{"id":"moving-folders.why-wont-storage-studio-move-an-apps-data-folder","url":"/faq/moving-folders/why-wont-storage-studio-move-an-apps-data-folder","category":{"id":"moving-folders","title":"Moving folders"},"subcategory":{"id":"specific-folders","title":"Moving specific folders"},"question":"Why won't What's Using Space move an app's whole data folder?","alt_questions":["these are an app's own files, including its settings and sign-ins","Why is Slack or Zoom data not movable?","Move Application Support to external drive","Library folder move refused","app data folder grey lock storage studio"],"short_answer":"An app's data folder holds its settings, sign-ins and live state, so moving it whole would sign you out and break when the drive is unplugged. Storage Studio only moves the part an app rebuilds by itself, and leaves the rest in place.","answer_markdown":"Because an app's data folder holds its settings, sign-ins and live state, not just bulky files. Moving all of it behind a link would sign you out, and the app would break whenever the drive was unplugged. So Storage Studio only moves the part an app rebuilds by itself — its caches — and shows the rest for information.\n\nThis applies to anything in your Library folder and the hidden folders apps keep in your home folder, for every app, including ones installed after Storage Studio. If you try anyway, the move is refused with: \"these are an app's own files, including its settings and sign-ins.\"\n\nTo free an app's space, use the **Apps** window — moving or offloading the app itself — or clear its caches. See [apps](/faq/apps/).","answer_html":"

Because an app's data folder holds its settings, sign-ins and live state, not just bulky files. Moving all of it behind a link would sign you out, and the app would break whenever the drive was unplugged. So Storage Studio only moves the part an app rebuilds by itself — its caches — and shows the rest for information.

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This applies to anything in your Library folder and the hidden folders apps keep in your home folder, for every app, including ones installed after Storage Studio. If you try anyway, the move is refused with: "these are an app's own files, including its settings and sign-ins."

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To free an app's space, use the Apps window — moving or offloading the app itself — or clear its caches. See apps.

","answer_text":"Because an app's data folder holds its settings, sign-ins and live state, not just bulky files. Moving all of it behind a link would sign you out, and the app would break whenever the drive was unplugged. So Storage Studio only moves the part an app rebuilds by itself — its caches — and shows the rest for information.\n\nThis applies to anything in your Library folder and the hidden folders apps keep in your home folder, for every app, including ones installed after Storage Studio. If you try anyway, the move is refused with: \"these are an app's own files, including its settings and sign-ins.\"\n\nTo free an app's space, use the Apps window — moving or offloading the app itself — or clear its caches. See apps.","tags":["app data","library","protected"],"related":[{"id":"moving-folders.why-wont-storage-studio-move-my-browser-folder","question":"Why won't Storage Studio move my browser's folder?","url":"/faq/moving-folders/why-wont-storage-studio-move-my-browser-folder"},{"id":"moving-folders.what-should-i-not-move-to-an-external-drive","question":"What should I not move to an external drive?","url":"/faq/moving-folders/what-should-i-not-move-to-an-external-drive"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Why won't What's Using Space move an app's whole data folder? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"An app's data folder holds its settings, sign-ins and live state, so moving it whole would sign you out and break when the drive is unplugged. Storage Studio only moves the part an app rebuilds by itself, and leaves the rest in place.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Moving folders","path":"/faq/moving-folders/"},{"name":"Why won't What's Using Space move an app's whole data folder?","path":"/faq/moving-folders/why-wont-storage-studio-move-an-apps-data-folder"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/why-wont-storage-studio-move-an-apps-data-folder","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why won't What's Using Space move an app's whole data folder?","alternateName":["these are an app's own files, including its settings and sign-ins","Why is Slack or Zoom data not movable?","Move Application Support to external drive","Library folder move refused","app data folder grey lock storage studio"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Because an app's data folder holds its settings, sign-ins and live state, not just bulky files. Moving all of it behind a link would sign you out, and the app would break whenever the drive was unplugged. So Storage Studio only moves the part an app rebuilds by itself — its caches — and shows the rest for information.\n\nThis applies to anything in your Library folder and the hidden folders apps keep in your home folder, for every app, including ones installed after Storage Studio. If you try anyway, the move is refused with: \"these are an app's own files, including its settings and sign-ins.\"\n\nTo free an app's space, use the Apps window — moving or offloading the app itself — or clear its caches. See apps.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/why-wont-storage-studio-move-an-apps-data-folder"}}]},"fragment":"
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Moving folders · Moving specific folders

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Why won't What's Using Space move an app's whole data folder?

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Short answer: An app's data folder holds its settings, sign-ins and live state, so moving it whole would sign you out and break when the drive is unplugged. Storage Studio only moves the part an app rebuilds by itself, and leaves the rest in place.

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Because an app's data folder holds its settings, sign-ins and live state, not just bulky files. Moving all of it behind a link would sign you out, and the app would break whenever the drive was unplugged. So Storage Studio only moves the part an app rebuilds by itself — its caches — and shows the rest for information.

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This applies to anything in your Library folder and the hidden folders apps keep in your home folder, for every app, including ones installed after Storage Studio. If you try anyway, the move is refused with: "these are an app's own files, including its settings and sign-ins."

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To free an app's space, use the Apps window — moving or offloading the app itself — or clear its caches. See apps.

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