---
id: moving-folders.what-are-move-rules
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-are-move-rules
category: "Moving folders"
subcategory: "Rules and Auto Rules"
question: "What are move rules in Storage Studio?"
alt_questions:
  - "How do automatic moves work?"
  - "What are Automatic Moves?"
  - "Set up an auto-move rule"
  - "storage studio rules explained"
  - "Can Storage Studio move old files automatically?"
short_answer: "Move rules move matching files to your fast drive on a schedule, leaving a link so everything still opens. Each rule names a place and an age threshold; you can preview, edit and pause them in Settings → Rules."
tags: ["rules", "automatic moves", "schedule"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-are-auto-rules", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/how-do-i-preview-what-rules-will-move", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/how-do-i-change-how-old-files-must-be-before-moving"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What are move rules in Storage Studio?

Move rules tell Storage Studio to move matching files to your fast drive on a schedule, leaving a link behind so everything still opens. Each rule names a place and how old something must be before it's moved.

Rules run quietly in the background and hold off while you're busy (see Quiet Hours). You can preview what they'd do, edit their ages, pause them, and see the results in Background Activity.

There are two kinds: **Default & Manual Rules** — a baseline for every Mac plus any you add yourself — and **Auto Rules**, which Storage Studio builds to fit your Mac. Edit them in **Settings → Rules**.

See [Auto Rules](https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-are-auto-rules) and [Rules](https://storagestudio.us/manual/auto-rules).