Finder 15.5. 2 folder have gone AWOL from the sidebar.

Jonzjob · Saturday at 6:55 AM

I have recently found (or should that be lost?) 2 folders from the sidebar of Finder. The other folders are still there and available and the folder names still show as normal, but this is what I get if I try to select

Right click on either folder heading and

The other folder is for the Tetbury Men's Shed and I get the same message from that too. As far as I know I haven't done anything apart from putting files in both and I have done exactly the same for all of the other folders. I am in the throws of starting the Malmesbury Men's Shed and I NEED the files in there, so can anyone help please?!

ferrarr · Saturday at 7:46 AM

Anything in the Finder Sidebar, is just an alias.

You have to locate the original folder, in Finder. In the Sidebar, right click on the folder, and select "Show in enclosing folder".

You probably moved the files, or they are stored in the cloud and you are not/were not connected to their server.

MacBiter · Saturday at 9:04 AM

Ah, Malmesbury, Tetbury, Westonbirt - memories, memories!.

Jonzjob · Saturday at 9:16 AM

The second attachment in my original post is what I get from right click on the folder name. The folder hasn't been moved since I created it several months ago. Why just those 2 and not any others?

MacB, I haven't been to Exeter since last Monday when we flew in there after our long haul flight back from the Isles of Scilly mate. Airport - bus - train and away.

MacInWin · Saturday at 10:17 AM

Find the original folders. Drag and drop them to the sidebar. It may or may not say there are duplicates. If it does, just overwrite what's there. If it does not, then manually delete the ones that show the error.

ferrarr · Saturday at 10:39 AM

What app did you use to create the files you need? Open the files again and see where that specific application saves your files. If you did not delete or move the folders, then I have a feeling the app saved them to an online folder, like DropBox or something like that.

MacBiter · Saturday at 11:39 AM

Jonzjob said:
MacB, I haven't been to Exeter since last Monday when we flew in there after our long haul flight back from the Isles of Scilly mate. Airport - bus - train and away.

This is where I spent a few years, long ago:

.

Jonzjob · Saturday at 1:05 PM

ferrarr said:
What app did you use to create the files you need? Open the files again and see where that specific application saves your files. If you did not delete or move the folders, then I have a feeling the app saved them to an online folder, like DropBox or something like that.

The photos were loaded straight in to Finder from the SD card from my camera and the various PDFs were downloaded from links on Safari web sites or from emails. That's the way I have been doing it for a very long time. I don't use dropbox and I wouldn't know how to use it?

Jonzjob · Sunday at 6:04 AM

The original folders were on one of my external Crucial SSDs. I have now managed to find a copy of them on another SSD and I have now copied them back on the original disk. I have no idea as to why just 2 folders vanished though, but at least I haven't lost the documents, photos and others I need.

It just goes to show once again just how very important it is to have backups! So, once again folks, all of you, I thank you for all of your help :cool

pm-r · 2025-07-07T15:38:05-0400

Jonzjob said:
The original folders were on one of my external Crucial SSDs. I have now managed to find a copy of them on another SSD and I have now copied them back on the original disk. I have no idea as to why just 2 folders vanished though, but at least I haven't lost the documents, photos and others I need.

And there are several veteran members here who have mentioned several times that if your data is critical and important, a single backup of that data is the absolute minimum, and multiple copies are recommended.

You'll be thankful you did if and when you find you need them.

- Patrick
=======

Jonzjob · 2025-07-08T02:04:03-0400

A bit like insurance, it's a waste of money, UNTIL you need it!

pm-r · 2025-07-08T12:54:08-0400

Jonzjob said:
A bit like insurance, it's a waste of money, UNTIL you need it!

At least with insurance, they can rebuild the house or replace the car if they are destroyed, but they can never replace the lost contents.

- Patrick
=======

Jonzjob · 2025-07-08T13:59:56-0400

They definatly couldn't when my son's flat went up. He only had insurance to cover about ½ of what they last, but my ex daughter-in-law had to rplace a £100 pair of leather boots that she couldn't do without bless her black heart :thumbdown