---
title: "The drive was unplugged during a move"
url: https://storagestudio.us/wiki/drive-unplugged-during-a-move
category: "Troubleshooting"
tags: ["troubleshooting", "external drive", "data parking"]
summary: "If your external drive is unplugged mid-move, the original stays where it was and the move waits. Plug the same drive back in and it carries on by itself, copying only what's left."
updated: 2026-10-01T05:41:24.000Z
---

# The drive was unplugged during a move

If your external drive is unplugged mid-move, the original stays where it was and the move waits. Plug the same drive back in and it carries on by itself, copying only what's left.

If your drive comes unplugged in the middle of a move, nothing is lost. The original is still on your Mac — Storage Studio only removes it after the copy has finished and been checked — and the move is set aside as **Waiting for drive**. Plug the same drive back in and the move picks up by itself, skipping what was already copied.

## What state things are in

- **The original is untouched.** A move removes the original only as its very last step, after copying and checking.
- **The move is waiting, not failed.** In the **Moves** list it shows **Waiting for drive** in orange. A red line underneath may also say "The drive became unavailable while moving “…”. Your original is safe — reconnect the drive and try again." For a waiting move you don't need to start it again — reconnecting is enough.
- **Moved apps and folders are out of reach** until the drive is back, because they live on it. See [When your drive is disconnected](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/when-your-drive-is-disconnected).
- **The Home screen says** "Your external drive isn't connected."

```mermaid
%% caption: What happens when the drive is unplugged during a move
flowchart TD
  A[Drive unplugged during a move] --> B[Move stops and waits for the drive]
  B --> C[Original stays on your Mac]
  C --> D{Same drive plugged back in?}
  D -->|Yes| E[Move resumes and copies what's left]
  E --> F[Copy is checked, then the original is removed]
  D -->|A different drive| G[Move stops - original still untouched]
  G --> H[Reconnect the right drive and move again]
```

*Flowchart — What happens when the drive is unplugged during a move. Outline:*

- Drive unplugged during a move
  - leads to Move stops and waits for the drive
- Move stops and waits for the drive
  - leads to Original stays on your Mac
- Original stays on your Mac
  - leads to Same drive plugged back in?
- Same drive plugged back in?
  - Yes: leads to Move resumes and copies what's left
  - A different drive: leads to Move stops - original still untouched
- Move resumes and copies what's left
  - leads to Copy is checked, then the original is removed
- Move stops - original still untouched
  - leads to Reconnect the right drive and move again

## How to fix it

1. **Plug the same drive back in** and wait for it to appear in Finder. Waiting moves resume on their own; this also happens when Storage Studio next starts.
2. **Watch the Moves list** in Data Parking. The move goes back to **Copying**, then through its checks, then **Completed**.
3. **If it shows Failed instead**, a different drive may be connected — Storage Studio won't finish a move onto a drive it didn't start with. Connect the original drive, or start the move again to the drive you want. See [A folder move failed or was cancelled](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-move-failed).
4. **If the drive doesn't appear**, try **Remount Drive** in the **More** menu, or another cable or port.

To take the drive away on purpose, use **Eject Drive…** from the **More** menu first — see [Ejecting your drive safely](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/ejecting-your-drive).

## Transfers and backups

Data Transfers jobs that need the drive show **Waiting for drive**; once it's back, select the job and use **Check drive**. A backup to the drive that can't reach it waits quietly and runs again once the drive is connected — see [A backup didn't run](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-backup-didnt-run).

See also: [Moving folders safely](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/moving-folders-safely) · [The Moves log](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-moves-log) · [How copies are checked](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/how-copies-are-checked) · [Something's not working: start here](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/troubleshooting-start-here)

## What links here

- [A folder move failed or was cancelled](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-move-failed)
- [Eject fails: "Files still in use"](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/eject-fails-files-in-use)
- [Ejecting your drive safely](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/ejecting-your-drive)
- [Something's not working: start here](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/troubleshooting-start-here)
- [The Moves log](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-moves-log)
- [What happens to transfers when you restart](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/transfers-and-restarts)
- [When your drive is disconnected](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/when-your-drive-is-disconnected)