Moving files on same volume is copying instead

[ashleykaryl]

I upgraded to 10.15.6 about an hour ago and not long ago I tried moving some folders with images to another folder on the same external drive, but rather than simply moving the files it copied them to the new location and left the original folder in place. I cannot recall seeing this happen on a Mac in the last 20 years and I am wondering what could be causing it.

I have tried this on another external drive and seen the same problem. I just tried moving one sub folder to the main level and up popped a message about needing to authenticate this, so it's looking like the permissions or something have gone awry since this Catalina update.

Has anybody seen anything like this? The main drive seems to be working as normal but external drives are all behaving strangely.

Edit: just trying this further and it seems to be fine on an external Samsung SSD, however two Toshiba USB 3 drives both have the same issue.

 

[ashleykaryl]

I looked at the file info for the folder under sharing & permissions and found the system was allowed to read & write, but not myself as a user. When I added administrators and allowed read/write permission the folders can then be moved normally it seems. Strangely it has wheel set to read & write.

 

[ashleykaryl]

I think I have this sorted now thanks to copying the share permissions from the Mac Pro. During the update I heard the drives clicking as though they were trying to mount and I've never seen that before during an update. Catalina continues to thrill...

 

[chilean]

I have the same problem under Catalina with a 4TB WD Element external drive. I will investigate the share permission tip you gave, I am not too familiar with. Thanks for your post.