Performance & battery · Performance modes
Why did Storage Studio's animations and live charts stop?
Short answer: Storage Studio pauses animations and live charts in its lighter levels and whenever Low Power Mode is on, to save energy. The figures stay current; the motion returns on its own when conditions improve.
Because Storage Studio has eased into a lighter level to save your Mac some work. In Light, Minimum and Survival — and whenever macOS Low Power Mode is on — it swaps continuous animations and live charts for a simpler, static view, and a spinner may become plain "Working…" text.
The numbers themselves stay current; only the moving graph pauses. Once your Mac has room to spare again (or you turn Low Power Mode off), the animations return without you doing anything.
If you'd like them back right now, pick Rich or Good from the performance menu — though on battery, Low Power Mode will still keep animations paused.