---
id: moving-folders.does-moving-a-folder-keep-file-dates-and-tags
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/does-moving-a-folder-keep-file-dates-and-tags
category: "Moving folders"
subcategory: "Safety and verification"
question: "Does moving a folder keep my files' dates, permissions and tags?"
alt_questions:
  - "Will moving change my file creation dates?"
  - "Are Finder tags kept after a move?"
  - "does storage studio preserve metadata"
  - "Do modified dates survive moving to the external drive?"
  - "Will my files lose their permissions when moved?"
  - "Does the move keep extended attributes?"
  - "Does moving files with Storage Studio keep their dates, permissions and Finder tags?"
  - "Does Storage Studio preserve file metadata?"
  - "Will my modified dates change after moving?"
  - "Are Finder tags kept when files are relocated?"
  - "storage studio metadata preserved"
  - "Does moving to an external drive change file permissions?"
  - "Is the Locked flag kept when moving?"
  - "Do Finder tags and modification dates stay the same when Storage Studio moves a file?"
  - "Will my coloured Finder tags be kept after moving?"
short_answer: "Moves between your Mac and the fast drive keep file contents, names, modification dates, permissions, Finder tags and other extended attributes. A few special attributes, such as Finder's Locked checkbox and custom access-control lists, aren't carried over today."
tags: ["file dates", "finder tags", "permissions", "moving folders", "metadata", "dates"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-file-details-survive-a-move-to-a-cloud-account", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/how-does-storage-studio-check-a-move-worked"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Does moving a folder keep my files' dates, permissions and tags?

Yes for what most people care about: file contents, names, modification dates, permissions, Finder tags and other extended attributes come across when a folder moves between your Mac and the fast drive. A few special attributes — for example Finder's "Locked" checkbox and custom access-control lists — aren't carried over today.

Last-opened dates are best-effort, because macOS itself updates them whenever anything reads a file.

Moving to a cloud account is different: what's kept depends on the service. Most keep the modified date; some keep more. Those limits come from the provider.

If a file relies on being locked, check it after the move. See [cloud moves](https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-file-details-survive-a-move-to-a-cloud-account).