---
title: "Dry run"
url: https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-dry-run
category: "Glossary"
tags: ["glossary", "data transfers", "troubleshooting"]
summary: "A dry run is a rehearsal: it shows what an action would do without changing anything. Storage Studio offers one for transfers and for automatic moves."
updated: 2026-10-01T05:36:01.000Z
---

# Dry run

A dry run is a rehearsal: it shows what an action would do without changing anything. Storage Studio offers one for transfers and for automatic moves.

A **dry run** is a rehearsal. It works out and shows what an action *would* do — which files it would copy, move or delete — without changing anything.

It's the safe way to check a transfer before you trust it, especially a [one-way sync](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-one-way-sync), which can delete files at the destination.

You'll find it in two places in Storage Studio:

- **Data Transfers** — tick **Dry run (preview only)** in the New Transfer sheet. The result is only a preview; **Run again** (or **Sync again** for a sync) then does it for real.
- **Automatic moves** — **Preview Next Run (Dry Run)** in the More menu shows what your rules would move next time, without moving anything.

See also: [Trying a transfer first with Dry run](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/dry-run) · [A dry run shows files I don't want moved](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/dry-run-shows-unwanted-files) · [Rules: moving folders automatically](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/rules-and-automatic-moves)

## What links here

- [A dry run shows files I don't want moved](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/dry-run-shows-unwanted-files)
- [Free Up Space](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/free-up-space)
- [One-way sync](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-one-way-sync)
- [Reviewing, stopping and checking a clear-up](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/reviewing-a-clear-up)
- [Rules: moving folders automatically](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/rules-and-automatic-moves)
- [Trying a transfer first with Dry run](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/dry-run)