At a glance
- Does
- Moves or copies one file to a destination you template
- Emits
- sourcePath, destPath, fileName, fileSize, moved
- Works with
- Local folders, iCloud Drive and the other cloud mounts
Set it up
The source comes from filePath on the incoming payload — typically from a File Changed or Directory Changed trigger. You supply the Destination, which takes {{variable}} so the path can be built from what arrived.
Mode chooses move or copy. Overwrite replaces a file already sitting at the destination — never a folder: if a folder is there the move fails rather than clobbering it. Create Directories makes any missing folders in the destination path.
Both the source and the destination are checked before anything is touched. A path inside ~/Library, ~/.ssh, ~/.config, ~/.aws, /etc, /var, /usr or /System is refused, and .. traversal is rejected. iCloud Drive and the other cloud folders are carved out and work normally.
Configure
| Field | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Destination | — | Where the file should end up. Supports {{variable}}. |
| Mode | Move | Move takes the file; Copy leaves the original. |
| Overwrite Existing | On | Replace a file already at the destination. |
| Create Directories | On | Make any missing folders in the destination path. |
| Allow Folders | Off | Let the source be a folder instead of a single file. |
Output
Every key is available downstream as {{key}}.
| Key | Type | Value |
|---|---|---|
sourcePath | String | Where the file came from |
destPath | File | Where it is now |
fileName | String | Name of the file |
fileSize | Number | Size in bytes |
moved | Boolean | True on a real move or copy; false for a no-op |
Example: sort downloads by kind
Directory Changed watches ~/Downloads. Move File sends each new file to a folder named after its fileType.
Paste this into the Flow Builder to get the same flow:
Watch my Downloads folder and move each new file into ~/Downloads/{{fileType}}, creating the folder if it doesn't exist.
Good to know
Allow Folders widens the blast radius. These nodes act on one file: a folder as the path is refused until you turn Allow Folders on, and then the whole tree goes with it. Your home folder and its top-level folders — Desktop, Downloads, Documents, Pictures, Movies, Music — are never a source, toggle or not; a file inside one is ordinary. A package like .app counts as a file either way.
Move with Overwrite replaces the file at the destination. It is removed before the source lands, and it does not go to the Trash. A flow set that way asks for confirmation every time it is armed.
Staying in the same folder? Use Rename File. Rename File is the same operation pointed at the source's own directory, with a name pipeline instead of a path field.