Previously Relocated Items

What is Previously Relocated Items?

Previously Relocated Items is a macOS folder that holds files the system set aside during a macOS upgrade or migration when those files could not be placed back into their expected locations automatically. Apple puts this folder in /Users/Shared and may also place an alias to it on the desktop so it is easy to find later. Inside, you may see a PDF that explains why the folder was created, along with older configuration files, support data, or other items that needed manual review. People usually encounter this folder after a major macOS update, a Mac replacement, or data migration from an older system. It is not an app and it does not run in the background; it is simply a holding area for relocated files that macOS preserved instead of discarding.

Safety overview

Status: Use with caution

This folder is created by macOS to preserve files that were not automatically restored to their normal locations during an upgrade or migration. The main risk is not malware or background activity, but accidental loss of older documents, settings, or app-related files that you may still need. Review the contents carefully, especially anything inside subfolders such as Security, Library, or application-specific folders, before removing it.

Recommendation: Open the folder and read the included PDF first, then sort through its contents before deciding what to keep. If you find personal files or settings you still use, move them to an appropriate location in your home folder or restore them from backup as needed. If the folder only contains old items you have already replaced or no longer need, you can archive it elsewhere or delete it after confirming nothing important depends on it.

File path

• /Users/Shared/Previously Relocated Items

Related can I delete pages

• /Users/Shared/Relocated Items

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