---
id: performance-battery.does-storage-studio-use-my-internet-in-the-background
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/performance-battery/does-storage-studio-use-my-internet-in-the-background
category: "Performance & battery"
subcategory: "Why background work waits or pauses"
question: "Does Storage Studio use my internet connection in the background?"
alt_questions:
  - "How much data does Storage Studio use?"
  - "storage studio network usage"
  - "Will Storage Studio slow down my internet?"
  - "What does Storage Studio upload in the background?"
  - "Does Storage Studio need the internet?"
short_answer: "Only for what you've set up: scheduled cloud backups and transfers, light checks of connected cloud accounts, and licence checks. Moves to a drive, self-checks and Tuhi's answers don't use the network."
tags: ["network", "internet", "data usage"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/performance-battery/does-storage-studio-run-faster-when-plugged-in"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Does Storage Studio use my internet connection in the background?

Only for things you've set up. Storage Studio's network use in the background comes from:

- **Scheduled cloud backups and transfers** you've created.
- **Checking connected cloud accounts** — for duplicates it reads a list of file fingerprints, not the files, and Storage Profile reads each account's usage.
- **Licence checks** and optional usage reporting.

Its self-checks, moves to an external drive and Tuhi's answers don't use the network. Backup sets can be told to stay off hotspots, so they don't use your mobile data. More in [Privacy & safety](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/).