Moving folders · Rules and Auto Rules
Why don't my rules move anything from Documents, Desktop or Downloads?
Short answer: Usually Full Disk Access is missing: macOS protects Documents, Desktop, Downloads and Library. Grant it in Settings → Advanced → Permissions and try again. If nothing still moves, the rule's age may be higher than the files' age.
Most often because Storage Studio doesn't have Full Disk Access. macOS protects Documents, Desktop, Downloads and your Library, and Storage Studio's background helper needs that permission to reach them.
Open Settings → Advanced → Permissions and follow the steps to grant Full Disk Access, then try again. Your Mac can sometimes drop the permission after an update; Storage Studio tells you when that happens.
If a rule still finds nothing, its age may be higher than the age of the files there — lower it in Settings → Rules, or add a rule that catches large files specifically.
See privacy and safety for why Full Disk Access is needed.