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Meaning of small grey circulating arrows on desktop files

I like to keep my major often-used file folders visually atop my desktop for quick access. These folders on my desktop each have a small grey 2-arrow circles showing on the lower right of the desktop file folder icon. Also on my desktop, I keep a few individual files - - and see these small grey 2-arrow circles on the lower right of these (.xlsx, .pdf and .docx). I have 3 other desktop icons which DO NOT have this small grey arrow-circle (these are longstanding-saved .jpg and .pdf manuals). Can anyone explain what these circles-arrows mean and why these more recently used folders and .xlsx and .pdf and .docx files have these symbols (what this arrow-icon means) but my longer-standing .jpg and .pdf do not have these symbols on them?

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 13.7

Posted on Sep 24, 2024 6:39 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 26, 2024 7:42 AM

A small gray circle with arrows means that these items are aliases or shortcuts to source files or folders. So your latest folders and files are just links to the originals, while your older .jpg and .pdf guides are actual files, not shortcuts.

3 replies

Meaning of small grey circulating arrows on desktop files

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