How do I submit a sugestion that will make moving files easier?
John G. C.
User level: Level 1 (5 points)
User level: Level 1 (5 points)How to submit a suggestion for easier file moving
Posted on Sep 22, 2026 11:20 AM
5 replies
neuroanatomist
User level: Level 9 (72,871 points)
User level: Level 9 (72,871 points)Sep 22, 2026 11:23 AM in response to John G. C.
“We” are users like you and have no power to implement any suggestions. Apple employees are generally precluded from even reading these forums, with the exception of moderators who only monitor for compliance with the T&C.
To have Apple consider your feedback, submit it here:
iamshivam
User level: Level 3 (964 points)
User level: Level 3 (964 points)Sep 23, 2026 11:11 PM in response to John G. C.
What you’re running into is really a Finder UI limitation rather than a limitation of the filesystem: Finder already has distinct copy/move semantics underneath, but the normal file operation UI doesn’t expose Move consistently as an explicit command. On the same APFS volume, Finder can move an item by renaming/relinking the directory entry, whereas dragging between volumes normally becomes a copy because it has to create a new file object on the destination filesystem.
That’s also why holding Option changes the behaviour.... you’re modifying the operation Finder requests rather than changing the file itself. If the goal is a predictable keyboard-driven Move command, macOS actually supports it through Finder’s ⌘C followed by ⌥⌘V (Move Item Here).... the fact that this is hidden behind a modifier rather than presented as a normal Paste/Move action is the UX problem worth describing in Feedback.
I’d specifically report the workflow you want rather than simply asking Apple to make file moving easier, because the underlying filesystem operation is already there; Finder just doesn’t expose it consistently.
Zurarczurx
User level: Level 6 (8,142 points)
User level: Level 6 (8,142 points)Sep 22, 2026 11:24 AM in response to John G. C.
You can give Apple feedback here.
You can drag and drop and use the alt key to choose to move or copy.
MartinR
User level: Level 7 (27,833 points)
User level: Level 7 (27,833 points)Sep 24, 2026 5:56 AM in response to John G. C.
What, exactly, do you think will make file moving easier?
In all my years using Macs (20+) I have never felt that moving a file or folder was anything other than plain old easy. Just drag the file or folder to the new location.
Moving to a different drive or volume? Well, ok, that's actually a copy operation, not a move. And it has to be a copy because in that case you're not just changing a directory entry for the folder/file, the system has to create a new directory entry on the destination drive/volume and also copy the data to it. A "move" in that case would require a copy + delete. Is that what you're looking for?
Niel
User level: Level 10 (756,437 points)
User level: Level 10 (756,437 points)Sep 22, 2026 11:23 AM in response to John G. C.
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256362870