Support

Most questions have an answer below — and we’re always one email away.

Need a hand? Email support@flowdrive.app and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can. Please include your macOS version, FlowDrive version, and the drive model you’re testing.

Frequently asked questions

What does FlowDrive actually measure?

FlowDrive measures sequential and random read/write throughput, IOPS, and latency on the storage device you select. Results are translated into plain-language workflow recommendations.

Will benchmarking damage my drive?

No. FlowDrive writes a temporary test file in a controlled, bounded region of free space and removes it immediately afterward. SSDs are designed for many petabytes of writes; a benchmark uses a negligible fraction of that endurance.

Why does FlowDrive need disk access?

To benchmark a drive, FlowDrive must be able to write and read a temporary file on that volume. macOS asks your permission the first time you target a new volume — this is a standard system prompt and only grants access to the locations you choose.

Does FlowDrive send any data to your servers?

No. Benchmarks run entirely on your Mac and results are stored locally. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

How do I restore my FlowDrive Pro purchase?

Open FlowDrive, choose FlowDrive › Restore Purchases, and sign in with the Apple ID used for the original purchase. StoreKit will re-enable Pro features automatically.

Which Macs are supported?

FlowDrive runs on macOS 14 or later and is optimized for Apple silicon. Intel Macs running macOS 14+ are also supported.

Troubleshooting

Drive not appearing. Make sure the drive is mounted in Finder. If it’s formatted with a file system macOS can’t mount (such as ext4), FlowDrive cannot benchmark it.
Benchmark stops partway. Confirm the volume has at least 4 GB of free space and that the drive isn’t being unmounted by another app or backup task.
Results lower than expected. Try a different cable and port. USB-C cables vary widely — many are USB 2.0 only. For Thunderbolt drives, use a certified Thunderbolt cable.
External SSD running hot. Sustained writes can warm any external SSD. Let it cool for a few minutes between runs for the most accurate sustained performance numbers.

Benchmark permission help

On first launch, and the first time you select a new volume, macOS may show a dialog asking whether FlowDrive can access files on that volume. This is required so FlowDrive can write a temporary benchmark file to that drive.

If you accidentally declined, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Files and Folders and enable access for FlowDrive on the relevant volume.
For drives mounted under /Volumes, you may also need to grant Removable Volumes access in the same panel.
Full Disk Access is not required for normal benchmarking.

Still stuck?

Send a note to support@flowdrive.app — a human will read it.