---
id: troubleshooting.wont-tick-unknown-app-files
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/wont-tick-unknown-app-files
category: "Troubleshooting & messages"
subcategory: "Free space and clean-up messages"
question: "Why won't Storage Studio tick some files for me because it can't tell which app they belong to?"
alt_questions:
  - "storage studio couldn't work out which app these files belong to so it won't tick this for you"
  - "we couldn't confirm which app these files belong to"
  - "unknown app files clean up"
  - "have a look inside before you choose it"
short_answer: "Storage Studio only pre-selects what it's sure of; it can't tell which app these belong to, so they're left unticked. Look inside in Finder and tick them yourself if you're sure."
tags: ["clean-up", "safety"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/copy-left-behind-by-earlier-version", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/left-alone-couldnt-confirm"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Why won't Storage Studio tick some files for me because it can't tell which app they belong to?

Storage Studio pre-selects only what it's sure about. For these files it couldn't tell which app they belong to, so it can't be confident removing them is harmless — they're listed but left unticked.

Open them in Finder and look before choosing. If you're sure you don't need them, tick them yourself.