Frequently asked questions
DiskPeek is a private-beta service that indexes external hard drives in the background and syncs file metadata to the cloud so you can search your archive from any device — even when drives are unplugged.
What is DiskPeek?
DiskPeek is a drive catalog app. A background scanner indexes your external hard drives, syncs file metadata to the cloud, and lets you search and browse your entire physical archive from a web app — without plugging every drive in.
Who is DiskPeek for?
Freelance editors, studios, and archivists who keep large collections on shelf drives and need to answer "which drive was that on?" before mounting anything.
Do I need to keep drives plugged in to search?
No. After a drive is indexed, you can search and browse its catalog from the web app while the drive stays on the shelf. Plug it in again when you need to open or copy actual files.
Is DiskPeek a file manager?
No. DiskPeek is a librarian for your hardware — a searchable index and health dashboard for disconnected drives, not a replacement for Explorer or Finder.
Does DiskPeek upload my files?
No. DiskPeek uploads file metadata only: paths, names, sizes, modification times, folder structure, and optional content hashes for duplicate detection. Raw file contents never leave your drives.
Where is my catalog stored?
Scan state lives on your computer. Catalog metadata is stored in your workspace cloud account so you can search from any browser. See the privacy policy for subprocessors and retention.
Can teammates see my file lists?
Within a workspace, members with access can browse and search drives that have been indexed for that workspace. Role-based permissions control who can change drive settings.
How do I delete my data?
Delete drives or your account from the web app to remove online catalogs. Remove local scanner data by uninstalling or deleting the DiskPeek data folder on your machine. Email [email protected] for account deletion requests.
What does the desktop scanner do?
The DiskPeek scanner runs in the system tray, watches for connected drives, walks the file tree, and uploads catalog updates when you enable indexing for a drive. It also reports device heartbeats so the web app shows live scan progress.
How do I pair the scanner with my account?
Install the scanner, open the tray menu, choose Sign in, and complete browser pairing. When successful, your device appears in the web app and can upload catalogs for your workspace.
Does the scanner run at startup?
Not by default. Enable Run at startup from the tray menu if you want the agent available after reboot without launching it manually.
How do I uninstall on Windows?
Run uninstall.bat from the install folder to remove the startup entry and local data under %APPDATA%\diskpeek, then delete the install folder. Use disable-startup.bat if you only want to stop auto-launch.
Is DiskPeek free during beta?
Yes. DiskPeek is free during the private beta. Freemium pricing is planned for a later release.
Why does Windows SmartScreen warn on install?
Scanner binaries are unsigned in v1. SmartScreen may show a warning on first launch. Choose More info, then Run anyway. Code signing is planned for a future release.
Are there drive size limits?
During beta, very large drives (roughly 200k+ files) may hit catalog size limits in the cloud query path. Splitting content or waiting for post-beta scaling improvements is the current workaround.
When does duplicate detection work?
After the initial scan finishes, a background enrichment stage hashes candidate files. Until enrichment completes, duplicate results may show as pending in Maintenance.
What are workspace roles?
Owners and admins manage invites and settings. Members can index drives and use the catalog. Viewers can browse and search but cannot change drive settings.
Can I share a drive catalog with my studio?
Yes. Invite teammates to your workspace. Indexed drives become searchable for members according to their role.
What is drive checkout?
Checkout tracking records who has a physical drive off the shelf while the scanned catalog remains available to the team in the web app.
Which platform is best supported?
Windows is the primary beta target. Linux and macOS builds exist but are less tested.