---
id: troubleshooting.already-running-second-copy
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/already-running-second-copy
category: "Troubleshooting & messages"
subcategory: "Storage Studio itself"
question: "Why does it say Storage Studio is already running on this Mac?"
alt_questions:
  - "storage studio is already running on this mac"
  - "second copy has not started"
  - "two copies of storage studio"
  - "storage studio won't open already running"
short_answer: "Only one copy runs at a time, so a second launch hands over to the one already running. Use the menu bar icon to reach it."
tags: ["already running", "launch"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/something-is-wrong-with-your-installation"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Why does it say Storage Studio is already running on this Mac?

Only one copy of Storage Studio runs at a time — two would mean two sets of background jobs working on the same files. If you open it again while it's running, the new copy hands over to the existing one instead of starting.

Look for the icon in your menu bar. If you can't see it, the bar may be full; see [the menu bar icon is missing](https://storagestudio.us/faq/getting-started/).