Moving folders · Messages and problems
Why does it say "no links were left behind, so no space came back"?
Short answer: The copy reached the drive, but the originals couldn't be swapped for links — usually because macOS doesn't allow links in that spot — so they're still on your Mac and no space came back. Nothing was lost; check Full Disk Access and try again.
It means the copy reached the drive, but the files at the original place couldn't be replaced with links, so they're still on your Mac and no space came back. Nothing was lost.
The usual reason is that macOS doesn't allow a link in that particular place — some locations are protected, and which ones depends on your Mac and its permissions. Storage Studio finds this out by trying rather than guessing, and tells you instead of retrying pointlessly.
What to do: check Storage Studio has Full Disk Access, then try again. If it still can't, that folder is best left on your Mac; you can remove the extra copy from the drive.