{"id":"troubleshooting.copy-didnt-match-the-original-move-stopped","url":"/faq/troubleshooting/copy-didnt-match-the-original-move-stopped","category":{"id":"troubleshooting","title":"Troubleshooting & messages"},"subcategory":{"id":"moves-and-copies","title":"Moves and copies that didn't finish"},"question":"What does \"The copy didn't match the original closely enough to be sure it's complete\" mean?","alt_questions":["copy didn't match the original storage studio","move stopped before touching your original","why did my move stop after copying","storage studio verification failed on a move","copy not complete enough move cancelled","move failed during checking step mac"],"short_answer":"Storage Studio checked the copy, found a difference, and stopped before touching your original — nothing was lost. Close apps that might be writing to the folder and try again.","answer_markdown":"It means Storage Studio checked the copy on your drive against the original, found a difference, and stopped the move **before** touching the original. Nothing was lost — your files are still exactly where they were.\n\nStorage Studio only removes the original after the copy has been checked. When a check fails, the safe thing is to stop.\n\n### What to do\n1. Close any app that might be writing into that folder (editors, sync apps, downloads in progress).\n2. Try the move again.\n3. If it keeps failing on the same folder, the folder is probably being changed while it's copied — wait until the app using it is finished, or leave that folder where it is.\n\nSee [moving folders](/faq/moving-folders/) and the [Data Parking manual](/manual/tier).","answer_html":"

It means Storage Studio checked the copy on your drive against the original, found a difference, and stopped the move before touching the original. Nothing was lost — your files are still exactly where they were.

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Storage Studio only removes the original after the copy has been checked. When a check fails, the safe thing is to stop.

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### What to do 1. Close any app that might be writing into that folder (editors, sync apps, downloads in progress). 2. Try the move again. 3. If it keeps failing on the same folder, the folder is probably being changed while it's copied — wait until the app using it is finished, or leave that folder where it is.

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See moving folders and the Data Parking manual.

","answer_text":"It means Storage Studio checked the copy on your drive against the original, found a difference, and stopped the move before touching the original. Nothing was lost — your files are still exactly where they were.\n\nStorage Studio only removes the original after the copy has been checked. When a check fails, the safe thing is to stop.\n\nWhat to do\n1. Close any app that might be writing into that folder (editors, sync apps, downloads in progress).\n2. Try the move again.\n3. If it keeps failing on the same folder, the folder is probably being changed while it's copied — wait until the app using it is finished, or leave that folder where it is.\n\nSee moving folders and the Data Parking manual.","tags":["move failed","verification","copy"],"related":[{"id":"troubleshooting.files-changed-while-being-copied","question":"What does \"Some files changed while they were being copied\" mean?","url":"/faq/troubleshooting/files-changed-while-being-copied"},{"id":"troubleshooting.couldnt-finish-moving-original-safe","question":"What does \"Storage Studio couldn't finish moving… Your original is safe and untouched\" mean?","url":"/faq/troubleshooting/couldnt-finish-moving-original-safe"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What does \"The copy didn't match the original closely enough to be sure it's complete\" mean? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Storage Studio checked the copy, found a difference, and stopped before touching your original — nothing was lost. Close apps that might be writing to the folder and try again.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Troubleshooting & messages","path":"/faq/troubleshooting/"},{"name":"What does \"The copy didn't match the original closely enough to be sure it's complete\" mean?","path":"/faq/troubleshooting/copy-didnt-match-the-original-move-stopped"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/copy-didnt-match-the-original-move-stopped","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What does \"The copy didn't match the original closely enough to be sure it's complete\" mean?","alternateName":["copy didn't match the original storage studio","move stopped before touching your original","why did my move stop after copying","storage studio verification failed on a move","copy not complete enough move cancelled","move failed during checking step mac"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It means Storage Studio checked the copy on your drive against the original, found a difference, and stopped the move before touching the original. Nothing was lost — your files are still exactly where they were.\n\nStorage Studio only removes the original after the copy has been checked. When a check fails, the safe thing is to stop.\n\nWhat to do\n1. Close any app that might be writing into that folder (editors, sync apps, downloads in progress).\n2. Try the move again.\n3. If it keeps failing on the same folder, the folder is probably being changed while it's copied — wait until the app using it is finished, or leave that folder where it is.\n\nSee moving folders and the Data Parking manual.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/copy-didnt-match-the-original-move-stopped"}}]},"fragment":"
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Troubleshooting & messages · Moves and copies that didn't finish

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What does "The copy didn't match the original closely enough to be sure it's complete" mean?

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Short answer: Storage Studio checked the copy, found a difference, and stopped before touching your original — nothing was lost. Close apps that might be writing to the folder and try again.

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It means Storage Studio checked the copy on your drive against the original, found a difference, and stopped the move before touching the original. Nothing was lost — your files are still exactly where they were.

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Storage Studio only removes the original after the copy has been checked. When a check fails, the safe thing is to stop.

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### What to do 1. Close any app that might be writing into that folder (editors, sync apps, downloads in progress). 2. Try the move again. 3. If it keeps failing on the same folder, the folder is probably being changed while it's copied — wait until the app using it is finished, or leave that folder where it is.

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See moving folders and the Data Parking manual.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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