{ "schema": "https://storagestudio.us/schema/wiki-page.v1", "title": "Something's not working: start here", "slug": "troubleshooting-start-here", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/troubleshooting-start-here", "markdown_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/troubleshooting-start-here.md", "category": "Troubleshooting", "category_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/troubleshooting/", "tags": [ "troubleshooting", "background activity", "services" ], "summary": "A quick way to find the right fix. Check the two screens that explain most problems — Settings → Services and Background Activity — then follow the symptom to its own article.", "published_at": "2026-10-01T06:19:56.000Z", "updated_at": "2026-10-01T05:37:39.000Z", "headings": [ { "level": 2, "text": "First, two quick checks", "id": "first-two-quick-checks" }, { "level": 2, "text": "Find your symptom", "id": "find-your-symptom" }, { "level": 2, "text": "Still stuck?", "id": "still-stuck" } ], "links_out": [ { "slug": "services-pane", "label": "The Services pane", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/services-pane" }, { "slug": "background-activity", "label": "Background Activity and Job Insights", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/background-activity" }, { "slug": "how-storage-studio-keeps-you-safe", "label": "How Storage Studio keeps every change reversible", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/how-storage-studio-keeps-you-safe" }, { "slug": "macos-says-the-app-cant-be-opened", "label": "macOS says the app can't be opened", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/macos-says-the-app-cant-be-opened" }, { "slug": "menu-bar-icon-missing", "label": "The menu bar icon doesn't appear", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/menu-bar-icon-missing" }, { "slug": "full-disk-access-not-detected", "label": "Full Disk Access is on but the app says it isn't", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/full-disk-access-not-detected" }, { "slug": "paste-doesnt-work-in-a-text-box", "label": "Paste or Select All doesn't work in a text box", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/paste-doesnt-work-in-a-text-box" }, { "slug": "everything-looks-stuck", "label": "Everything looks stuck", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/everything-looks-stuck" }, { "slug": "service-is-stopped", "label": "\"Service is stopped\" won't go away", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/service-is-stopped" }, { "slug": "engine-missing", "label": "Moves or transfers say a component is missing", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/engine-missing" }, { "slug": "drive-says-not-set-up", "label": "The drive isn't recognised as set up", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/drive-says-not-set-up" }, { "slug": "a-move-failed", "label": "A folder move failed or was cancelled", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-move-failed" }, { "slug": "drive-unplugged-during-a-move", "label": "The drive was unplugged during a move", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/drive-unplugged-during-a-move" }, { "slug": "eject-fails-files-in-use", "label": "Eject fails: \"Files still in use\"", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/eject-fails-files-in-use" }, { "slug": "a-moved-app-wont-open", "label": "A moved app won't open", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-moved-app-wont-open" }, { "slug": "space-didnt-come-back-after-a-move", "label": "I moved files but my free space didn't go up", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/space-didnt-come-back-after-a-move" }, { "slug": "rules-dont-move-documents-or-desktop", "label": "My rules don't move anything from Documents or Desktop", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/rules-dont-move-documents-or-desktop" }, { "slug": "dry-run-shows-unwanted-files", "label": "A dry run shows files I don't want moved", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/dry-run-shows-unwanted-files" }, { "slug": "cloud-account-list-is-empty", "label": "My cloud accounts list is empty after signing in", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/cloud-account-list-is-empty" }, { "slug": "icloud-sign-in-problems", "label": "Signing in to another Apple ID's iCloud fails", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/icloud-sign-in-problems" }, { "slug": "a-transfer-failed", "label": "A transfer failed", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-transfer-failed" }, { "slug": "the-finder-location-is-missing", "label": "The Storage Studio location is missing from Finder", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-finder-location-is-missing" }, { "slug": "bridge-devices-cant-connect", "label": "Two devices won't connect with Bridge", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/bridge-devices-cant-connect" }, { "slug": "a-backup-didnt-run", "label": "A backup didn't run", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-backup-didnt-run" }, { "slug": "my-drive-code-didnt-arrive", "label": "The setup code for storage you own didn't arrive", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/my-drive-code-didnt-arrive" }, { "slug": "the-junk-yard-wont-open", "label": "The Junk Yard won't open or stops capturing", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-junk-yard-wont-open" }, { "slug": "getting-help", "label": "Getting help", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/getting-help" }, { "slug": "sharing-diagnostic-logs", "label": "Sharing diagnostic logs with support", "exists": true, "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/sharing-diagnostic-logs" } ], "links_in": [ { "slug": "service-is-stopped", "title": "\"Service is stopped\" won't go away", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/service-is-stopped" }, { "slug": "a-backup-didnt-run", "title": "A backup didn't run", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-backup-didnt-run" }, { "slug": "dry-run-shows-unwanted-files", "title": "A dry run shows files I don't want moved", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/dry-run-shows-unwanted-files" }, { "slug": "a-move-failed", "title": "A folder move failed or was cancelled", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-move-failed" }, { "slug": "a-moved-app-wont-open", "title": "A moved app won't open", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-moved-app-wont-open" }, { "slug": "a-transfer-failed", "title": "A transfer failed", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-transfer-failed" }, { "slug": "background-activity", "title": "Background Activity and Job Insights", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/background-activity" }, { "slug": "eject-fails-files-in-use", "title": "Eject fails: \"Files still in use\"", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/eject-fails-files-in-use" }, { "slug": "everything-looks-stuck", "title": "Everything looks stuck", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/everything-looks-stuck" }, { "slug": "full-disk-access-not-detected", "title": "Full Disk Access is on but the app says it isn't", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/full-disk-access-not-detected" }, { "slug": "getting-help", "title": "Getting help: Contact Support and My Support", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/getting-help" }, { "slug": "space-didnt-come-back-after-a-move", "title": "I moved files but my free space didn't go up", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/space-didnt-come-back-after-a-move" }, { "slug": "engine-missing", "title": "Moves or transfers say a component is missing", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/engine-missing" }, { "slug": "cloud-account-list-is-empty", "title": "My cloud accounts list is empty after signing in", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/cloud-account-list-is-empty" }, { "slug": "rules-dont-move-documents-or-desktop", "title": "My rules don't move anything from Documents or Desktop", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/rules-dont-move-documents-or-desktop" }, { "slug": "paste-doesnt-work-in-a-text-box", "title": "Paste or Select All doesn't work in a text box", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/paste-doesnt-work-in-a-text-box" }, { "slug": "self-healing", "title": "Self-healing", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/self-healing" }, { "slug": "icloud-sign-in-problems", "title": "Signing in to another Apple ID's iCloud fails", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/icloud-sign-in-problems" }, { "slug": "the-junk-yard-wont-open", "title": "The Junk Yard won't open or stops capturing", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-junk-yard-wont-open" }, { "slug": "my-drive-code-didnt-arrive", "title": "The My Drive code didn't arrive or doesn't work", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/my-drive-code-didnt-arrive" }, { "slug": "services-pane", "title": "The Services pane", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/services-pane" }, { "slug": "the-finder-location-is-missing", "title": "The Storage Studio location is missing from Finder", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-finder-location-is-missing" }, { "slug": "drive-says-not-set-up", "title": "The drive isn't recognised as set up", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/drive-says-not-set-up" }, { "slug": "drive-unplugged-during-a-move", "title": "The drive was unplugged during a move", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/drive-unplugged-during-a-move" }, { "slug": "menu-bar-icon-missing", "title": "The menu bar icon doesn't appear", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/menu-bar-icon-missing" }, { "slug": "bridge-devices-cant-connect", "title": "Two devices won't connect with Bridge", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/bridge-devices-cant-connect" }, { "slug": "when-the-location-falls-back-to-a-mounted-drive", "title": "When the location falls back to a mounted drive", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/when-the-location-falls-back-to-a-mounted-drive" }, { "slug": "macos-says-the-app-cant-be-opened", "title": "macOS says the app can't be opened", "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/macos-says-the-app-cant-be-opened" } ], "diagrams": [ { "kind": "flowchart", "caption": "Which troubleshooting article to read for each kind of problem", "outline": "- Something's not working\n - leads to What kind of problem?\n- What kind of problem?\n - Can't open or find the app: leads to Opening and finding Storage Studio\n - Drive or moves: leads to Drive and moving\n - Cloud, devices or backups: leads to Accounts, devices and backups\n - Nothing seems to happen: leads to Everything looks stuck\n- Opening and finding Storage Studio\n - leads to macOS says it can't be opened\n - leads to Menu bar icon missing\n- Drive and moving\n - leads to Drive not recognised\n - leads to A move failed\n - leads to Eject fails\n- Accounts, devices and backups\n - leads to A transfer failed\n - leads to A backup didn't run\n - leads to Bridge won't connect\n", "source": "%% caption: Which troubleshooting article to read for each kind of problem\nflowchart TD\n A[Something's not working] --> B{What kind of problem?}\n B -->|Can't open or find the app| C[Opening and finding Storage Studio]\n B -->|Drive or moves| D[Drive and moving]\n B -->|Cloud, devices or backups| E[Accounts, devices and backups]\n B -->|Nothing seems to happen| F[Everything looks stuck]\n C --> G[macOS says it can't be opened]\n C --> H[Menu bar icon missing]\n D --> I[Drive not recognised]\n D --> J[A move failed]\n D --> K[Eject fails]\n E --> L[A transfer failed]\n E --> M[A backup didn't run]\n E --> N[Bridge won't connect]" } ], "images": [], "screenshots_pending": [ { "alt": "The Storage Studio Job Insights window listing background jobs, one of them showing a notice that needs a look", "caption": "Background Activity shows each job and anything that needs a look" } ], "faqs": [], "text": "Most problems in Storage Studio explain themselves on one of two screens. Settings → Services shows the live state of every part of the app, with a fix button where there is one, and Background Activity in the More menu shows each background job and anything that didn't finish. Start there, then find your symptom below. First, two quick checks Open Settings → Services. A red or amber row names the part that needs attention. See The Services pane . Open Background Activity… from the More menu (in the Advanced view it's Job Insights… ). A job that needs a look has a notice explaining what happened. See Background Activity and Job Insights . Nothing Storage Studio moves is deleted until its copy has been checked, so while you work through a problem your files stay safe — see How Storage Studio keeps every change reversible . Find your symptom Which troubleshooting article to read for each kind of problem Flowchart outline: Which troubleshooting article to read for each kind of problem Something's not working leads to What kind of problem? What kind of problem? Can't open or find the app: leads to Opening and finding Storage Studio Drive or moves: leads to Drive and moving Cloud, devices or backups: leads to Accounts, devices and backups Nothing seems to happen: leads to Everything looks stuck Opening and finding Storage Studio leads to macOS says it can't be opened leads to Menu bar icon missing Drive and moving leads to Drive not recognised leads to A move failed leads to Eject fails Accounts, devices and backups leads to A transfer failed leads to A backup didn't run leads to Bridge won't connect Opening and finding Storage Studio macOS says the app can't be opened The menu bar icon doesn't appear Full Disk Access is on but the app says it isn't Paste or Select All doesn't work in a text box Background work Everything looks stuck \"Service is stopped\" won't go away Moves or transfers say a component is missing Your drive and moves The drive isn't recognised as set up A folder move failed or was cancelled The drive was unplugged during a move Eject fails: \"Files still in use\" A moved app won't open I moved files but my free space didn't go up Rules and automatic moves My rules don't move anything from Documents or Desktop A dry run shows files I don't want moved Cloud accounts, Finder, devices and backups My cloud accounts list is empty after signing in Signing in to another Apple ID's iCloud fails A transfer failed The Storage Studio location is missing from Finder Two devices won't connect with Bridge A backup didn't run The setup code for storage you own didn't arrive The Junk Yard The Junk Yard won't open or stops capturing Still stuck? Ask Tuhi on the Home screen, or use Contact Support in the More menu and include your diagnostic logs. See Getting help and Sharing diagnostic logs with support . Restarting Storage Studio (right-click the menu bar icon, then Restart Storage Studio ) clears many one-off problems. If you're in the middle of connecting two devices, note that a restart also drops their link for a moment.", "markdown": "Most problems in Storage Studio explain themselves on one of two screens. **Settings → Services** shows the live state of every part of the app, with a fix button where there is one, and **Background Activity** in the **More** menu shows each background job and anything that didn't finish. Start there, then find your symptom below.\n\n## First, two quick checks\n\n1. **Open Settings → Services.** A red or amber row names the part that needs attention. See [The Services pane](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/services-pane).\n2. **Open Background Activity…** from the **More** menu (in the Advanced view it's **Job Insights…**). A job that needs a look has a notice explaining what happened. See [Background Activity and Job Insights](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/background-activity).\n\nNothing Storage Studio moves is deleted until its copy has been checked, so while you work through a problem your files stay safe — see [How Storage Studio keeps every change reversible](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/how-storage-studio-keeps-you-safe).\n\n## Find your symptom\n\n```mermaid\n%% caption: Which troubleshooting article to read for each kind of problem\nflowchart TD\n A[Something's not working] --> B{What kind of problem?}\n B -->|Can't open or find the app| C[Opening and finding Storage Studio]\n B -->|Drive or moves| D[Drive and moving]\n B -->|Cloud, devices or backups| E[Accounts, devices and backups]\n B -->|Nothing seems to happen| F[Everything looks stuck]\n C --> G[macOS says it can't be opened]\n C --> H[Menu bar icon missing]\n D --> I[Drive not recognised]\n D --> J[A move failed]\n D --> K[Eject fails]\n E --> L[A transfer failed]\n E --> M[A backup didn't run]\n E --> N[Bridge won't connect]\n```\n\n*Flowchart — Which troubleshooting article to read for each kind of problem. Outline:*\n\n- Something's not working\n - leads to What kind of problem?\n- What kind of problem?\n - Can't open or find the app: leads to Opening and finding Storage Studio\n - Drive or moves: leads to Drive and moving\n - Cloud, devices or backups: leads to Accounts, devices and backups\n - Nothing seems to happen: leads to Everything looks stuck\n- Opening and finding Storage Studio\n - leads to macOS says it can't be opened\n - leads to Menu bar icon missing\n- Drive and moving\n - leads to Drive not recognised\n - leads to A move failed\n - leads to Eject fails\n- Accounts, devices and backups\n - leads to A transfer failed\n - leads to A backup didn't run\n - leads to Bridge won't connect\n\n**Opening and finding Storage Studio**\n\n- [macOS says the app can't be opened](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/macos-says-the-app-cant-be-opened)\n- [The menu bar icon doesn't appear](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/menu-bar-icon-missing)\n- [Full Disk Access is on but the app says it isn't](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/full-disk-access-not-detected)\n- [Paste or Select All doesn't work in a text box](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/paste-doesnt-work-in-a-text-box)\n\n**Background work**\n\n- [Everything looks stuck](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/everything-looks-stuck)\n- [\"Service is stopped\" won't go away](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/service-is-stopped)\n- [Moves or transfers say a component is missing](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/engine-missing)\n\n**Your drive and moves**\n\n- [The drive isn't recognised as set up](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/drive-says-not-set-up)\n- [A folder move failed or was cancelled](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-move-failed)\n- [The drive was unplugged during a move](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/drive-unplugged-during-a-move)\n- [Eject fails: \"Files still in use\"](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/eject-fails-files-in-use)\n- [A moved app won't open](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-moved-app-wont-open)\n- [I moved files but my free space didn't go up](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/space-didnt-come-back-after-a-move)\n\n**Rules and automatic moves**\n\n- [My rules don't move anything from Documents or Desktop](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/rules-dont-move-documents-or-desktop)\n- [A dry run shows files I don't want moved](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/dry-run-shows-unwanted-files)\n\n**Cloud accounts, Finder, devices and backups**\n\n- [My cloud accounts list is empty after signing in](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/cloud-account-list-is-empty)\n- [Signing in to another Apple ID's iCloud fails](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/icloud-sign-in-problems)\n- [A transfer failed](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-transfer-failed)\n- [The Storage Studio location is missing from Finder](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-finder-location-is-missing)\n- [Two devices won't connect with Bridge](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/bridge-devices-cant-connect)\n- [A backup didn't run](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/a-backup-didnt-run)\n- [The setup code for storage you own didn't arrive](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/my-drive-code-didnt-arrive)\n\n**The Junk Yard**\n\n- [The Junk Yard won't open or stops capturing](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-junk-yard-wont-open)\n\n## Still stuck?\n\nAsk Tuhi on the Home screen, or use **Contact Support** in the **More** menu and include your diagnostic logs. See [Getting help](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/getting-help) and [Sharing diagnostic logs with support](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/sharing-diagnostic-logs).\n\nRestarting Storage Studio (right-click the menu bar icon, then **Restart Storage Studio**) clears many one-off problems. If you're in the middle of connecting two devices, note that a restart also drops their link for a moment.\n" }