Starting Storage Studio at login

Storage Studio only does its work while the app is running. When it opens, it starts its background service; when you quit, the service stops too. To make sure it's always there after a restart, turn on Launch Storage Studio at login.

Turning it on or off

Any of these change the same setting:

• Settings… → Advanced → Startup → Launch Storage Studio at login.
• In the Advanced popover: More → Setup & maintenance → Start at login. A tick or cross shows whether it's on, and a short message confirms the change.
• System Settings → General → Login Items on your Mac, where Storage Studio appears in the list once it's on.

Storage Studio doesn't add itself to your login items — it's your choice. If switching it on fails, the reason appears under the switch.

On macOS 12 Monterey this switch can't add Storage Studio to your login items. Add it yourself in your Mac's Login Items settings instead.

What runs only while Storage Studio is open

%% caption: What happens when Storage Studio is open and when it isn't
flowchart TD
  A[You log in] --> B{Does Storage Studio open at login?}
  B -->|Yes| C[The app opens and starts its background service]
  B -->|No| D[Nothing runs until you open it]
  C --> E[Scheduled moves, backups, Junk Yard and shortcuts work]
  D --> F[Open it from Applications to catch up]

While Storage Studio isn't running:

• The nightly run of your rules and Automatic Moves doesn't happen. It catches up the next time Storage Studio is running and it isn't quiet.
• Scheduled backups and queued transfers don't run.
• The Junk Yard doesn't capture what you copy, and the global keyboard shortcuts don't work.
• Your storage history charts get no new points, and the daily self-backup of Storage Studio's settings doesn't happen.
• The menu bar icon, notifications and self-healing checks are gone until you open it again.

Nothing you've already moved is affected. Folders and apps on your external drive stay where they are, and their shortcuts keep working as long as the drive is connected.

Quitting and restarting

• Quit Storage Studio (⌘Q, or the power button in the popover) stops the app and its background service.
• Restart Storage Studio in the More menu or the menu bar icon's right-click menu closes and reopens it in one step — useful if something looks stuck.

See also: Pausing or stopping everything, The menu bar icon doesn't appear, The Preferences window.