---
id: moving-folders.how-do-i-stop-auto-rules-applying-anything-automatically
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/how-do-i-stop-auto-rules-applying-anything-automatically
category: "Moving folders"
subcategory: "Rules and Auto Rules"
question: "How do I make Auto Rules suggest only and never apply anything on their own?"
alt_questions:
  - "Suggest only — never apply automatically"
  - "Turn off automatic clean-up rules"
  - "Pause the rule optimiser"
  - "I want to approve every rule myself"
  - "stop storage studio changing things automatically"
short_answer: "Turn on \"Suggest only — never apply automatically\" in the Auto Rules window, and everything waits for your approval. You can also Pause or Resume the background optimisation any time; Pause in the popover stops all automatic actions."
tags: ["auto rules", "suggest only", "pause"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/how-do-i-pause-automatic-moves", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/what-are-auto-rules"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# How do I make Auto Rules suggest only and never apply anything on their own?

In the Auto Rules window, turn on **"Suggest only — never apply automatically"**. Storage Studio will then propose everything, including the safest caches, and wait for your approval.

You can also **Pause / Resume** the background optimisation any time. It only runs while your Mac is idle anyway, and pausing it doesn't remove rules you've already approved.

To stop all automatic actions — not just Auto Rules — use **Pause** in the menu bar popover.

See [How do I pause automatic moves?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/how-do-i-pause-automatic-moves)