# Privacy & safety — Storage Studio FAQ

What Storage Studio sends and never sends, the permissions it asks for, how it keeps your files safe and recoverable, and how to stay in control of your data.

## What leaves your Mac

- [Does Storage Studio upload my files anywhere?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-upload-my-files) — No. Your files, file names and contents never go to Storage Studio's servers. Files only leave your Mac when you send them yourself — to a cloud account you connected, a backup destination you chose, or one of your own devices.
- [What does Storage Studio send over the internet?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-does-storage-studio-send-over-the-internet) — Only what's needed to run the app: your trial registration, licence and update checks, and anonymous summary numbers such as space saved and space moved. Your files, file names, folder names and paths are never sent.
- [What is the “Anonymous activity reporting” row in the Services pane?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-is-anonymous-activity-reporting) — It's a twice-daily report of two totals — space saved and space moved — with an anonymous machine tag. It never includes file names, folder names, paths or accounts, and it's skipped when you're offline.
- [What is the anonymous machine tag, and does it identify me?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-is-the-anonymous-machine-tag) — It's a one-way scrambled code unique to your Mac. It can't be reversed, doesn't contain your Mac's name or serial number, and is used to tie a trial or licence to this Mac and count machines anonymously.
- [What information is shared when I activate a licence?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-information-is-shared-when-i-activate-a-licence) — Activation sends the email you purchased with, your purchase reference and an anonymous machine tag — just enough to confirm your plan on this Mac. Your files and card details are never part of it.
- [What happens to my name and email when I start the free trial?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-happens-to-my-details-when-i-start-the-trial) — Your name, email and country are used only to set up and support your trial, email your verification code and send a couple of reminders. No spam, nothing sold on, no card needed, and no files involved.
- [Does Storage Studio sell or share my personal data?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-sell-my-data) — No. Storage Studio doesn't sell or rent personal data and has no ad networks or trackers. Details are shared only with the services needed to run checkout and email, or when the law requires it.
- [Does Storage Studio read the contents of my documents?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-read-the-contents-of-my-documents) — For measuring and suggesting what to move it looks at sizes, dates and locations. Contents are read only on your Mac for jobs you ask for — copying, checking duplicates, or searching your own clipboard scraps — and never sent to us.
- [Can I use Storage Studio offline?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-work-offline) — Yes. Space clean-ups, moves, Junk Yard and Tuhi work offline. You need a connection to start the trial, activate, use cloud transfers and check for updates; a verified licence keeps working offline for about two weeks.
- [Do I need to create an account to use Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-need-an-account) — No account or password is needed. You verify your email once to start the trial, and the only sign-ins are cloud accounts or devices you choose to connect yourself.
- [Is the connection between the app and Storage Studio's server encrypted?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/is-my-connection-to-storage-studio-encrypted) — Yes. Every connection to Storage Studio's server is encrypted, so licence checks, update checks and anonymous totals can't be read in transit. Your files aren't part of those connections at all.
- [Does Storage Studio collect my location?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-collect-my-location) — No. Storage Studio never uses Location Services or GPS. The only geography involved is the country you pick at registration and a coarse country or region seen from your connection (Delta Drive's Activity screen and a recovery kit's certificate also note the city) — never a precise location.
- [Does Storage Studio record my camera or microphone?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-record-my-camera-or-microphone) — No. It never captures audio or video. It only notices whether another app is using the camera or microphone, so automatic tasks can wait while you're in a meeting — and you can turn that signal off.
- [Does Storage Studio send my questions or data to Apple or other companies?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-send-anything-to-apple) — No. Tuhi runs on-device with Apple Intelligence, and there are no ad networks or third-party analytics. The app only connects to Storage Studio's own server, cloud services you connect, and devices you pair.
- [What's in the diagnostics summary when I contact support?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-is-in-the-diagnostics-summary-of-a-support-ticket) — It's a short, redacted snapshot of how the app is running, which you can preview before sending. It never includes file names or file contents, it's optional, and nothing is sent until you tap Send.
- [Who sees my support messages, and what's shared with them?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/who-sees-my-support-messages) — The support team sees only what's on the form: your message, your registered email, and any version or redacted diagnostics details you chose to include. File names and contents are never part of a ticket.
- [What happens to the details I enter in Share Your Experience?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-happens-to-feedback-i-send) — It goes to the team inbox and is read by a person. You give a name and verified email, plus an optional mobile number you can leave blank. Only what you type into the form is sent.
- [Does Storage Studio see or store my card details?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-see-my-card-details) — No. Payments go through a secure checkout run by a payment processor, so Storage Studio never sees or stores your card number — not on its server and not on your Mac.
- [Does my Storage Profile or file list leave my Mac?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-the-storage-profile-leave-my-mac) — The profile is built and shown on your Mac. File names, locations and your working-set list never leave it; at most anonymous summary numbers like percentages and counts are reported, never names, paths or contents.
- [Does Storage Studio report which apps I use?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-know-which-apps-i-use) — No. Your app list, sizes and last-used dates are read on your Mac to suggest what to move, and they stay there. App names aren't part of what Storage Studio reports.
- [Does Storage Studio download my online-only files to scan them?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-scan-my-icloud-by-downloading-it) — No. Online-only iCloud files are skipped, and for connected cloud accounts Storage Studio reads the provider's own fingerprints instead of downloading files, so nothing is fetched just to scan it.
- [Does Storage Studio record what I type or watch my keyboard and mouse?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-record-what-i-type) — No. Smart Quiet Hours only asks macOS how many seconds have passed since your last keyboard or mouse input, so automatic tasks wait while you work. It never sees what you type, and nothing leaves your Mac.
- [What does Storage Studio send when it checks for updates?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-does-the-update-check-send) — A request to Storage Studio's server identifying the app version and your macOS version, at launch and about once a day, so it can offer a suitable update. No files, file names or accounts are included.
- [Does Storage Studio know which website visit or link I downloaded it from?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-the-download-link-say-where-i-came-from) — Once, on first launch, the app reports what the download link carried: campaign tags, a partner code, and — only if you accepted cookies — an anonymous visitor number. Never your name, email or files.
- [How do I turn off usage and crash reports in Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/how-do-i-turn-off-usage-and-crash-reports) — Turn off Send usage and crash reports in Settings → Privacy — one switch over every optional report. It's on by default except in the EU, the UK and Switzerland, where Storage Studio asks first and sends nothing until you answer.

## Permissions and access

- [Why does Storage Studio need Full Disk Access?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/why-does-storage-studio-need-full-disk-access) — macOS hides many folders from apps unless you grant Full Disk Access. Storage Studio needs it to see where your space is going and move folders without breaking them — all on your Mac, with nothing uploaded.
- [Why are some folders still refused even though Storage Studio has Full Disk Access?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/why-are-some-folders-refused-even-with-full-disk-access) — Some folders belong to macOS or another app and are off-limits to every app, even with Full Disk Access. Storage Studio reports them as refused and leaves them alone, only sending you to System Settings when that would actually help.
- [What permissions does Storage Studio ask for on my Mac?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-permissions-does-storage-studio-ask-for) — Mainly Full Disk Access, so it can measure and move protected folders. Beyond that, notifications, an optional login item, and your password or Touch ID only for a few protected actions such as uninstalling system-installed apps.
- [When does Storage Studio ask for my Mac password or Touch ID?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/why-does-storage-studio-ask-for-my-password) — Only for protected actions — uninstalling an app a system installer put there, or updating protected shortcuts during Transfer Drive. The prompt is macOS's own, so Storage Studio never sees your password, and declining changes nothing.
- [Why does Storage Studio mark some items as protected or refuse to move them?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-is-a-protected-item) — Some items — system apps, apps tied to their location, browser profiles and data other software relies on — would break if moved. Storage Studio leaves them in place and tells you why, rather than risk your Mac or apps.
- [Why does Storage Studio ask to send notifications, and what will it tell me?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/why-does-storage-studio-need-notifications) — To tell you about drives connecting, low disk space, ejects, support replies and finished tidy-ups. Each notification shows once and clears when no longer relevant, and success notices after every run are off by default.

## Keeping your files safe

- [Is Storage Studio safe to use on my Mac?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/is-storage-studio-safe-to-use) — Yes. Moves are previewed, checked before the original is removed and leave a shortcut behind, and anything removed goes to the Recycle Vault or Trash so it can be restored. Keep your own backups too.
- [How does Storage Studio make sure a move doesn't lose my files?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/how-does-storage-studio-keep-my-files-safe-during-a-move) — It copies first, checks the copy against the original, and only then removes the original. A failed move cleans up the partial copy and never touches the original, and interrupted moves are finished or undone at next launch.
- [What happens if my Mac shuts down or the drive is unplugged in the middle of a move?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-happens-if-a-move-is-interrupted) — Your files are safe. Moves are tracked from start to finish, so at next launch Storage Studio either completes the move or puts everything back. The original is never removed until a complete, checked copy exists.
- [Will Storage Studio ever delete my files without asking?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/will-storage-studio-delete-files-without-asking) — Not your personal files. Removals are never pre-ticked and go to the Recycle Vault or Trash. Only rebuildable caches are cleared automatically, and a “Never delete personal files — only move them” switch blocks every delete rule.
- [Can I see exactly what Storage Studio will move or remove before it starts?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/can-i-see-what-will-be-removed-before-it-happens) — Yes. Free up space opens a review headed “Nothing has happened yet” with measured sizes and the full list of folders each option will remove. Moves show From, To and size first, and you get a record of what actually happened.
- [Is it safe to press Stop while Storage Studio is clearing space?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/can-i-stop-a-clear-up-safely) — Yes. Stop finishes the folder in progress and then halts, so nothing is left half-removed. You see what was cleared and what's left, Carry on resumes where it stopped, and removed items stay recoverable in the Recycle Vault.
- [What happens if an app is using a file when Storage Studio wants to move it?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-if-a-file-is-in-use-during-a-move) — It lists every app using files in the folder, with Quit, Quit all and Recheck buttons. Quitting is graceful, never forced, so apps can save their work first. System housekeeping services are ignored because they don't interfere.
- [Is Storage Studio a replacement for Time Machine or a backup?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-replace-time-machine) — No. Relocating a folder moves your only copy to the external drive, so it isn't a backup. Keep Time Machine or use Data Backup or Backup Drive so a failed or lost drive doesn't take your files with it.
- [Will Emergency Space delete important files when my disk is full?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/is-emergency-space-safe-when-my-disk-is-full) — No. You choose how much room you need and it picks the smallest, safest set of actions, starting with space that returns without deleting anything. Nothing destructive is pre-ticked, and removals stay recoverable in the Recycle Vault.
- [Can Storage Studio delete files on my external drive that it didn't put there?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-delete-things-on-my-external-drive) — Its clean-up and repair actions stay inside its own area on the drive, and setting up a drive adds a small folder layout without erasing existing files. Any deletion it offers comes with a confirmation first.
- [Will Storage Studio keep moving new files from a folder after I relocate it?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-auto-sync-move-new-files-without-asking) — Only if you turn on auto-sync for that folder, in the move confirmation or the Relocated panel badge. Then new files added later follow it to the drive; moving the folder back turns auto-sync off.
- [When Storage Studio uninstalls an app, could it remove files that belong to something else?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-uninstalling-an-app-remove-the-right-files) — The confirmation lists every item it will remove — the app plus its preferences, caches and support files — before anything happens, and everything goes to the Trash so it can be put back.
- [Could an automatic rule move a file I'm still working on?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/do-rules-touch-brand-new-files) — Rules only act on items older than the age you set, and global floor sliders can raise that minimum. Smart Quiet Hours also holds automatic actions while you're active, on low battery or in a meeting.
- [Is it safe to use Storage Studio when my Desktop and Documents are in iCloud?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/is-storage-studio-safe-with-documents-in-icloud) — Yes. For iCloud-synced folders the safe way to save space is making files online-only — they stay in iCloud and download when opened — rather than moving folders a sync service expects to manage.

## Undo and recovery

- [How do I undo a move I just made with Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/how-do-i-undo-a-move) — Click Move back on the folder in the Storage Inspector's Relocated panel, or use More → Restore Points → Roll Back Last Batch for the latest batch. Neither overwrites anything you've saved since; the drive must be connected.
- [Can I recover files Storage Studio deleted from a cloud account?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/can-i-recover-files-deleted-from-a-cloud-account) — It depends on the provider. Where the service has its own trash, the file goes there and can be recovered; where it doesn't, the removal is permanent and Storage Studio asks you to confirm that explicitly first.
- [What happens to my moved files if my external drive fails or gets lost?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-if-my-external-drive-fails) — Moved files live only on the external drive, so a failed or lost drive takes them with it. Protect them with Time Machine, a Backup Drive copy onto a second drive, or Data Backup.
- [Will restoring from the Recycle Vault overwrite a file with the same name?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/can-i-restore-a-recycle-vault-item-to-a-different-folder) — No. Restore puts items back where they came from and places a restored copy alongside any file with the same name. Restore to… picks another folder, and Undo last removal brings back the latest removal in one step.

## Accounts, passwords and keys

- [Does Storage Studio see my Google, Dropbox or Microsoft password when I sign in?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-store-my-google-password) — No. You sign in on the provider's own page in your browser, and the provider grants Storage Studio access. Your password is never typed into Storage Studio, and the access it receives stays in an encrypted vault on your Mac.
- [Is FTP safe to use with Storage Studio, or should I use SFTP?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/should-i-use-ftp-or-sftp) — Use SFTP whenever the server offers it. Plain FTP sends your password and files unencrypted, so they can be read on the network; SFTP encrypts both.
- [Is it safe to use my own Google sign-in credentials in Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/is-it-safe-to-use-my-own-google-sign-in-credentials) — Yes. Custom credentials come from your own Google project, stay with your account details on your Mac, and are used only to sign in to Google. Leave them blank to use the built-in defaults.
- [Can I hide my secret key on screen while editing an account?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/can-i-hide-my-secret-key-while-sharing-my-screen) — Yes. The account editor shows the current secret so you can check it, and the eye toggle beside the field hides it as dots — use it before sharing or recording your screen.
- [Why do I have to re-enter my account details on a new Mac?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/do-my-settings-move-to-a-new-mac) — Your saved secrets and some private settings are encrypted so only the original Mac can read them. A copy on another computer is unreadable by design, so a new Mac asks you to enter them again.
- [Does Storage Studio look through my cloud accounts in the background?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-access-my-cloud-files-in-the-background) — Only accounts you connected, and only to show you information on your Mac — such as usage and duplicates, using fingerprints the provider already keeps rather than downloading files. You can turn Auto-scan off per account.

## Clipboard, Junk Yard and your devices

- [Is my Junk Yard clipboard history private?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/is-junk-yard-clipboard-history-private) — Yes. Junk Yard keeps everything on your Mac with no account or cloud, and its search runs on-device. Scraps only leave your Mac if you turn on Bridge clipboard sharing, and the Sharing switch can stop that entirely.
- [Is Bridge end-to-end encrypted, and can anyone see what I send?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/is-bridge-end-to-end-encrypted) — Yes. Bridge is a direct link between your two devices and everything on it is end-to-end encrypted, so nobody in between — including us — can read it, and nothing is stored on a server. Match the Tunnel Code when you pair.
- [Can a device paired with Bridge see all of my folders?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/can-bridge-devices-see-all-my-folders) — No. Only folders you choose to share appear on the other device, and clipboard sharing is a separate switch that's off by default. You can pause, disconnect or forget a device whenever you like.

## Tuhi, Apple Intelligence and AI access

- [Are my questions to Tuhi private?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/are-my-tuhi-questions-private) — Yes. Tuhi runs on your Mac with Apple Intelligence, so questions and files never leave your device. Its history is stored privately on your Mac and you can clear it any time from the trash icon.
- [Is it safe to turn on AI access so an assistant like Claude can read my storage?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/is-ai-access-safe) — Yes. AI access is read-only — an assistant can see your storage picture but can never move, delete or change anything. It stays on your Mac, isn't exposed to the internet, and is off until you turn it on.

## App trust, updates and security

- [Is Storage Studio signed and notarised by Apple?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/is-storage-studio-notarised-by-apple) — Yes. Storage Studio is signed and notarised by Apple, so macOS opens it normally. Download it only from storagestudio.us, and if macOS refuses to open it, download it again rather than overriding the warning.
- [How does Storage Studio make sure an update is genuine?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/are-storage-studio-updates-safe) — Storage Studio only updates itself from a genuinely newer version that Apple has verified as coming from us; stale or untrusted images are ignored. Updates are offered with a Download button, not forced.
- [How do I report a security vulnerability in Storage Studio?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/how-do-i-report-a-security-issue) — Email security@storagestudio.us with steps to reproduce, the app and macOS versions, and your disclosure timeline. The team aims to acknowledge within 48 hours. The Security Policy is under More → Legal.
- [Does Storage Studio work with FileVault turned on?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-work-with-filevault) — Yes. Storage Studio works the same with FileVault on, and keeping it on is recommended. FileVault only covers your built-in drive, so consider encrypting your external drive too.
- [Should I encrypt my external drive to protect the files I move there?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/should-i-encrypt-my-external-drive) — Yes, if it holds anything personal. Relocated folders are stored as ordinary files, so an unencrypted drive can be read by anyone who plugs it in. Encrypt it with macOS — Disk Utility or Finder's Encrypt option.
- [Can I see a record of everything Storage Studio has moved or removed?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/can-i-see-a-record-of-what-storage-studio-did) — Yes. The Storage Inspector lists moved folders, the Recycle Vault lists everything removed, Job Insights shows each background job's runs and problems, and Where did my space go? shows what Storage Studio itself did.
- [My licence activated by itself from an email link — is that safe?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/is-the-email-activation-link-safe) — Yes. The email button is a one-time link that expires after a short while and is checked with the server before activating, so only a genuine, unused link works. Nothing changes beyond turning on your licence.
- [Can someone copy my Storage Studio licence to their own Mac?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/can-someone-copy-my-licence-to-another-mac) — Not by copying files. Your activation is tied to the Mac it was made on and saved securely there, so a copy won't work elsewhere. On a new Mac of your own, activate with your code or email link.
- [Is Storage Studio appropriate on a work or company-managed Mac?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/is-storage-studio-safe-for-work-or-managed-macs) — Check your organisation's policy first. Storage Studio needs Full Disk Access and can move data to external drives and cloud accounts, which many employers control. It reports refusals from device management rather than working around them.
- [Can I trust the space-freed numbers Storage Studio shows?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/are-the-space-saved-numbers-accurate) — Yes. Freed space is measured on your disk, not predicted, and Storage Studio tells you when results fall short of the estimate. Breakdowns are never scaled to look tidy, and unexplained space gets its own line.
- [When Storage Studio says an app used my space, could it be guessing?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-the-space-watch-guess-which-app-used-space) — It tells you how sure it is: it names an app only when it can identify one, hedges when it's unsure, and says plainly when it can't tell — it never invents a cause. Its own jobs are named as its own.
- [Is Storage Studio suitable on a Mac that holds sensitive or client files?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/is-storage-studio-safe-for-sensitive-or-client-data) — Its design suits it — files never reach Storage Studio's servers and its AI runs on your Mac. Encrypt your external drive, connect only approved cloud accounts, consider turning off Junk Yard capturing, and check your professional rules.

## Your data, uninstalling and your rights

- [Where can I read Storage Studio's Privacy Policy and Terms?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/where-are-the-privacy-policy-and-terms) — On the website at /legal/privacy and /legal/terms, and in the app under More → Legal, alongside the Disclaimer, Security Policy and third-party notices.
- [How do I ask Storage Studio to delete my personal data?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/how-do-i-ask-for-my-data-to-be-deleted) — Email support@storagestudio.us from your registered address with “Privacy request” or “Delete my data” in the subject. The team verifies it's you and aims to reply within 30 days; some purchase records are kept for tax law.
- [What does Storage Studio store about me on my own Mac?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-does-storage-studio-keep-on-my-mac) — Its record of moves, your rules and settings, transfer history, daily storage snapshots, your licence, Tuhi history and Junk Yard scraps — all on your Mac or your external drive. Secrets are kept in an encrypted vault.
- [Is Storage Studio meant for children, and does it collect children's data?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/is-storage-studio-suitable-for-children) — Storage Studio isn't directed at children under 16 and doesn't knowingly collect their data. A parent can register and run it on a family Mac; contact support if a child's details were collected.
- [Can Storage Studio support access my Mac remotely?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/can-storage-studio-support-access-my-mac-remotely) — No. Storage Studio has no remote-access feature; support works only through messages you send from Contact Support. Be wary of anyone claiming to be support who asks to control your Mac or for your passwords.
- [Do Storage Studio's logs contain my file names, and do they leave my Mac?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-keep-file-names-in-logs) — Some show file names so you can see exactly what happened, but logs stay on your Mac and aren't sent to us. Support diagnostics are a separate redacted summary without file names.
- [What does Storage Studio's Disclaimer say about data loss?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-does-the-disclaimer-mean-for-my-data) — It says Storage Studio moves rather than duplicates your data, so it isn't a backup and you should keep a separate one. The software is provided as is with limited liability, though protections the law guarantees still apply.
- [Does Storage Studio sync my settings or history to the cloud?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-sync-my-settings-to-the-cloud) — No. Settings, rules, history and records stay on your Mac, with safety copies on your own external drive. Nothing is uploaded to Storage Studio's servers or iCloud.
- [If I bought Storage Studio through a partner or reseller, what do they see?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-storage-studio-share-data-with-resellers) — Never your files or usage. A partner sees only your email and events on the plan they look after — purchase, renewal, a failed payment, refund or cancellation — never your card or anything from your Mac.
- [Does Storage Studio's Privacy Policy cover GDPR, California and other privacy laws?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/what-privacy-rights-does-the-policy-cover) — Yes. The Privacy Policy has sections for the EU and UK, California, India and Canada, and explains rights such as access, correction and deletion. Email support@storagestudio.us with “Privacy request” in the subject to use them.
- [Does the Storage Studio website use cookies, and what happens if I decline?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/does-the-storage-studio-website-use-cookies) — Only if you accept. The notice offers Accept or Decline for analytics and advertising cookies; the site works either way. Accepting allows an anonymous visitor number and campaign details; declining sets none of it.
- [Why does Storage Studio ask me to accept the Terms again?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/why-am-i-asked-to-accept-the-terms-again) — Because a document really changed. The Terms, Privacy Policy and Disclaimer each have a version number, and you're asked again only when it changes — never for a typo, a date or a formatting fix. We keep a record of the exact text you accepted.
- [How long does Storage Studio keep my personal details?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/privacy-safety/how-long-does-storage-studio-keep-my-data) — It depends on the record: purchase records as long as tax law requires, trial records 24 months after the trial, support requests 3 years after closing, website chats 30 days. The Privacy Policy lists every one.