My iMac Finder is stuck in "Preparing to Move"

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My iMac Finder is stuck in "Preparing to Move"

When I attempt to drag and drop a file on my desktop in OS15 I get a preparing to move window that takes forever to complete moving the blue bar. Dragging and dropping on my desktop has always just happened without preparing. In addition, dragging and dropping often does not move a file; it copies it to the new destination and I have to remove the original from the desktop manually. I am running OS 15.1 on an iMac M3. Problems started prior to installing OS 15

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iMac 24″, macOS 15.1

Posted on Dec 11, 2024 7:50 AM

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Answer 1

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Old Toad

Level 10

217,136 points

Dec 15, 2024 8:36 AM in response to brian25

brian25 wrote:

I have Intego malware protection and Proton VPN. Shutting them off has no effect.

Just turning them off does not stop the support files from doing their job. You need to delete them according to the developers' instructions. You can check to see if you've removed all of the supporting files by downloading and running the shareware app Find Any File to search for any files with the application's or the developer's name in the file name. For the mentioned software you'd do the following search(es):

1 - Name contains intego

2 - Name contains proton

3 - Name contains vpn

Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.

FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.

If you get warnings that the file can't be deleted because it is in use or used by another app boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and delete from there.

Note: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will assure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

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Answer 2

Old Toad

Level 10

217,136 points

Dec 14, 2024 11:49 AM in response to brian25

Sequoia 15.2 is out. Try updating to it and see if there's any change.

Have you installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your Mac?

What's the total size of the files you're trying to move?

Are you trying to move them to the Desktop from a different volume? If so are you moving or copying and deleting after the move? The former may require a lot of memory if the size of the files is large. How much memory do you have?

Also, it's safer to copy and delete after the copying is complete. Moving (dragging with the Command key held down) can cause loss of data if there's any type of interruption during the move.

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Answer 3

brian25 Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 30, 2024 4:04 PM in response to Martin Sullivan

Similar to what I get moving various documents in different places/apps. I tried deleting Preview plist in my library, emptying trash, and restarting. Seemed to help for about 5 minutes then problem returned along with unable to open or drag or delete item. My Intego Malware suite finds no problems. Thinking of trying to download new copy of OS15.

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Answer 4

brian25 Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 15, 2024 7:02 AM in response to Old Toad

I have Intego malware protection and Proton VPN. Shutting them off has no effect. When I try to drag a file on my desktop to a folder on my desktop I get a "Preparing to move" window on my desktop. The blue progress bar takes about 5 minutes to complete. I have to click on the yellow button to proceed with other things while it completes. I also routinely get "Preparing to Copy" windows when I attempt to drag and drop on my desktop. Both of these also happen when I attempt to move files and folders from my desktop to folders in my Finder window. Also happens when I attempt to drag and drop to External Drives. This behavior began prior to updating to OS 15.1. That's why I updated. Brief respite after update then it reappeared. I've read something about Java Script corruption as a malware attack but my security suite shows nothing. I've looked at Activity Monitor while moves are in progress and see some kernal activity that drops off when I double click it. I'm not a fan of AI. The devices I've updated have it disabled. 15.2 just adds another layer.

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Answer 5

Dec 30, 2024 2:00 PM in response to den.thed

I have the same problem - i'm trying to move files in a folder (2020) which went there by mistake to the holding folder( _Photos Folder).

Have a window that has about eleven "Preparing to move to xxxxx" Where xxxx is for example a folder Photo Libraries or just the individual move/photo, the attached photo shows what happens .

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Answer 6

brian25 Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 30, 2024 4:11 PM in response to Old Toad

Size of files is Screen Shot to 10 page PDF. Behavior is the same with all. I'm 90% moving on Desktop or Desktop to Finder Folder. When I drag and drop I expect the file to "MOVE" not to be "COPIED" to the new location. I also get boxes that say "Preparing to Copy"Something is broken in Preview and deleting plist from Library did not help.

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Answer 7

den.thed

Level 10

94,536 points

Dec 11, 2024 8:09 AM in response to brian25

What file(s) are you trying to move...?

Where are you trying to move these files from...?

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My iMac Finder is stuck in "Preparing to Move"

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