---
id: moving-folders.will-moved-files-be-slower-to-open
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/will-moved-files-be-slower-to-open
category: "Moving folders"
subcategory: "How moving folders works"
question: "Will files be slower to open after I move them to the external drive?"
alt_questions:
  - "Is working from the fast drive slower?"
  - "Do relocated folders load slower?"
  - "external ssd vs internal speed for moved files"
  - "Moved project builds slower"
short_answer: "Possibly, depending on the drive. Moved files open at the speed of your fast drive and its connection: a good SSD on a fast port feels close to the built-in drive, while a hard disk or slow hub is noticeably slower. Move things you open occasionally."
tags: ["speed", "fast drive", "performance"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/which-folders-are-worth-moving-to-an-external-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/how-long-does-moving-a-folder-take"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Will files be slower to open after I move them to the external drive?

Possibly a little, depending on the drive. Files open from wherever they physically are, so a moved file opens at the speed of your fast drive and its connection. A good SSD on a fast port feels close to the built-in drive for everyday work; a hard disk, a slow USB port or a hub makes it noticeably slower.

That's why it's best to move things you open occasionally — archives, finished projects, media libraries — and keep the folders you hammer all day on your Mac. Storage Studio can test your drive's speed to help you choose. See [external drives](https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/).