Relocated Items

DO NOT delete that folder until you have examined its contents! Mostly check under [Security] for there you may find files and folders the Catalina update thought were not correctly located. In my case, some files and folders that I had created in the Boot Drive's root directory and not in my User directory. Most of the rest of the Relocated Items are things Catalina doesn't need any more. Once you've examined the contents and either copied or moved your personal files yes, the folder can be deleted.

From what I've seen the only truly important place to look is in the [Security] folder within the Relocated Files. There you will find files you created and value that the upgrade determined were not in a proper location. I had to move not only a PhotosLibrary file for someone else but a major collection of files I had placed in the root directory, not within my own User directory. Files within [Security] were the only ones I found I needed to move; the Mac has been working fine without moving any of the more obscure items within Relocated Files. The main thing is, don't just delete, look and consider what you're deleting first.

If you see a Relocated Items folder after upgrading macOS X on Mac - Apple Support provides an explanation.

As posted by dialabrain "Basically you can delete the folder."

The only files that are moved to Relocated Items are the ones that are saved on locations that are not allowed in Catalina.

For example, if you had files and folders at the top level of your drive, they will be relocated.

For most users, this never happens, and they will never see "Relocated Files".

Basically you can delete the folder.

Basically you can delete the folder UNLESS you find intelligence saved that Catalina could not relocate automagically for you. I found this under Users | Shared. Why not name the folder Un-relocated Items since the contents contains intelligence that Catalina was not able to relocate? So, I've spent way to much time on this now since all I ended up finding in two locations was an old default file folder icon that apparently Catalina doesn't use.

Having had a long web chat with Apple support, they told me to simply put the folders in the Documents folder as mine contained my entire Photos library. They seemed perplexed as to what the problem was or why it had happened and blamed my customised folders! I have never customised a photos folder or location in my life having non red to do such a thing. In the end they basically admitted they didn’t know what to recommend other than that but DONT delete them!

My relocated files were empty (0 bytes), the only file that had info was the PDF explaining what they were. I moved them into trash, and probably can delete them.

If there are no relocated files then yes, the desktop folder may be deleted and you can move merrily on.

Upgraded to 10.15.2 today, and this time there is a folder "relocated files" in the trash!

I guess this can be deleted.

As before, be sure and check the contents of the Relocated Files folder before you empty the trash! You may find files that are important to you that you will want to retrieve.

My relocated folders are on my desktop. One of them contains nothing of any importance, the second one contains my entire 71Gb photos library. Is it the original library, a duplicate? If so what's it doing there and what do I do about it? I don't dare delete it.

It appears Catalina doesn't know what to do with the PhotosLibrary file if it isn't in the default macOS location. I'm actually researching how to reconnect a HUGE photos library with the new Photos App. Fortunately I did not delete the Relocated Items folder before discovering the photos (300 GB!) had been moved there.