{"id":"finder-location.can-i-keep-my-own-files-on-the-same-drive","url":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-keep-my-own-files-on-the-same-drive","category":{"id":"finder-location","title":"Finding things in Finder"},"subcategory":{"id":"drive-layout","title":"What's on your external drive"},"question":"Can I keep my own files on the external drive alongside Storage Studio's folder?","alt_questions":["Use the fast drive for other files too","Does Storage Studio need the whole external drive?","store my own stuff on the storage studio drive","Is the external drive dedicated to Storage Studio?","Can I put photos on the same SSD?"],"short_answer":"Yes. Storage Studio only manages its own folder; the rest of the drive is yours. Free space is shared, and Transfer Drive and Backup Drive copy only Storage Studio's working folder, so back up your other files yourself.","answer_markdown":"Yes. Storage Studio only manages its own folder on the drive; everything else is yours to use however you like in Finder.\n\nKeep two things in mind:\n\n- **Free space is shared.** Your own files and Storage Studio's moves draw on the same drive, so keep an eye on the free space shown in **Inspect fast drive**.\n- **Transfer Drive and Backup Drive** copy Storage Studio's working folder — your relocated apps and folders and its own records — not unrelated files elsewhere on the drive. Back those up yourself.\n\nAvoid saving your own files *inside* Storage Studio's folder, where they could be confused with relocated data.","answer_html":"

Yes. Storage Studio only manages its own folder on the drive; everything else is yours to use however you like in Finder.

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Keep two things in mind:

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Avoid saving your own files inside Storage Studio's folder, where they could be confused with relocated data.

","answer_text":"Yes. Storage Studio only manages its own folder on the drive; everything else is yours to use however you like in Finder.\n\nKeep two things in mind:\n\n- Free space is shared. Your own files and Storage Studio's moves draw on the same drive, so keep an eye on the free space shown in Inspect fast drive.\n- Transfer Drive and Backup Drive copy Storage Studio's working folder — your relocated apps and folders and its own records — not unrelated files elsewhere on the drive. Back those up yourself.\n\nAvoid saving your own files inside Storage Studio's folder, where they could be confused with relocated data.","tags":["external drive","own files","free space"],"related":[{"id":"finder-location.can-i-rename-or-reorganise-files-on-the-drive-directly","question":"Can I rename, move or delete things inside Storage Studio's folder on the drive?","url":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-rename-or-reorganise-files-on-the-drive-directly"},{"id":"finder-location.where-is-the-backup-made-by-backup-drive","question":"Where do I find the copy that Backup Drive made?","url":"/faq/finder-location/where-is-the-backup-made-by-backup-drive"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Can I keep my own files on the external drive alongside Storage Studio's folder? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Yes. Storage Studio only manages its own folder; the rest of the drive is yours. Free space is shared, and Transfer Drive and Backup Drive copy only Storage Studio's working folder, so back up your other files yourself.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Finding things in Finder","path":"/faq/finder-location/"},{"name":"Can I keep my own files on the external drive alongside Storage Studio's folder?","path":"/faq/finder-location/can-i-keep-my-own-files-on-the-same-drive"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/can-i-keep-my-own-files-on-the-same-drive","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I keep my own files on the external drive alongside Storage Studio's folder?","alternateName":["Use the fast drive for other files too","Does Storage Studio need the whole external drive?","store my own stuff on the storage studio drive","Is the external drive dedicated to Storage Studio?","Can I put photos on the same SSD?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Storage Studio only manages its own folder on the drive; everything else is yours to use however you like in Finder.\n\nKeep two things in mind:\n\n- Free space is shared. Your own files and Storage Studio's moves draw on the same drive, so keep an eye on the free space shown in Inspect fast drive.\n- Transfer Drive and Backup Drive copy Storage Studio's working folder — your relocated apps and folders and its own records — not unrelated files elsewhere on the drive. Back those up yourself.\n\nAvoid saving your own files inside Storage Studio's folder, where they could be confused with relocated data.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/can-i-keep-my-own-files-on-the-same-drive"}}]},"fragment":"
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Finding things in Finder · What's on your external drive

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Can I keep my own files on the external drive alongside Storage Studio's folder?

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Short answer: Yes. Storage Studio only manages its own folder; the rest of the drive is yours. Free space is shared, and Transfer Drive and Backup Drive copy only Storage Studio's working folder, so back up your other files yourself.

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Yes. Storage Studio only manages its own folder on the drive; everything else is yours to use however you like in Finder.

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Keep two things in mind:

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  • Free space is shared. Your own files and Storage Studio's moves draw on the same drive, so keep an eye on the free space shown in Inspect fast drive.
  • Transfer Drive and Backup Drive copy Storage Studio's working folder — your relocated apps and folders and its own records — not unrelated files elsewhere on the drive. Back those up yourself.
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Avoid saving your own files inside Storage Studio's folder, where they could be confused with relocated data.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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Also available as Markdown and JSON.

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