---
id: performance-battery.does-storage-studio-run-faster-when-plugged-in
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/performance-battery/does-storage-studio-run-faster-when-plugged-in
category: "Performance & battery"
subcategory: "Battery, power and Low Power Mode"
question: "Does Storage Studio do more when my Mac is plugged in?"
alt_questions:
  - "Why does Storage Studio finish faster on mains power?"
  - "Does Storage Studio wait for the charger?"
  - "storage studio on AC power vs battery"
  - "Why didn't the scan run until I plugged in?"
  - "Waiting until you're on power — what does it mean?"
short_answer: "Yes. Plugged in, Storage Studio allows itself a bigger background budget and runs heavier jobs such as full duplicate scans of this Mac; on battery it scales back and leaves those jobs waiting for power."
tags: ["power", "battery", "background work"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/duplicates/why-does-the-duplicate-scan-say-waiting", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/performance-battery/should-i-plug-in-before-a-big-move-or-first-backup"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Does Storage Studio do more when my Mac is plugged in?

Yes. On mains power Storage Studio gives itself a bigger background budget and allows the jobs that genuinely compete with you for the disk — such as a full duplicate scan of this Mac — to run. On battery it scales its work down and leaves those jobs waiting.

That's why you may see messages like **"Waiting until you're on power."** in the Duplicates window. Backup sets can also be told to run only on power — they'll show **"Waiting for power — you asked for backups to run only when plugged in."**

Nothing is lost by waiting; the work happens the next time you're plugged in and not busy. See [why duplicate scanning is waiting](https://storagestudio.us/faq/duplicates/why-does-the-duplicate-scan-say-waiting).