External drives · Setting up your drive

How do I set up my external drive in Storage Studio?

Short answer: Plug the drive in and choose it in the setup wizard, or later with More → Drive → Choose Drive…. Check the compatibility verdict, run the speed test, then click Use This Drive. Nothing on the drive is erased.

Plug the drive in, then pick it either in the setup wizard on first launch or later with Choose Drive… (in the menu bar app's More → Drive section).

  1. Select the drive in the list on the left.
  2. Read the compatibility verdict on the right — looks good, usable with warnings or not suitable.
  3. Click Run benchmark for a short speed test.
  4. Click Use This Drive and confirm.

Storage Studio then adds a small folder to the drive and tags it as yours. It doesn't erase anything already there. The change takes effect within about 30 seconds.

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