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WORKFLOW 01 / APP RELOCATION

Six stages.
One safe move.

Move a large macOS app from the fixed internal SSD to external storage, then keep opening it through Dock, Spotlight, or Finder. DiskFreeVault previews, copies, verifies, and records the move before internal space is released.
SEE THE SIX STAGES ↓
MOVE ONE APP FREE
MOVE PLAN / READY
SOURCEInternal SSD96% used
→
TARGETStudio SSD713 GB free
01
After Effects.app37.4 GB · SIGNATURE CHECKED
READY
02
Source retainedUNTIL VERIFICATION PASSES
ARMED

Nothing is removed from the internal disk before verification succeeds.

01Preflight
02Copy
03Swap
04Link
05Verify
06Commit
BEFORE THE MOVE / 01

Know the result before the first write.

The dry-run plan turns a risky drag into a clear go-or-no-go decision. Every selected app, target volume, privilege requirement, and verification step is visible first.
GATE / 01

Source and target

Capacity, filesystem support, ownership, protected paths, and destination availability are checked together.
STATUS / CHECKED
GATE / 02

App compatibility

Running state, helpers, services, signatures, and privilege expectations are surfaced before execution.
STATUS / REVIEWED
GATE / 03

Proof after copy

The plan declares the bundle, path, signature, handoff, and optional launch checks that must pass afterward.
STATUS / DEFINED
CONTROLLED TRANSFER / 02

One transaction. Six visible stages.

The order is deliberate: preserve the original, prove the external copy, then release internal capacity and record exactly what happened.
01

Preflight

NO WRITE
Validate the source, target, available capacity, policy rules, running state, and required permissions.
PLAN READY
02

Copy

SOURCE KEPT
Write the complete app bundle to the selected external volume while the internal original remains untouched.
TRANSFERRED
03

Swap

BACKUP HELD
Move the original into a controlled handoff location so a failed verification can still trigger rollback.
RECOVERABLE
04

Path handoff

LINK CHOICE
When the selected mode needs it, replace the original path with a link to the external app location.
PATH READY
05

Verify

PROOF REQUIRED
Check bundle structure, embedded services, signature status, source handoff, launch readiness, and optional smoke test.
VERIFIED
06

Commit

SPACE RELEASED
Finish cleanup, record move history and health results, and make supported moves eligible for restore.
RECORDED

The internal source remains recoverable until the verification gate has passed.

AFTER THE MOVE / 03

A clear result in either direction.

A successful move becomes normal daily storage. A failed check becomes a recovery event—not a mystery left behind on disk.
RESULT / VERIFIED

Launch as usual

The app now lives on the external disk while your familiar macOS launch flow stays intact.
  • Move history stores both paths and the event trail
  • Health results document the final verified state
  • Eligible moves can be restored to the original location
RESULT / NEEDS ATTENTION

Recover with context

If verification or path handoff fails, DiskFreeVault attempts rollback and records what still needs attention.
  • Recovery Center identifies leftovers and broken links
  • Original and backup locations remain explicit
  • Support Bundle captures the plan and health details
NEXT WORKFLOW

Moving more than one app?

Batch mode keeps the same six-stage safety model and adds sequential progress with an outcome for every selected item.
OPEN BATCH MOVES ↗
VIEW SAFETY STATUS