---
id: performance-battery.what-is-extreme-performance-mode
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/performance-battery/what-is-extreme-performance-mode
category: "Performance & battery"
subcategory: "Performance modes"
question: "What is Extreme performance mode, and when should I use it?"
alt_questions:
  - "What does Extreme — fastest, uses more do?"
  - "How do I make Storage Studio finish faster?"
  - "Can Storage Studio use more CPU to finish sooner?"
  - "storage studio extreme mode"
  - "Is Extreme mode bad for my battery?"
short_answer: "Extreme lets background work use more of your Mac's spare capacity so long jobs finish sooner. You choose it yourself; it still yields to your work. Best used when plugged in and away from the Mac."
tags: ["extreme mode", "speed", "performance mode"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/performance-battery/how-do-i-change-the-performance-mode", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/performance-battery/how-much-of-my-mac-can-storage-studio-use"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What is Extreme performance mode, and when should I use it?

**Extreme — fastest, uses more** lets Storage Studio's background work use a much bigger share of your Mac's *spare* capacity, so long jobs like building your storage profile or measuring a large drive finish sooner.

It still yields as your Mac fills up — it uses a share of what's free, not of the whole machine — and Storage Studio still eases off while you're actively typing. It's never chosen automatically; you pick it, and it stays until you choose another mode.

Good moments for it: your Mac is plugged in and you're stepping away for a while. On battery it will use more power than the other modes, so switch back to **Automatic** afterwards.

See [how to change the mode](https://storagestudio.us/faq/performance-battery/how-do-i-change-the-performance-mode).