---
id: external-drives.my-drive-says-not-set-up
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/my-drive-says-not-set-up
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Setting up your drive"
question: "Why does my drive say \"not set up\" after installing Storage Studio?"
alt_questions:
  - "Drive shows Mounted, not set up"
  - "Menu bar icon has a question mark"
  - "Storage Studio says no drive configured"
  - "fast drive not set up after fresh install"
  - "How do I finish setting up the drive?"
  - "Why is my drive not prepared?"
short_answer: "The drive step was skipped, or this drive was never prepared. Open More → Drive → Choose Drive… (or re-run the setup wizard), select the drive and let Storage Studio set it up — nothing on it is erased."
tags: ["not set up", "setup", "troubleshooting"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/drive-says-not-set-up-but-i-set-it-up-before", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-set-up-my-external-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-does-storage-studio-recognise-my-drive"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Why does my drive say "not set up" after installing Storage Studio?

The drive step of setup was skipped, or the drive you plugged in isn't the one Storage Studio prepared. The menu bar icon shows a small **?** badge in this state, and Inspect shows **Mounted, not set up**.

To fix it, open **Choose Drive…** (More → Drive) or re-run the setup wizard from the **More** menu, select the drive and let Storage Studio prepare it. Setting it up doesn't erase anything on the drive.