Regulated assembly and disassembly of cell–matrix adhesions is critical for efficient cell migration. It has previously been shown that disassembly of these adhesions depends mostly on integrin endocytosis, but the fate of internalized integrins has remained elusive. Nader et al. now demonstrate that internalized integrins are recycled back to the membrane in a Src signalling-dependent manner, where they engage in the formation of new adhesions. This integrin pool is maintained in an active conformation by the activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which acts through recruiting a canonical integrin activator, talin, to integrin-containing endosomes. Importantly, both FAK and Src signalling were necessary for efficient focal adhesion reassembly and cell migration, indicating the importance of the maintenance of activation of internalized integrin and its recycling for migratory processes.