Privacy & safety · Undo and recovery
What happens to my moved files if my external drive fails or gets lost?
Short answer: Moved files live only on the external drive, so a failed or lost drive takes them with it. Protect them with Time Machine, a Backup Drive copy onto a second drive, or Data Backup.
Files you've moved live only on that drive, so if it fails or is lost they go with it — the shortcuts on your Mac would point at nothing. That's why a separate backup matters.
Ways to protect yourself:
- Keep Time Machine or another backup that includes the drive.
- Use Backup Drive to make a verified copy of your whole working drive onto a second drive.
- Use Data Backup for versioned backups of important folders.
Offloaded apps are also archives on the drive, so they share its fate. See Transfer or back up your drive.