Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: Copying files from Lion to Mountain Lion GM causes ".DS_Store already exists" error

Fix .DS_Store error when copying files from Lion to Mountain Lion GM.

Quick Answer: Try setting the 'Copy' option in Finder's context menu to 'Skip copy of .DS_Store file'.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
  2. 🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

Copying files from OS X Lion to Mountain Lion can be frustrating when encountering the '.DS_Store already exists' error. This issue affects users who are trying to share folders across their network using Finder, and it's particularly problematic for non-technical users who expect a seamless experience.

The problem has persisted even after upgrading to Mountain Lion, making it essential to find a reliable solution that works around this issue without relying on workarounds.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The '.DS_Store' file is created by macOS when you copy files or folders from one location to another. This file contains metadata about the original folder and can cause conflicts when copying files across different versions of macOS.
  • Another possible reason for this issue is related to permissions. When using Finder to copy files, it may not always update the permissions correctly, leading to issues with '.DS_Store' files.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Preventing '.DS_Store' file creation during copying

  1. Step 1: To prevent the creation of '.DS_Store' files during copying, you can use the 'cp -r' command in Terminal.app. This will copy the files recursively without creating any metadata files.
  2. Step 2: Alternatively, you can use the 'rsync -a' command to synchronize files while preserving metadata. This method ensures that only necessary files are copied and does not create '.DS_Store' files.

Resolving conflicts by removing existing '.DS_Store' files

  1. Step 1: When copying files, remove any existing '.DS_Store' files from the destination folder before proceeding. This will ensure that a new file is created without conflicts.
  2. Step 2: After copying the files, verify that no '.DS_Store' files were created during the process. If one is still present, try removing it manually or using the 'rm -f .DS_Store' command in Terminal.app.

✨ Wrapping Up

To summarize, the '.DS_Store already exists' error can be resolved by preventing its creation during copying or resolving conflicts by removing existing files. By following these steps, you should be able to share folders across your network without encountering this issue.

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