":"No. Files that only use part of their apparent size, like some VM disks and disk images, keep that efficiency when Storage Studio moves a folder, as long as the drive's format supports it.","answer_markdown":"No — when Storage Studio moves a folder, files that only use part of their apparent size, such as some virtual machine disks, disk images and pre-allocated databases, keep that efficiency on your fast drive instead of ballooning to their full size.\n\nThat matters on the destination too: a file that shows 100 GB but uses 20 GB on your Mac should still use roughly 20 GB on the drive. If the fast drive is formatted in a way that can't store files like that, they may take more room there. For drive formats, see the [External drives FAQ](/faq/external-drives/).","answer_html":"

No — when Storage Studio moves a folder, files that only use part of their apparent size, such as some virtual machine disks, disk images and pre-allocated databases, keep that efficiency on your fast drive instead of ballooning to their full size.

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That matters on the destination too: a file that shows 100 GB but uses 20 GB on your Mac should still use roughly 20 GB on the drive. If the fast drive is formatted in a way that can't store files like that, they may take more room there. For drive formats, see the External drives FAQ.

","answer_text":"No — when Storage Studio moves a folder, files that only use part of their apparent size, such as some virtual machine disks, disk images and pre-allocated databases, keep that efficiency on your fast drive instead of ballooning to their full size.\n\nThat matters on the destination too: a file that shows 100 GB but uses 20 GB on your Mac should still use roughly 20 GB on the drive. If the fast drive is formatted in a way that can't store files like that, they may take more room there. For drive formats, see the External drives FAQ.","tags":["sparse files","virtual machines","moving"],"related":[{"id":"freeing-space.can-i-stop-a-clear-up-halfway","question":"Can I stop a clear-up while it's running?","url":"/faq/freeing-space/can-i-stop-a-clear-up-halfway"},{"id":"freeing-space.why-doesnt-stop-work-instantly","question":"Why doesn't the Stop button end a clear-up immediately?","url":"/faq/freeing-space/why-doesnt-stop-work-instantly"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Will virtual machine disks and disk images grow bigger when moved to the fast drive? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"No. Files that only use part of their apparent size, like some VM disks and disk images, keep that efficiency when Storage Studio moves a folder, as long as the drive's format supports it.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Freeing up space","path":"/faq/freeing-space/"},{"name":"Will virtual machine disks and disk images grow bigger when moved to the fast drive?","path":"/faq/freeing-space/do-space-efficient-files-stay-small"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/do-space-efficient-files-stay-small","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Will virtual machine disks and disk images grow bigger when moved to the fast drive?","alternateName":["Sparse files after moving","VM disk doubled in size after move","Disk image larger on external drive","Space-efficient files moving","Preallocated database moved"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No — when Storage Studio moves a folder, files that only use part of their apparent size, such as some virtual machine disks, disk images and pre-allocated databases, keep that efficiency on your fast drive instead of ballooning to their full size.\n\nThat matters on the destination too: a file that shows 100 GB but uses 20 GB on your Mac should still use roughly 20 GB on the drive. If the fast drive is formatted in a way that can't store files like that, they may take more room there. For drive formats, see the External drives FAQ.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/do-space-efficient-files-stay-small"}}]},"fragment":"
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Freeing up space · Stopping, undoing and apps in the way

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Will virtual machine disks and disk images grow bigger when moved to the fast drive?

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Short answer: No. Files that only use part of their apparent size, like some VM disks and disk images, keep that efficiency when Storage Studio moves a folder, as long as the drive's format supports it.

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No — when Storage Studio moves a folder, files that only use part of their apparent size, such as some virtual machine disks, disk images and pre-allocated databases, keep that efficiency on your fast drive instead of ballooning to their full size.

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That matters on the destination too: a file that shows 100 GB but uses 20 GB on your Mac should still use roughly 20 GB on the drive. If the fast drive is formatted in a way that can't store files like that, they may take more room there. For drive formats, see the External drives FAQ.

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