---
id: performance-battery.why-did-bridge-disconnect-when-i-chose-minimum
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/performance-battery/why-did-bridge-disconnect-when-i-chose-minimum
category: "Performance & battery"
subcategory: "Why background work waits or pauses"
question: "Why did my Bridge devices disconnect when I chose Minimum mode?"
alt_questions:
  - "Bridge stopped sharing in core-only mode"
  - "Minimum mode turned off device sharing"
  - "storage studio minimum bridge offline"
  - "Does a busy Mac disconnect Bridge?"
short_answer: "Minimum mode deliberately stops Bridge sharing; it starts again for paired devices when you choose another mode. Automatic pauses under heavy load keep Bridge connections open."
tags: ["bridge", "minimum mode", "devices"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/performance-battery/what-is-minimum-core-only-mode", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/performance-battery/what-is-survival-mode"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Why did my Bridge devices disconnect when I chose Minimum mode?

Because **Minimum — core only** deliberately stops device sharing along with the other non-essential services. When you leave Minimum, Bridge starts up again for devices you've already paired.

A busy Mac on its own doesn't do this: when Storage Studio pauses itself automatically under heavy load (Survival), it keeps live Bridge connections open so a brief spike doesn't drop them.

To reconnect, pick **Automatic** (or any mode other than Minimum) in the Storage Profile's performance menu. More about Bridge in [Bridge & devices](https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/).