Troubleshooting & messages · Moves and copies that didn't finish
What does "was copied successfully, but the original couldn't be removed afterwards" mean?
Short answer: The copy finished and was verified, but the original couldn't be cleared, so it still uses space. Your data is safe — quit apps using the folder and run the move again.
The copy on your drive finished and was checked, but Storage Studio couldn't clear the original from your Mac afterwards — so the folder is still using space on the internal disk. Your data is safe; you simply have two copies for now.
This usually happens when an app still has a file in that folder open, or macOS refused the removal.
### What to do 1. Quit apps that might be using the folder. 2. Run the move again — it will recognise the copy already on the drive. 3. If it still won't clear, check that Storage Studio has Full Disk Access in System Settings → Privacy & Security.