---
id: bridge-devices.what-does-colab-mean-on-a-device
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/what-does-colab-mean-on-a-device
category: "Bridge & your devices"
subcategory: "Pairing a device"
question: "What does the “Colab” or “Bridge” label on a paired device mean?"
alt_questions:
  - "Why does my device say Colab?"
  - "Colab vs Bridge label in Devices"
  - "What kind of device is Colab?"
  - "Device tag says Bridge — what is that?"
  - "Difference between Colab and Bridge devices"
short_answer: "“Bridge” marks a device running the Bridge companion app, such as a Windows PC. “Colab” marks another Mac running full Storage Studio, which can share folders both ways and use Collab Sync."
tags: ["bridge", "devices", "collab"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/how-do-i-pair-two-macs-running-storage-studio", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/how-do-i-share-a-folder-with-another-mac", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/what-is-collab-sync"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What does the “Colab” or “Bridge” label on a paired device mean?

The small label tells you what's on the other end. **Bridge** means a device running the Storage Studio Bridge app, such as a Windows PC. **Colab** means another Mac running the full Storage Studio app.

The difference matters for what you can do. A Bridge device shares its folders with your Mac. A Colab Mac can share folders in both directions — you can also offer your folders to it — and it can take part in Collab Sync.

- [Share a folder with another Mac](https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/how-do-i-share-a-folder-with-another-mac)
- [What is Collab Sync?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/what-is-collab-sync)