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Question

Unusual Behavior moving files (copies instead), Mac + Tahoe

  • May 5, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 11 views
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Normal setup: one finder window set to a subfolder, searching for .pngs (or .jpegs, etc)

Another finder window showing that same folder. I would use the search results and drag files from the search into the parent folder. This would normally move files. 

What’s happening instead is it’s copying the files. It leaves the searched images in the subfolder and copies them back a level into the parent folder (or to whatever new location I have). This is unexpected behavior and quite unhelpful to our workflows. 

I also have an outstanding question on horrible behavior with moving files (it downloads the entire folder BEFORE MOVING and Box has blamed Apple, but this is months now that I’ve been waiting for a fix. I am holding back our company’s computers from Tahoe upgrades because of this behavior. 

 

Please Box, help this and my previous problem!

https://envoyplatform.box.com/s/cpbe0qmdnn9juxltkupvfywgnihemc1p

1 reply

Rona Box
  • Rona Box
  • Community Manager
  • May 5, 2026

Hi ​@EnvoyPhoto, 

Welcome to Box Community, and we’re glad to further assist! 

 

For us to narrow down this issue, try the following: 

  1. On macOS, holding Option while dragging changes the action to copy. Try the move again without pressing any modifier keys.
  2. Are you moving folders within your Box Drive folder or the source folder is coming from your local folder? 
  3. Instead of drag and drop, click the Command+C on the folder and go to the destination in Box Drive> use Move Item Here if available. 

Hope it works! Feel free to reply if you need additional assistance. 

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