# Getting started — Storage Studio FAQ Installing Storage Studio, what you need, the first launch, Full Disk Access, the setup wizard, finding your way around, updates, help and support, and removing the app cleanly. ## What Storage Studio is - [What is Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-is-storage-studio) — Storage Studio is one place to manage all your storage from your Mac — Mac and drives, other devices, cloud accounts, Delta storage, versioned backups and your clipboard. Freeing up space is one part of it. - [Who is Storage Studio designed for?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/who-is-storage-studio-for) — Anyone whose Mac's built-in drive is too small — small-SSD MacBook owners, creators with big libraries and developers with large caches. A simple view suits most people; an Advanced view gives power users full control. - [Does Storage Studio delete my files to free up space?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/does-storage-studio-delete-files) — No. Storage Studio frees space by moving big apps and folders to an external drive with a shortcut left behind. It only clears safe, regenerable data like app caches, and personal files are never deleted without asking. - [Who makes Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/who-makes-storage-studio) — Storage Studio is published by Techtonic Systems Media and Research LLC. It's not an Apple app, but it is signed and notarised by Apple. The About Storage Studio window lists the publisher and support details. - [Is there a Windows or Linux version of Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/is-storage-studio-available-for-windows) — Storage Studio is Mac-only. A free companion app, Storage Studio Bridge, installs on a Windows PC to connect it to your Mac for shared folders and clipboard; other platforms aren't available yet. - [What should I do first after installing Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-should-i-do-first) — Grant Full Disk Access, read the Home verdict, press Run Tuhi for a safe clean-up, check What's Using Space, then connect an external drive and move big apps or folders. Ask Tuhi if you're unsure. - [Will Storage Studio change how I use my Mac day to day?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/does-storage-studio-change-how-i-use-my-mac) — Very little. Moved apps and folders leave a shortcut so they open from the same places, and background work yields to whatever you're doing. Just keep the drive connected for moved items, and eject it from the app. ## What you need - [Which version of macOS does Storage Studio need?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/macos-requirements) — Storage Studio needs macOS 13 Ventura or later and runs on Sonoma, Sequoia and newer. It needs an Apple silicon Mac; Tuhi's full conversational answers need macOS 26 with Apple Intelligence. - [Does Storage Studio work on Intel Macs?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/does-storage-studio-work-on-intel-macs) — No. Storage Studio is for Apple silicon Macs only. Intel Macs aren't supported and there's no version to download for them; an Intel Mac that already has it is never offered an update it can't run. - [Does Storage Studio work on a MacBook Air, Mac mini or iMac?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/which-macs-does-storage-studio-run-on) — Yes. Any Mac model works — MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini or Mac Studio — as long as it has Apple silicon and runs macOS 13 or newer. ## Downloading and installing - [Where do I download Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/how-do-i-download-storage-studio) — Download it from the official site, storagestudio.us. It's a disk image signed and notarised by Apple — open it, drag Storage Studio to Applications, and launch it from there. - [How do I install Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/how-do-i-install-storage-studio) — Open the disk image, drag Storage Studio to Applications and open it. A short first-launch sequence follows: Terms, Full Disk Access, trial registration and a quick setup wizard. - [Can I install Storage Studio in my own Applications folder instead of the main one?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/can-i-install-in-my-home-applications-folder) — Yes. If you can't write to the main Applications folder, put Storage Studio in an Applications folder inside your home folder — both work. Keep it in one place so its permissions stay attached. - [Why does macOS say Storage Studio can't be opened?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/macos-says-storage-studio-cant-be-opened) — Storage Studio is signed and notarised by Apple, so this usually means the download is incomplete or altered. Trash that copy and download it again from storagestudio.us rather than overriding the warning. - [Where is Storage Studio after I open it?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/where-is-the-storage-studio-icon) — It lives in the menu bar at the top-right of your screen — click its icon to open it. It has no Dock icon by default; turn one on in Settings → Interface → Show Storage Studio in the Dock. - [Do I need an administrator password to install Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/does-installing-need-an-admin-password) — No — dragging it into Applications needs no admin password. macOS may ask for your password later for protected actions, such as changing Full Disk Access or removing an administrator-owned app. - [Can I delete the Storage Studio disk image after installing?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/can-i-delete-the-installer-disk-image) — Yes. After Storage Studio is in Applications and opens, eject the installer and move the .dmg from Downloads to the Trash — updates come with a fresh download. - [How do I reinstall Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/how-do-i-reinstall-storage-studio) — Download it again from storagestudio.us and drag it into Applications over the old copy; your moves, settings and licence are kept. To repair just the background service, use More → Set Up / Reinstall…. - [Do I need to restart my Mac after installing Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/do-i-need-to-restart-my-mac-after-installing) — No. Storage Studio is ready when setup finishes, and it picks up Full Disk Access within seconds without relaunching. The background service starts during setup and at every login after that. ## First launch and Full Disk Access - [What happens the first time I open Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-happens-on-first-launch) — A short sequence: a splash screen, accepting the Terms, granting Full Disk Access (skippable), registering your free trial with an email code, then a quick setup wizard. Later launches skip what's done. - [Why does Storage Studio show a splash screen when it opens?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-is-the-splash-screen) — It's a few seconds while the app checks for updates and refreshes its settings — about five seconds normally, up to about 20 on a first install. It always dismisses on its own, and works offline too. - [Why does Storage Studio ask me to accept terms when I first open it?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/why-accept-terms-on-first-launch) — You accept the Terms, Privacy Policy and Disclaimer once, on first install, and again only if they change. Reread them any time from More → Legal in the app or on the website. - [How do I give Storage Studio Full Disk Access?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/how-do-i-grant-full-disk-access) — Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access and switch Storage Studio on. The app notices within seconds, no restart needed. The Home banner and Settings → Permissions can take you there. - [Can I use Storage Studio without granting Full Disk Access?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/can-i-skip-full-disk-access) — Yes. Choose Skip for now and the app opens with limited reach; features that need the permission tell you when you use them, and you can grant it any time from Settings → Permissions. - [Why does Storage Studio say Full Disk Access stopped working after an update?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/full-disk-access-stopped-working-after-update) — macOS ties the permission to the exact app copy, so an update can quietly drop it while the switch still looks on. Turn Storage Studio off and on again in Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access. - [Why do I have to enter my name and email to start the free trial?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/why-do-i-need-to-register-for-the-trial) — Your name, email and country register the free trial so it can be set up, supported and reminded about. There's no card and nothing to pay, no spam, and your files never leave your Mac. - [What should I do if my trial verification code doesn't arrive?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/trial-verification-code-not-arriving) — Check spam or junk and that the address is spelled correctly, wait a minute, make sure you're online, then request a new code and use the newest one. If none arrives, contact support with the address you used. - [Why doesn't Storage Studio ask me to register when I reinstall it?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/already-used-a-trial-on-this-mac) — The free trial is tied to the Mac, so a reinstall recognises it and skips registration. You continue with any days left, or see your options to choose a plan or activate a licence if it has ended. - [I already bought Storage Studio — how do I skip the trial on first launch?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/i-already-have-a-licence-on-first-launch) — Click I have a licence at the bottom-left of the registration screen to jump straight to activation. You can also activate later from your purchase email's Activate button or Settings → License. ## The setup wizard - [What does the Storage Studio setup wizard do?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-happens-in-the-setup-wizard) — Four quick steps: a welcome, picking your external drive (or skipping), installing the small background service that starts at login, and a finish screen. It takes about a minute and everything can be changed later. - [What does Storage Studio do to my external drive during setup?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-does-setup-do-to-my-drive) — It doesn't erase or reformat anything. It adds a small, tidy folder on the drive and marks the drive as yours, so Storage Studio only ever manages the disk you chose. Existing files stay put. - [What is the background service Storage Studio installs during setup?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-is-the-background-service) — A small helper that runs Storage Studio's scheduled work and notifications, even with the app closed, and starts at login. You can see its status and restart or stop it from Settings → Services. - [How do I run setup again or reinstall the background service?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/how-do-i-re-run-the-setup-wizard) — Choose More → Set Up / Reinstall… (Re-run Setup Wizard… in the Advanced view). It doesn't touch your files or moves; use Verify Setup… first if you only want a health check. - [What does Verify Setup check?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-does-verify-setup-do) — It's a quick self-check of the background service, your drive, permissions and rules, with a one-click fix for anything off. Open it from More → Verify Setup…; it never changes your files. - [Why does Storage Studio keep saying the service is stopped?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/service-is-stopped-wont-go-away) — The background service isn't running. Click Start Service; if that fails, use Restart now on the Background service row in Settings → Services, then Verify Setup… or Set Up / Reinstall…. ## Finding your way around - [What's on the Storage Studio Home screen?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-is-the-home-screen) — Home shows a plain-English verdict on your space, the Tuhi Ask box, the one-tap Run Tuhi button, live status and storage gauges, quick stats, a storage-over-time chart and links to the deeper tools. - [Where do I find all of Storage Studio's tools?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-is-in-the-more-menu) — Everything is in the More (•••) menu at the top of the window, grouped into Storage, Automation & Cloud, Drives, Activity & Maintenance and Help & Support, with Settings, Uninstall, Restart and Quit at the bottom. - [What does each Storage Studio menu bar icon state mean?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/menu-bar-icon-colours) — Plain means healthy, a green pulse means a clean-up is running, yellow means Full Disk Access is missing, orange means space is low, red means the drive is disconnected or space is critical, and a minus means paused. - [What can I do by right-clicking the Storage Studio menu bar icon?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/menu-bar-right-click-menu) — Right-click or Control-click the menu-bar icon for Settings…, Eject (with your drive's name and a confirmation), Restart Storage Studio, Quit Storage Studio and About Storage Studio. - [What's in the Advanced view's menu bar popover?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/advanced-popover-tour) — It shows a status header, a status block, free-space cards for both drives, the Free Up Space Now button, paired actions such as Pause, Dry Run and Rollback Last Batch, a licence card and a footer with Log, Rules and Help. - [Why doesn't the ⌃Space shortcut open the Apps grid?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/shortcut-does-not-work) — Another shortcut probably already uses it — ⌃Space is also macOS's switch-input-source shortcut. Pick a different combination in Settings → Shortcuts, or turn off the clashing one in System Settings → Keyboard. - [Does Storage Studio support Dark Mode?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/does-storage-studio-have-dark-mode) — No. Storage Studio deliberately always uses a light appearance so every screen stays consistent. The rest of your Mac still switches to Dark Mode as normal. - [Why can't I see the Storage Studio icon in my menu bar?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/menu-bar-icon-does-not-appear) — Your menu bar is probably full — macOS hides icons that don't fit, especially around the notch. Quit some menu-bar apps, reopen Storage Studio from Applications, or turn on its Dock icon in Settings → Interface. - [What do Last clean-up and Next clean-up on the Home screen mean?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-do-the-home-stats-mean) — Last clean-up shows when the latest clean-up ran (click to see what happened); Next clean-up shows when the next scheduled one is due (click to change the schedule in Quiet Hours). - [What is the status line at the top of Storage Studio's Home screen?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-is-the-live-status-line) — It's a live, plain-English line showing what Storage Studio is doing right now, such as All systems normal. Tap it to open Background Activity for every job's status and history. - [What does "Connect an external drive to do more" mean on the Home screen?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/connect-an-external-drive-to-do-more) — No external drive is set up or connected, so moving big apps and files isn't available yet — clearing caches still works. Plug in a drive and set it up from More → Set Up / Choose External Drive…. - [How do I see a log of what Storage Studio has done?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/how-do-i-see-the-activity-log) — Open More → Background Activity… for a plain-English card per background job, or More → Activity Log… for the detailed log. In the Advanced popover, ⌘L opens the Log window. ## Updates - [How do I update Storage Studio to the latest version?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/how-do-i-update-storage-studio) — Open Settings → License and use the Updates card's Check Now and Download buttons. Open the downloaded disk image while Storage Studio is running and it updates itself in place and relaunches. - [Do I have to quit Storage Studio before installing an update?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/how-does-storage-studio-update-itself) — No. Open the newer version's disk image while Storage Studio is running and it updates itself in place and relaunches. It only accepts a genuinely newer, Apple-verified build, so an old copy can't downgrade it. - [Will updating Storage Studio affect my moved files and settings?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/will-updating-change-my-moves-and-settings) — No. An update replaces only the app; your moved items, shortcuts, rules, accounts and settings carry over. If macOS drops Full Disk Access after the update, Storage Studio tells you and switching it off and on restores it. - [Where can I see what changed in each Storage Studio update?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/where-are-the-release-notes) — See the release notes page on the Storage Studio website, or click Release notes on the Updates card in Settings → License. New features also appear in the Learning Center. - [Why isn't Storage Studio offering me the newest version?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/why-isnt-the-latest-version-offered) — If your Mac has an Intel chip, it isn't offered updates, because Storage Studio is for Apple silicon only. On Apple silicon, click Check Now in Settings → License while online. ## Help, tips and support - [Where is the Storage Studio user manual?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/how-do-i-read-the-manual) — The manual is built into the app's Help window — it works offline and matches your installed version. The same guides are online in the Storage Studio manual on the website. - [What is the Learning Center in Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-is-the-learning-center) — It's a panel of tips, guides and what's new, opened from the book icon just before More. Cards can include videos and pictures, some jump to the right screen, and it has highlights for every feature even offline. - [How do I contact Storage Studio support?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/how-do-i-contact-support) — Ask Tuhi to "contact support", or choose More (•••) → Contact Support…. A pre-filled, editable ticket form opens and nothing is sent until you tap Send; follow replies in My Support. - [How do I send feedback or a feature suggestion for Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/how-is-share-your-experience-different-from-support) — Use Share Your Experience: verify your email, pick Bug, Suggestion, Question, Praise or Other, and write your message. It attaches your Mac model, macOS and app version. For help with a problem, Contact Support is faster. - [How do I add more details to feedback I already sent?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/add-details-to-feedback) — Reply to the verification email from when you sent it — the team sees your reply on the same record. Quote the reference ID shown after sending if you write in another way. - [How do I get help if Storage Studio won't open?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/contact-support-when-app-wont-open) — Use the Storage Studio website, storagestudio.us, or email the support address listed there, including your Mac model, macOS and app version and what you see. Re-downloading the app fixes most launch problems. ## Notifications - [Where do Storage Studio's notifications show up?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/where-do-notifications-appear) — In the app's notification bell and, matching it, in macOS Notification Centre as "Storage Studio". Informational items arrive quietly, warnings show a banner, important ones can break through Focus, and each clears once resolved. - [Do Storage Studio notifications come through when Focus is on?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/notifications-during-focus) — Only notices marked important can break through Focus. To stop that, turn off Time Sensitive Notifications for Storage Studio in System Settings → Notifications; the in-app bell still keeps everything. ## Quitting, restarting and uninstalling - [Does quitting Storage Studio stop everything it's doing?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/does-quitting-stop-everything) — Quitting stops the app and its working helpers at a safe point. The scheduled background service keeps running by design — stop it in Settings → Services — and an update that's mid-install is left to finish. - [How do I uninstall Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/how-do-i-uninstall-storage-studio) — Choose More → Uninstall Storage Studio…. A three-step wizard can bring relocated folders back, remove its settings and move the app to the Trash. Files on your external drive are never touched. - [What happens to my moved files if I uninstall Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-happens-to-my-files-if-i-uninstall) — Nothing is deleted. Moved files stay on your external drive unless you ask the uninstaller to revert them, and Reset Storage Studio puts everything back on your Mac before it removes anything. - [What does Reset Storage Studio do?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-is-reset-storage-studio) — Reset puts everything Storage Studio moved back on your Mac first, then removes only what you tick — to the Trash — and gives you a data-erasure code. Connect your drive first; cloud backups are left alone. - [What is the data-erasure code shown after resetting Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-is-the-data-erasure-code) — It's a code that asks us to erase the personal details we hold for that Mac. Send it from the reset screen or email it to support; purchase records are kept because the law requires them. - [Can I uninstall Storage Studio by dragging it to the Trash?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/why-not-just-drag-to-trash) — Dragging to the Trash removes only the app and leaves the background service, settings and relocated items behind. Use More → Uninstall Storage Studio… or Reset Storage Studio… to clean up properly. - [Should I remove Storage Studio from Privacy & Security after uninstalling?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/remove-storage-studio-from-privacy-settings) — Optional but tidy. macOS keeps permission records after an app is removed; select Storage Studio in Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access and click – to remove it. - [Can I uninstall Storage Studio but keep my settings for later?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/keep-settings-when-reinstalling-later) — Yes. In More → Uninstall Storage Studio…, untick the option that removes config and logs. The app goes to the Trash but your rules and history stay, ready for a reinstall. - [Does uninstalling Storage Studio cancel my subscription?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/does-uninstalling-cancel-my-subscription) — No. Uninstalling doesn't touch billing. Cancel from Settings → License (which opens the billing portal) or the Manage subscription link in a receipt email; access lasts to the end of the paid period. - [What's the difference between Uninstall and Reset in Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/uninstall-vs-reset) — Uninstall is a quick three-step removal that can revert folders and trash the app. Reset puts everything it moved back on your Mac first, removes only what you tick, and gives you a data-erasure code.