---
id: settings.external-drive-row-says-waiting-for-drive
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/settings/external-drive-row-says-waiting-for-drive
category: "Settings & keep-time"
subcategory: "Services and self-healing"
question: "What does \"Waiting for drive\" or \"Drive needs verification\" mean in Services?"
alt_questions:
  - "External drive row yellow storage studio"
  - "Mounted and verified meaning"
  - "Drive needs verification storage studio"
  - "External drive Not configured services"
short_answer: "Waiting for drive means your set-up drive isn't connected — plug it in and queued work resumes. Drive needs verification means it's connected but must be confirmed from Inspect."
tags: ["external drive", "services", "status"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/settings/what-do-green-yellow-red-dots-mean-in-services"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What does "Waiting for drive" or "Drive needs verification" mean in Services?

The **External drive** row in **Settings → Services** describes your external drive:

- **Mounted and verified** (green) — ready for moves.
- **Waiting for drive** (yellow) — the drive you set up isn't connected. Plug it in and any queued work resumes automatically.
- **Drive needs verification** — it's connected, but Storage Studio can't confirm it's the drive it prepared. Run the drive check from **Inspect** to confirm it.
- **Not configured** — no drive set up yet. The app works without one; add one to make larger moves.

More in [external drives](https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/).