---
id: moving-folders.what-is-a-broken-relocation
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-is-a-broken-relocation
category: "Moving folders"
subcategory: "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."
tags: ["broken", "links", "relocated"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/can-i-rename-or-reorganise-moved-files-on-the-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/the-original-place-is-gone"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

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

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.

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.

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.

See [the Relocated panel](https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/).