{"id":"getting-started.what-is-reset-storage-studio","url":"/faq/getting-started/what-is-reset-storage-studio","category":{"id":"getting-started","title":"Getting started"},"subcategory":{"id":"quit-uninstall","title":"Quitting, restarting and uninstalling"},"question":"What does Reset Storage Studio do?","alt_questions":["Reset Storage Studio to start fresh","Completely remove Storage Studio and put everything back","Storage Studio reset window","Factory reset Storage Studio","Start over with Storage Studio"],"short_answer":"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.","answer_markdown":"**Reset Storage Studio…** (in the **More** menu) puts everything Storage Studio moved back on your Mac first, and only then removes what you choose. It works in four screens:\n\n1. **What's here** — everything measured, with a size on each row; nothing destructive starts ticked.\n2. **Confirm** — a summary of what's put back and what's removed, with a typed word to confirm anything holding your files.\n3. **Resetting** — live progress, with each step marked done, left alone or couldn't.\n4. **Your code** — a data-erasure code you can send to ask us to remove your personal details.\n\nEverything removed goes to the Trash, so it's recoverable. Connect your external drive first for a complete reset. Backups stored with a cloud provider are never deleted.","answer_html":"

Reset Storage Studio… (in the More menu) puts everything Storage Studio moved back on your Mac first, and only then removes what you choose. It works in four screens:

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  1. What's here — everything measured, with a size on each row; nothing destructive starts ticked.
  2. Confirm — a summary of what's put back and what's removed, with a typed word to confirm anything holding your files.
  3. Resetting — live progress, with each step marked done, left alone or couldn't.
  4. Your code — a data-erasure code you can send to ask us to remove your personal details.
\n

Everything removed goes to the Trash, so it's recoverable. Connect your external drive first for a complete reset. Backups stored with a cloud provider are never deleted.

","answer_text":"Reset Storage Studio… (in the More menu) puts everything Storage Studio moved back on your Mac first, and only then removes what you choose. It works in four screens:\n\n1. What's here — everything measured, with a size on each row; nothing destructive starts ticked.\n2. Confirm — a summary of what's put back and what's removed, with a typed word to confirm anything holding your files.\n3. Resetting — live progress, with each step marked done, left alone or couldn't.\n4. Your code — a data-erasure code you can send to ask us to remove your personal details.\n\nEverything removed goes to the Trash, so it's recoverable. Connect your external drive first for a complete reset. Backups stored with a cloud provider are never deleted.","tags":["reset","uninstall","start over"],"related":[{"id":"getting-started.how-do-i-uninstall-storage-studio","question":"How do I uninstall Storage Studio?","url":"/faq/getting-started/how-do-i-uninstall-storage-studio"},{"id":"getting-started.what-is-the-data-erasure-code","question":"What is the data-erasure code shown after resetting Storage Studio?","url":"/faq/getting-started/what-is-the-data-erasure-code"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What does Reset Storage Studio do? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"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.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Getting started","path":"/faq/getting-started/"},{"name":"What does Reset Storage Studio do?","path":"/faq/getting-started/what-is-reset-storage-studio"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-is-reset-storage-studio","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What does Reset Storage Studio do?","alternateName":["Reset Storage Studio to start fresh","Completely remove Storage Studio and put everything back","Storage Studio reset window","Factory reset Storage Studio","Start over with Storage Studio"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Reset Storage Studio… (in the More menu) puts everything Storage Studio moved back on your Mac first, and only then removes what you choose. It works in four screens:\n\n1. What's here — everything measured, with a size on each row; nothing destructive starts ticked.\n2. Confirm — a summary of what's put back and what's removed, with a typed word to confirm anything holding your files.\n3. Resetting — live progress, with each step marked done, left alone or couldn't.\n4. Your code — a data-erasure code you can send to ask us to remove your personal details.\n\nEverything removed goes to the Trash, so it's recoverable. Connect your external drive first for a complete reset. Backups stored with a cloud provider are never deleted.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/what-is-reset-storage-studio"}}]},"fragment":"
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Getting started · Quitting, restarting and uninstalling

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What does Reset Storage Studio do?

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Short answer: 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.

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Reset Storage Studio… (in the More menu) puts everything Storage Studio moved back on your Mac first, and only then removes what you choose. It works in four screens:

\n
  1. What's here — everything measured, with a size on each row; nothing destructive starts ticked.
  2. Confirm — a summary of what's put back and what's removed, with a typed word to confirm anything holding your files.
  3. Resetting — live progress, with each step marked done, left alone or couldn't.
  4. Your code — a data-erasure code you can send to ask us to remove your personal details.
\n

Everything removed goes to the Trash, so it's recoverable. Connect your external drive first for a complete reset. Backups stored with a cloud provider are never deleted.

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Last reviewed

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