{"id":"freeing-space.how-do-i-move-a-folder-back-from-whats-using-space","url":"/faq/freeing-space/how-do-i-move-a-folder-back-from-whats-using-space","category":{"id":"freeing-space","title":"Freeing up space"},"subcategory":{"id":"whats-using-space","title":"What's Using Space (Storage Inspector)"},"question":"How do I move a relocated folder back to my Mac?","alt_questions":["Undo a move to the fast drive","Restore a moved folder to internal drive","Move back button","Bring a folder home from the external drive","Can I undo freeing space by moving?"],"short_answer":"In What's Using Space, open Relocated (N) and press Move back on the folder. The sheet notes any new files and apps in use, then copies it home. You need enough free space on your Mac.","answer_markdown":"Open What's Using Space, click **Relocated (N)**, and press **Move back** on the folder. A sheet shows where it's coming from and going to, its size, and anything worth knowing:\n\n- **New files** written to the original location since the move are counted and included.\n- If **auto-sync** is on for the folder, it's turned off as part of the move back.\n- Apps using the folder can be asked to quit, then rechecked.\n\nConfirm and a progress sheet runs, just like the forward move. Your built-in drive needs enough free space to take the folder back. If Move back is greyed out, hover it to see why. See [force move back](/faq/freeing-space/what-is-force-move-back).","answer_html":"

Open What's Using Space, click Relocated (N), and press Move back on the folder. A sheet shows where it's coming from and going to, its size, and anything worth knowing:

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Confirm and a progress sheet runs, just like the forward move. Your built-in drive needs enough free space to take the folder back. If Move back is greyed out, hover it to see why. See force move back.

","answer_text":"Open What's Using Space, click Relocated (N), and press Move back on the folder. A sheet shows where it's coming from and going to, its size, and anything worth knowing:\n\n- New files written to the original location since the move are counted and included.\n- If auto-sync is on for the folder, it's turned off as part of the move back.\n- Apps using the folder can be asked to quit, then rechecked.\n\nConfirm and a progress sheet runs, just like the forward move. Your built-in drive needs enough free space to take the folder back. If Move back is greyed out, hover it to see why. See force move back.","tags":["move back","undo","relocated"],"related":[{"id":"freeing-space.what-is-force-move-back","question":"What does the Force move back toggle do?","url":"/faq/freeing-space/what-is-force-move-back"},{"id":"freeing-space.what-is-the-relocated-panel","question":"What is the Relocated panel in What's Using Space?","url":"/faq/freeing-space/what-is-the-relocated-panel"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I move a relocated folder back to my Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"In What's Using Space, open Relocated (N) and press Move back on the folder. The sheet notes any new files and apps in use, then copies it home. You need enough free space on your Mac.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Freeing up space","path":"/faq/freeing-space/"},{"name":"How do I move a relocated folder back to my Mac?","path":"/faq/freeing-space/how-do-i-move-a-folder-back-from-whats-using-space"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/how-do-i-move-a-folder-back-from-whats-using-space","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I move a relocated folder back to my Mac?","alternateName":["Undo a move to the fast drive","Restore a moved folder to internal drive","Move back button","Bring a folder home from the external drive","Can I undo freeing space by moving?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Open What's Using Space, click Relocated (N), and press Move back on the folder. A sheet shows where it's coming from and going to, its size, and anything worth knowing:\n\n- New files written to the original location since the move are counted and included.\n- If auto-sync is on for the folder, it's turned off as part of the move back.\n- Apps using the folder can be asked to quit, then rechecked.\n\nConfirm and a progress sheet runs, just like the forward move. Your built-in drive needs enough free space to take the folder back. If Move back is greyed out, hover it to see why. See force move back.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/how-do-i-move-a-folder-back-from-whats-using-space"}}]},"fragment":"
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Freeing up space · What's Using Space (Storage Inspector)

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How do I move a relocated folder back to my Mac?

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Short answer: In What's Using Space, open Relocated (N) and press Move back on the folder. The sheet notes any new files and apps in use, then copies it home. You need enough free space on your Mac.

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Open What's Using Space, click Relocated (N), and press Move back on the folder. A sheet shows where it's coming from and going to, its size, and anything worth knowing:

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  • New files written to the original location since the move are counted and included.
  • If auto-sync is on for the folder, it's turned off as part of the move back.
  • Apps using the folder can be asked to quit, then rechecked.
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Confirm and a progress sheet runs, just like the forward move. Your built-in drive needs enough free space to take the folder back. If Move back is greyed out, hover it to see why. See force move back.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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