Understanding the Difference Between Moving and Copying Files on Your Mac: A User’s Guide

Moving a file means removing it from its original location and placing in a new location. Copying, on the other hand, creates a duplicate of the file in a new location, while also keeping it in the original location.

Yes, to copy a file or folder, press ‘Command+C’, navigate to where you want to place the copied item, and then press ‘Command+V’.

You can move files by dragging them to their new location, or by cutting ‘Command+X’ and pasting ‘Command+V’ them to where you want them to go.

You might want to copy a file instead of moving it if you need the file in multiple locations, if you want to make a backup, or if you want to modify a version of the file without changing the original.

Yes, you can undo a move or copy operation by pressing ‘Command+Z’ immediately after the operation. However, if you’ve made changes since moving or copying the file, those changes will also be undone.

If a file has been moved, it will no longer be in its original location. If a file has been copied, it will appear in both the original and new location.

No, moving or copying a file does not change its contents. However, if you move a file to a location with a file of the same name, you’ll be asked whether you want to replace the existing file.

If you try to move or copy a file to a location where a file of the same name already exists, your Mac will ask you if you want to replace the existing file. If you choose to replace it, the original file will be deleted.

Yes, to select multiple files, hold down the ‘Command’ key as you click on each file. Then, you can drag them to a new location or use the cut or copy commands.

Moving a file does not take up additional space because the file is simply being relocated. However, copying a file creates a duplicate, which does use up additional storage space.

Yes, you can move or copy files between different storage devices connected to your Mac, such as between your hard drive and a USB flash drive.

No, if you don’t have permission to edit a location, you won’t be able to move or copy files to it. You might need to change the location’s permission settings or open the location with an administrator account.

You can move or copy a file to a different user account by placing the file in a shared location, like the Public folder, and then logging in to the other account and moving the file from the shared location to where you want it.

No, if a file is open in a program, you won’t be able to move or copy it. You’ll need to close the file in the program before you can move or copy it.

Yes, the process for moving or copying folders is the same as for individual files. Just remember that when you move or copy a folder, you’re also moving or copying all of its contents.

No, a file’s location doesn’t affect which program opens it, but it does affect where the program looks for it. If you move a file while it’s open in a program, the program might not be able to save changes to the file.

The quickest way to move or copy a file is to use keyboard shortcuts: ‘Command+C’ to copy, ‘Command+X’ to move, and ‘Command+V’ to paste.

Yes, you can create an alias, or shortcut, which lets you open a file from a different location without moving or copying the original file. To create an alias, select the file and choose ‘Make Alias’ from the File menu.

To rename a file, click on it once to select it, then click on its name to make it editable. Type the new name and press ‘Return’.

To delete a file, select it and press ‘Command+Delete’. This will move the file to your Trash. To permanently delete it, empty your Trash.

You can select non-adjacent files by holding down the ‘Command’ key and clicking each file you want to select.

To select a consecutive group of files, click on the first file, then hold down the ‘Shift’ key and click on the last file. All the files in between will be selected.

You can create a new folder by going to the location where you want the new folder, and then choosing ‘New Folder’ from the File menu or pressing the ‘Shift+Cmd+N’ key.

No, using the mouse or keyboard shortcuts does the same thing. It’s just a matter of what’s more convenient for you.

Moving a file to the Trash is a way of deleting it. It stays in your Trash until you empty your Trash, at which point it’s permanently deleted.

If you accidentally move or delete a file, you can undo the operation by pressing ‘Command+Z’ right away. If you emptied your Trash after deleting the file, there might still be ways to recover it.

There can be several reasons why you can’t move or copy a file, such as the file being open in another program, the destination not having enough space, or you not having the correct permissions.

Yes, you can move or copy files to your iCloud Drive. This can be useful for backing up files or accessing them on other devices synced with your iCloud account.

If you move a file to iCloud Drive, it’s removed from its original location on your Mac and stored in iCloud. If you copy a file, then the original stays on your Mac and you also have a copy in iCloud.

Moving large files is usually more efficient since it doesn’t use up additional storage space. However, if you’re moving the file to a different disk or device, copying might be more reliable in case something goes wrong.