{"id":"moving-folders.what-is-the-difference-between-move-merge-and-relocate","url":"/faq/moving-folders/what-is-the-difference-between-move-merge-and-relocate","category":{"id":"moving-folders","title":"Moving folders"},"subcategory":{"id":"data-parking","title":"Data Parking (the two-pane mover)"},"question":"What's the difference between Move, Merge and Relocate in Data Parking?","alt_questions":["Move vs Merge vs Relocate","Which Data Parking button should I use?","What do the three arrows in Data Parking do?","data parking move merge relocate difference","Which option leaves a shortcut behind?","Which move option deletes files at the destination?"],"short_answer":"Move makes the destination match the source; Merge adds without deleting or overwriting anything at the destination; Relocate moves the file contents but leaves links so everything keeps working. Move and Merge remove the originals after checking the copy.","answer_markdown":"**Move** makes the destination match the source exactly, **Merge** adds to the destination without deleting or overwriting anything already there, and **Relocate** moves the file contents but keeps the folder layout on your Mac with links in place of the files.\n\n- **Move** — replaces whatever's at the destination with the source. The original is removed after the copy is checked. Marked ✕. If something is already there, you can choose Keep both or Merge instead.\n- **Merge** — adds what's missing and keeps anything already at the destination. A same-named file with different contents is renamed with the date and kept, never overwritten. The original is removed after the copy is checked. Marked ✕. Never deletes your data, so it doesn't ask for confirmation.\n- **Relocate** (Mac → destination only) — the \"free up space without breaking anything\" option. Each file is replaced by a link to its new home. Marked ✓, because the original place keeps working.\n\nIf you want to free space but keep paths working, choose Relocate. See [What does Relocate do?](/faq/moving-folders/what-does-relocate-do-in-data-parking)","answer_html":"

Move makes the destination match the source exactly, Merge adds to the destination without deleting or overwriting anything already there, and Relocate moves the file contents but keeps the folder layout on your Mac with links in place of the files.

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If you want to free space but keep paths working, choose Relocate. See What does Relocate do?

","answer_text":"Move makes the destination match the source exactly, Merge adds to the destination without deleting or overwriting anything already there, and Relocate moves the file contents but keeps the folder layout on your Mac with links in place of the files.\n\n- Move — replaces whatever's at the destination with the source. The original is removed after the copy is checked. Marked ✕. If something is already there, you can choose Keep both or Merge instead.\n- Merge — adds what's missing and keeps anything already at the destination. A same-named file with different contents is renamed with the date and kept, never overwritten. The original is removed after the copy is checked. Marked ✕. Never deletes your data, so it doesn't ask for confirmation.\n- Relocate (Mac → destination only) — the \"free up space without breaking anything\" option. Each file is replaced by a link to its new home. Marked ✓, because the original place keeps working.\n\nIf you want to free space but keep paths working, choose Relocate. See What does Relocate do?","tags":["data parking","move","merge","relocate"],"related":[{"id":"moving-folders.what-does-relocate-do-in-data-parking","question":"What does Relocate do in Data Parking?","url":"/faq/moving-folders/what-does-relocate-do-in-data-parking"},{"id":"moving-folders.what-does-merge-do-in-data-parking","question":"What does Merge do in Data Parking?","url":"/faq/moving-folders/what-does-merge-do-in-data-parking"},{"id":"moving-folders.what-does-move-do-in-data-parking","question":"What does the Move button do in Data Parking?","url":"/faq/moving-folders/what-does-move-do-in-data-parking"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-27","title":"What's the difference between Move, Merge and Relocate in Data Parking? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Move makes the destination match the source; Merge adds without deleting or overwriting anything at the destination; Relocate moves the file contents but leaves links so everything keeps working. Move and Merge remove the originals after checking the copy.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Moving folders","path":"/faq/moving-folders/"},{"name":"What's the difference between Move, Merge and Relocate in Data Parking?","path":"/faq/moving-folders/what-is-the-difference-between-move-merge-and-relocate"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-is-the-difference-between-move-merge-and-relocate","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-27","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What's the difference between Move, Merge and Relocate in Data Parking?","alternateName":["Move vs Merge vs Relocate","Which Data Parking button should I use?","What do the three arrows in Data Parking do?","data parking move merge relocate difference","Which option leaves a shortcut behind?","Which move option deletes files at the destination?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Move makes the destination match the source exactly, Merge adds to the destination without deleting or overwriting anything already there, and Relocate moves the file contents but keeps the folder layout on your Mac with links in place of the files.\n\n- Move — replaces whatever's at the destination with the source. The original is removed after the copy is checked. Marked ✕. If something is already there, you can choose Keep both or Merge instead.\n- Merge — adds what's missing and keeps anything already at the destination. A same-named file with different contents is renamed with the date and kept, never overwritten. The original is removed after the copy is checked. Marked ✕. Never deletes your data, so it doesn't ask for confirmation.\n- Relocate (Mac → destination only) — the \"free up space without breaking anything\" option. Each file is replaced by a link to its new home. Marked ✓, because the original place keeps working.\n\nIf you want to free space but keep paths working, choose Relocate. See What does Relocate do?","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-is-the-difference-between-move-merge-and-relocate"}}]},"fragment":"
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Moving folders · Data Parking (the two-pane mover)

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What's the difference between Move, Merge and Relocate in Data Parking?

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Short answer: Move makes the destination match the source; Merge adds without deleting or overwriting anything at the destination; Relocate moves the file contents but leaves links so everything keeps working. Move and Merge remove the originals after checking the copy.

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Move makes the destination match the source exactly, Merge adds to the destination without deleting or overwriting anything already there, and Relocate moves the file contents but keeps the folder layout on your Mac with links in place of the files.

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  • Move — replaces whatever's at the destination with the source. The original is removed after the copy is checked. Marked ✕. If something is already there, you can choose Keep both or Merge instead.
  • Merge — adds what's missing and keeps anything already at the destination. A same-named file with different contents is renamed with the date and kept, never overwritten. The original is removed after the copy is checked. Marked ✕. Never deletes your data, so it doesn't ask for confirmation.
  • Relocate (Mac → destination only) — the "free up space without breaking anything" option. Each file is replaced by a link to its new home. Marked ✓, because the original place keeps working.
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If you want to free space but keep paths working, choose Relocate. See What does Relocate do?

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