What does the 'hook'-symbol mean on edited images in Final Cut Pro?

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Level 1

19 points

What does the 'hook'-symbol mean on edited images in Final Cut Pro?

In my two projects I use still images which are stored in the Photos-app. After having added them to the timelines I edited the images through the photos app once more and pasted the new versions in to timeline one.

Then I realized that the images in the browser window got a symbol printed on them, what's the significance (see attached image)?
Why do not the image in the timeline automatically change when I change the image in photos?

Yours dew jack

I work on MacBook Air M1, Sequoia 15.1.1.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Meaning of 'hook'-symbol?

Posted on Feb 10, 2026 12:04 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

75,126 points

Feb 10, 2026 12:22 PM in response to Dewjack

That symbol indicates a Compound Clip.

Images in Photos are stored inside a bundle that is the Photos library.

Final Cut Pro cannot link to files stored inside a bundle like that, so when you add a photo from Photos to FCP, it is copied and no longer references the original inside the Photos library.

You can confirm this by control-clicking on the photo in the FCP browser, and choosing Reveal in Finder. You will see it is stored in the location chosen for your FCP library.

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Answer 2

BenB

Level 6

13,492 points

Feb 10, 2026 4:20 PM in response to Dewjack

That symbol in the upper left of your posted image indicates a Compound Clip.

https://larryjordan.com/articles/what-do-the-icons-in-final-cut-pro-x-mean/

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What does the 'hook'-symbol mean on edited images in Final Cut Pro?

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