{"id":"moving-folders.what-is-a-broken-relocation","url":"/faq/moving-folders/what-is-a-broken-relocation","category":{"id":"moving-folders","title":"Moving folders"},"subcategory":{"id":"messages-and-problems","title":"Messages and problems"},"question":"What is a broken relocation and how do I fix it?","alt_questions":["Broken shortcut after moving","Link points to nothing","Moved folder won't open","relocated folder missing on drive","How do I clean up a dead link?"],"short_answer":"It's a moved folder whose link and data no longer match — the data is missing, the link is missing, or the drive folder is empty. Reconnect the drive first; if it's genuinely broken, the Relocated panel's Delete chip cleans up the leftovers in one step.","answer_markdown":"A broken relocation is a moved folder where the link and the data no longer line up: a link whose data on the drive can't be found, data on the drive with no link left at the original place, or an empty folder on the drive.\n\nThe most common cause is simply that the drive is unplugged — reconnect it and the links work again. Otherwise it usually means something was changed on the drive outside Storage Studio.\n\nIn **What's Using Space → Relocated**, a broken row shows a red warning and a **Delete** chip. Its confirmation is tailored to the case and cleans up the leftover data, the dead link and Storage Studio's record in one step. Read it carefully: if the data is only on the drive, deleting removes it.\n\nSee [the Relocated panel](/faq/freeing-space/).","answer_html":"

A broken relocation is a moved folder where the link and the data no longer line up: a link whose data on the drive can't be found, data on the drive with no link left at the original place, or an empty folder on the drive.

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The most common cause is simply that the drive is unplugged — reconnect it and the links work again. Otherwise it usually means something was changed on the drive outside Storage Studio.

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In What's Using Space → Relocated, a broken row shows a red warning and a Delete chip. Its confirmation is tailored to the case and cleans up the leftover data, the dead link and Storage Studio's record in one step. Read it carefully: if the data is only on the drive, deleting removes it.

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See the Relocated panel.

","answer_text":"A broken relocation is a moved folder where the link and the data no longer line up: a link whose data on the drive can't be found, data on the drive with no link left at the original place, or an empty folder on the drive.\n\nThe most common cause is simply that the drive is unplugged — reconnect it and the links work again. Otherwise it usually means something was changed on the drive outside Storage Studio.\n\nIn What's Using Space → Relocated, a broken row shows a red warning and a Delete chip. Its confirmation is tailored to the case and cleans up the leftover data, the dead link and Storage Studio's record in one step. Read it carefully: if the data is only on the drive, deleting removes it.\n\nSee the Relocated panel.","tags":["broken","links","relocated"],"related":[{"id":"moving-folders.can-i-rename-or-reorganise-moved-files-on-the-drive","question":"Can I rename or reorganise moved files directly on the fast drive?","url":"/faq/moving-folders/can-i-rename-or-reorganise-moved-files-on-the-drive"},{"id":"moving-folders.the-original-place-is-gone","question":"What does \"The original place is gone\" mean after a move?","url":"/faq/moving-folders/the-original-place-is-gone"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What is a broken relocation and how do I fix it? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"It's a moved folder whose link and data no longer match — the data is missing, the link is missing, or the drive folder is empty. Reconnect the drive first; if it's genuinely broken, the Relocated panel's Delete chip cleans up the leftovers in one step.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Moving folders","path":"/faq/moving-folders/"},{"name":"What is a broken relocation and how do I fix it?","path":"/faq/moving-folders/what-is-a-broken-relocation"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-is-a-broken-relocation","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is a broken relocation and how do I fix it?","alternateName":["Broken shortcut after moving","Link points to nothing","Moved folder won't open","relocated folder missing on drive","How do I clean up a dead link?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A broken relocation is a moved folder where the link and the data no longer line up: a link whose data on the drive can't be found, data on the drive with no link left at the original place, or an empty folder on the drive.\n\nThe most common cause is simply that the drive is unplugged — reconnect it and the links work again. Otherwise it usually means something was changed on the drive outside Storage Studio.\n\nIn What's Using Space → Relocated, a broken row shows a red warning and a Delete chip. Its confirmation is tailored to the case and cleans up the leftover data, the dead link and Storage Studio's record in one step. Read it carefully: if the data is only on the drive, deleting removes it.\n\nSee the Relocated panel.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-is-a-broken-relocation"}}]},"fragment":"
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Moving folders · Messages and problems

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What is a broken relocation and how do I fix it?

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Short answer: It's a moved folder whose link and data no longer match — the data is missing, the link is missing, or the drive folder is empty. Reconnect the drive first; if it's genuinely broken, the Relocated panel's Delete chip cleans up the leftovers in one step.

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A broken relocation is a moved folder where the link and the data no longer line up: a link whose data on the drive can't be found, data on the drive with no link left at the original place, or an empty folder on the drive.

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The most common cause is simply that the drive is unplugged — reconnect it and the links work again. Otherwise it usually means something was changed on the drive outside Storage Studio.

\n

In What's Using Space → Relocated, a broken row shows a red warning and a Delete chip. Its confirmation is tailored to the case and cleans up the leftover data, the dead link and Storage Studio's record in one step. Read it carefully: if the data is only on the drive, deleting removes it.

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See the Relocated panel.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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