Issue, when I move items the data on the original drive does not delete

[LAHegarty]

Issue, when I and move items the data on the original drive does not delete.

I've moved over 2TB of data from a 12TB HDD to another HDD and it just isn't clearing the data off the original HDD, I've been having this issue on all my drives for several months now, it just will not release/mark the moved data as deleted.

Files are being moved to a new drive not copied, it was happening under Mojave and still happening under newest macOS.

Drives are formatted to APFS (Encrypted)

I have no idea what the cause could be, even if I format a drive the same issue will occur.

Anyone else experienced this, have a solution?

I'm now running out of HDD space so need some solutions.

 

[chabig]

When you drag files from one drive to another, it's default to just copy them. After the copy, you have to manually delete the originals if that's your intended outcome.

Hold the command key while you drag to override the default behavior and delete the originals.

 

[LAHegarty]

When you drag files from one drive to another, it's default to just copy them. After the copy, you have to manually delete the originals if that's your intended outcome.

Hold the command key while you drag to override the default behavior and delete the originals.

Hi,
I been moving the files, not coping them.

I'm decrypting all my drives now to see if that will helps.

 

[chabig]

it just will not release/mark the moved data as deleted

OK. Perhaps APFS has some snapshots that are keeping the data. You can see snapshots in Disk Utility. Delete those and the space will be freed up:

View APFS snapshots in Disk Utility on Mac

In Disk Utility on Mac, view a list of APFS snapshots, copy information about the snapshots, and delete them.

support.apple.com

 

[gilby101]

I been moving the files, not coping them.

Nevertheless, from what you say, you have been copying!

With Finder drag and drop:

From one volume to another (what you have been doing), the default is copy. Press Command key whilst dragging and until you drop to make it a move.

From a folder to another folder on the same volume, the default is move. Press Option key whilst dragging and until you drop to make it a copy.

Note that when it is a copy the dragging icon gets a plus sign, otherwise it is a move. That should tell which you are doing.

Encryption, disk format, etc. are irrelevant.

 

[LAHegarty]

Nevertheless, from what you say, you have been copying!

With Finder drag and drop:

From one volume to another (what you have been doing), the default is copy. Press Command key whilst dragging and until you drop to make it a move.

From a folder to another folder on the same volume, the default is move. Press Command key whilst dragging and until you drop to make it a copy.

Note that when it is a copy the dragging icon gets a plus sign, otherwise it is a move. That should tell which you are doing.

Encryption, disk format, etc. are irrelevant.

Nope, always moved the files never copied them, I thought I made that very clear.

I think what chabig stated about the "APFS snapshots" is correct, unfortunately I can't try this while the drives are being decrypted and it's taking ages (7 days in and still not decrypted) I can't do anything until that's finished as it won't let me.

 

[throAU]

When you drag files from one drive to another, it's default to just copy them. After the copy, you have to manually delete the originals if that's your intended outcome.

Hold the command key while you drag to override the default behavior and delete the originals.

Yeah, I'd also suggest that this is "safe" default behaviour, and I'd be annoyed if it was different.

If something unexpected happens to terminate the drag/drop from one drive to another, deleting the originals (i.e., during a "move") means that you may lose data or find yourself in a state that you need to figure out.

I'd always suggest that if moving from one device to another, always copy and then delete instead of move to prevent this.

Drag/drop on the same device is just basically a rename; data isn't actually copied and thus isn't subject to say, disk errors on the destination or network connectivity issues, etc. screwing things up.

 

[LAHegarty]

Yeah, I'd also suggest that this is "safe" default behaviour, and I'd be annoyed if it was different.

If something unexpected happens to terminate the drag/drop from one drive to another, deleting the originals (i.e., during a "move") means that you may lose data or find yourself in a state that you need to figure out.

I'd always suggest that if moving from one device to another, always copy and then delete instead of move to prevent this.

Drag/drop on the same device is just basically a rename; data isn't actually copied and thus isn't subject to say, disk errors on the destination or network connectivity issues, etc. screwing things up.

With "APFS snapshots" you are essentially coping regardless of how you move the files, so now it's doesn't even matter.

I didn't even know APFS snapshots was a thing until it was mentioned above, honestly I'm not a fan so fair as it's just causing me issues. I like to just cut and paste, or "move" as they call it on macOS and be done, now there's another unnecessary step to remove/deleting files.

Plus these are all files that do not mind losing, all the important stuff is throughly backed up.

 

[Fishrrman]

I've found that using Apple's "modern iteration" of the "move" command can be flaky at times.

By "modern iteration", I mean holding down the command key as you drag a file or selection of files to a new location.

Sometimes it works just fine.
Other times, it doesn't.

If I had any influence at Apple, I'd suggest that they add a contextual menu (right click) option "Move to..."
This would invoke a dialog "put" box, which the user could navigate to and then place the files that way.

The old, OLD utilities "DiskTools" and "DiskTop" (who remembers them?) used to do this with ease.

Actually, Pathfinder STILL can do this (just looked).
It has a "Move to" choice under the "Commands" menu.