Written by
Sherry SongSummary: Have you encountered problems when moving Users folder on Mac? Here, let iBoysoft help you fix the issue you can't move the Users folder on Mac. You're highly recommended to use iBoysoft MagicMenu if you hurry to move the files or folders on Mac.
Moving the User or Home folder on Mac can sometimes be challenging due to system restrictions or permission issues. There are many users complaining about this issue:
After updating to macOS Sequoia 15.1, it seemed that my Mac broke the ability to move my Home folder on an external hard disk even I try to disable SIP. How can I realize this moving? -discussion.apple.com
When I connect to an external drive and try to move User folder, I failed. Do you any recommendations? -forums.macrumors.com
I was unable to move Users folder and got the message “To use the folder you specified as your home folder, you must restart your computer.” -reddit.com
Whether you're running out of space on your primary drive or need to reorganize your files, this guide will provide comprehensive solutions to fix the issue of Mac unable to move Users folder. Additionally, we will introduce an alternative tool to simplify the process.
An alternative to move the User folder on Mac
For a hassle-free method to move the User folder on Mac, consider using iBoysoft MagicMenu. It simplifies the moving action by letting you add the frequently used folder to the Move To menu or you can use Copy To function.
While you can't move the Users folder to external hard drives on Mac, why not try this tool to move instead? iBoysoft MagicMenu enables you to add local folders, network drives, and external devices to your Mac's context menu, streamlining User file transfers.
Let's move Users or Home folders on Mac via iBoysoft MagicMenu:
- Free download, install, and open iBoysoft MagicMenu.
- Open Finder and find the needed Users Folder, right-click it, and choose Move To/Copy to.
(Move to means you cut the folder to the target path; Copy to means you copy the folder and keep the original copy.) - Select the target path.
(If you frequently need to do a copy, you can open iBoysoft MagicMenu > Select Copy/Move to, and click the + button to add the file path like your external hard drive.)
Download it now and you may fix the issue you can't move the Users folder on Mac. Moreover, it can create a new file, uninstall unwanted apps, remove duplicate files, and so on.
How to fix Mac can't move the Users folder?
If you prefer manual troubleshooting, follow these solutions to resolve the error message "To use the folder you specified as your home folder..." Depending on the causes of this issue, not every method will work, so you'd better try them all.
# Method 1: Verify admin permissions
Ensure your account has administrative privileges, which may lead to you can't move Users folder on macOS.
- Apple menu > System Settings > Users & Groups.
- Click the small circle near your account, and confirm your account is listed as Admin,
(If not, switch to an admin account or update your permissions.)
# Method 2: Disable and re-enable System Integrity Protection (SIP)
SIP protects system files, including the User folder or Home folder, from modification. To disable it in macOS Recovery Mode, you can:
- Restart your Mac in macOS Recovery Mode.
(For Apple Silicon: Shut down your Mac, then press and hold the Power button until Options appears. For Intel Macs: Restart and hold the Command + R keys until the Apple logo appears.) - From the Utilities menu, choose Terminal.
- Type csrutil disable and press the Enter key.
- Restart your Mac.
- Then repeat steps 1 and 2, type csrutil enable, and restart Mac.
If you succeed in fixing your issue here, why not share?
# Method 3: Using Terminal commands
If Mac is unable to move the Home folder with Finder, Mac Terminal can help you:
- Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
- Type sudo mv /Users/username /New/Location and press the Enter key.
(Replace username with your Users folder name and /New/Location with the destination path.) - Enter your admin password when prompted.
# Method 4: Check file permission
Ensure proper permissions for the folder, which sometimes leads to the moving process failing.
- Open Finder and find the folder, right-click it then choose Get Info.
- Scroll to Sharing & Permissions.
- Grant your account Read & Write access. Use the lock icon to make changes if necessary.
# Method 5: Unsync iCloud Drove and clear storage
Sometimes, iCloud Drive syncing can cause storage issues or conflicts when moving the User folder on Mac, to resolve this:
- Apple menu > System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud.
- Toggle off iCloud Drive to unsync your files.
- Review your local storage and delete unnecessary files or folders previously synced with iCloud.
- Re-nable iCloud Drive if needed after clearing space.
Have you got all these ways to fix the issue you can't move Users folder on Mac? Please share our post.
Final words
By following these steps, you should be able to move your Users or Home folder successfully. For a smoother experience, consider leveraging tools like iBoysoft MagicMenu to simplify the process.
