---
id: moving-folders.what-does-move-and-replace-mean
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-does-move-and-replace-mean
category: "Moving folders"
subcategory: "Data Parking (the two-pane mover)"
question: "What does \"Move and replace\" mean, and can I get replaced files back?"
alt_questions:
  - "Replace what's already there?"
  - "Relocate and replace warning"
  - "Can I undo replacing a folder on the drive?"
  - "Where do replaced files go?"
  - "Replace the copy already on your fast drive?"
  - "What happens if a folder with the same name already exists on the fast drive?"
  - "Folder already exists at destination"
  - "Name clash when moving to the external drive"
short_answer: "It means the move would overwrite something with the same name at the destination. Replaced files aren't kept anywhere — not in the Trash or the Recycle Vault — so cancel and use Merge if you want to keep both versions."
tags: ["replace", "data parking", "overwrite"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-does-merge-do-in-data-parking", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-does-move-do-in-data-parking"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What does "Move and replace" mean, and can I get replaced files back?

It means something with the same name already exists at the destination and the move would overwrite it. Replaced files are not kept anywhere — they don't go to the Trash or the Recycle Vault — so there's nothing to restore them from.

The confirmation names what will be replaced and how many files are involved, and asks you to type **Replace** before the button works. Your choices:

- **Cancel** — backs out cleanly; nothing changes.
- **Move and replace** / **Relocate and replace** — goes ahead and overwrites.
- If you want to keep both versions, cancel and use **Merge**, which never deletes at the destination.

See [What does Merge do?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-does-merge-do-in-data-parking)