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Keep Drive Spinning
Keep Drive Spinning
3.9
0.0
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Keep Drive Spinning free download for Mac

Keep Drive Spinning

Version 3.0

Makes sure that a connected drive never goes to sleep.

3.9
Based on 57 user ratesRead reviews & comments

Keep Drive Spinning overview

Keep Drive Spinning ensures that a connected drive never goes into low-power mode. Normally this can be controlled using the Energy Saver preference pane in System Preferences, and that should be your first resort in dealing with the problem, rather than this or any other third party software. However, some external drives do not respect the System Preferences settings, so for them an alternative like this is needed.

This applet simply creates a launch agent that tells OS X to update a hidden file on the selected drive once every minute so that the drive stays awake. Launch agents are built-in OS X technology and persist across reboots, etc., so you can run this once to set-it-and-forget-it. You can find the launch agents made by Keep Drive Spinning in the LaunchAgents folder of your user's Library folder.

Users on OS X 10.4 (Tiger) and OS X 10.5 (Leopard) need to run the AppleScript source code directly. This source code is included, and only requires opening the file and then clicking the big, friendly Run button.

What’s new in version 3.0

Updated on Nov 28 2019

Version 3.0:
  • Compatibility with macOS 10.15 (Catalina)
  • Streamlines the user interface a bit
  • Uses one launch agent for all drives
  • Supports storing the hidden file in custom locations (not just the root folder of a drive)
  • Diagnostic tool is built into the main app

Information

License

Free

Size

322 KB

Downloads

72897

App requirements

  • Intel 64
  • Mac OS X 10.6 or later
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0.0

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There are no reviews yet
  • Comments

  • User Ratings

Jon-Stovell
Jon-Stovell
Sep 9 2022
3.0
0.0
Sep 9 2022
0.0
Version: 3.0
This software has been discontinued. I recommend the app Amphetamine as an alternative: https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/52683/amphetamine
nikonfotomatt
nikonfotomatt
Jul 10 2022
3.0
0.0
Jul 10 2022
0.0
Version: 3.0
Any plans for an update? I was referred here to overcome the disk sleep issue of my Orico 5-bay Rip Van Winkle enclosure.
candiazoo
candiazoo
Dec 20 2020
3.0
3.0
Dec 20 2020
3.0
Version: 3.0
Not working with Big Sur on M1.
paul-422
paul-422
Jul 26 2020
3.0
1.0
Jul 26 2020
1.0
Version: 3.0
Program does not work on Catalina. Too bad since I hate my hard drives constantly starting and stopping.
jon-114
jon-114
Feb 6 2019
2.6.2
0.0
Feb 6 2019
0.0
Version: 2.6.2
Two questions: 1. If I uncheck "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" in Energy Saver, will that leave my drives spinning even when the computer is sleeping? 2. If so, then will Keep Drive Spinning also do that? I would rather drives slept while the computer is asleep.
Linrey
Linrey
Jun 14 2018
2.6.2
5.0
Jun 14 2018
5.0
Version: 2.6.2
WOW! Finally I can immediately see any directory on my external 6TB drive as soon as I click on it! I aliased my Documents, Movies, Music and Photos directories off of my 1 TB SSD and onto a huge, fast drive once they outgrew the boot volume. Before this utility I had to wait at dozens of times a day for the drive to spin up and the disk index to be read. THANK YOU Jon Stovel!
9268006
9268006
May 11 2018
2.6.2
2.0
May 11 2018
2.0
Version: 2.6.2
Now I try sudo pmset -c spindown 0
marc-cusumano
marc-cusumano
Aug 25 2017
2.6.2
0.5
Aug 25 2017
0.5
Version: 2.6.2
Does not work.
Spudfry
Spudfry
Apr 16 2017
2.6.2
0.0
Apr 16 2017
0.0
Version: 2.6.2
Can't get this to work on 10.12.4 Sierra. I have a 4-bay USB enclosure that I swap out Hard drives on periodically - does it recognise drives under this type of configuration? I have set each drive, and have had the same 3 in for about 2 months now - they remain unaffected & still need to spin up.
Caput-Draconis
Caput-Draconis
Aug 23 2016
2.6.2
5.0
Aug 23 2016
5.0
Version: 2.6.2
Love it!
scottalopez
scottalopez
Jul 3 2016
2.6.2
0.0
Jul 3 2016
0.0
Version: 2.6.2
I am using this application to keep my Airport awake (which has another external USB drive connected to it storing my iTunes library). This appears to work great while my Mac is powered on and even when I open/close iTunes, but when I reboot the MacI have to go into iTunes preferences to reset my iTunes library location to the External/Airport drive. Is there something I can do so that I don't have to set this every time I power on my machine or no?
planetfall
planetfall
May 5 2016
2.6.2
5.0
May 5 2016
5.0
Version: 2.6.2
I've been running this program for two days and it is fantastic. For 18 long months, I've wanted to throw my $6000 Mac Pro out the window for these constant drive load-up delays in Final Cut, After Effects, Photoshop and Finder. Keep Spinning is simple, free, and harmless as far as I can tell. I leave it in my dock and make selected drives "live" before beginning an intensive work session, and then deselect the drives when I'm done, allowing them to go into their normal energy-saver mode. While a plummeting Apple stock and lack of innovation continue to frustrate customers, thank goodness someone is creating solutions like this. Would recommend A+
Winstonsmith
Winstonsmith
Mar 10 2016
2.6.2
5.0
Mar 10 2016
5.0
Version: 2.6.2
Works beautifully! I've had a Mediasonic 4-bay ProBox running for a number of years with Keep Drive Spinning. I found this program after going through all the Mediasonic forums and endless web searches trying to fix my drive issues. Thanks. On a real positive note, I see the developer "actively" answering users in this forum. I say actively because it's not unusual for software dev to be slow and half-assed (mind you, a lot of users don't put in the effort or have the knowledge required). The fact that this is free software and nicely supported is kinda rare.
smolson999
smolson999
Feb 3 2016
2.6.2
0.5
Feb 3 2016
0.5
Version: 2.6.2
I had such high hopes for this but my external drive still disconnected. Very frustrating. It appeared to be working but that was perhaps due to the fact that I was accessing the drive constantly updating my family tree...... Wish it had worked.
TeRRyZx
TeRRyZx
Jan 30 2016
2.6.2
5.0
Jan 30 2016
5.0
Version: 2.6.2
Works especially well on drives that I use for my Plex server that need to be awake all the time. Love It!!!
Jon-Stovell
Jon-Stovell
Jan 30 2016
2.6.1
0.0
Jan 30 2016
0.0
Version: 2.6.1
It seems that MacUpdate has started serving up bogus, adware laden "installer" files instead of the real software unless you are logged in with a MacUpdate account. I think this is horrible. To bypass this, please download Keep Drive Spinning directly from http://jon.stovell.info/software.
beau-5
beau-5
Jan 15 2016
2.6.1
1.0
Jan 15 2016
1.0
Version: 2.6.1
Tried this applet but it did nothing when I clicked “Keep A Drive Awake”. It just keeps coming back to the option. I tried clicking the “Let a drive sleep” option to see if that launched anything but it said “No drives are being kept awake”. Am I missing something?
DanP7611
DanP7611
Oct 29 2015
2.6.1
5.0
Oct 29 2015
5.0
Version: 2.6.1
Does exactly what is says it will do, keeps my USB powered external drives spinning up so everything works faster and I do not have to constantly be waiting for the rainbow of death. Nice feature is open it on install, set it, quit and forget. Drives still spool down when Macbook Pro goes into sleep mode.
cto-dva-keep01
cto-dva-keep01
Sep 26 2015
2.6
0.0
Sep 26 2015
0.0
Version: 2.6
It should be noted that if a disk drive has multiple partitions, then only one of the partitions needs to be specified in order to keep the drive spinning
kostas-iliopoulos
kostas-iliopoulos
Aug 8 2015
2.5
5.0
Aug 8 2015
5.0
Version: 2.5
I would love if this app worked... It creates the file the first time but nothing happens afterwards
candiazoo
candiazoo
Dec 20 2020
3.0
Dec 20 2020
3.0
Version: null
paul-422
paul-422
Jul 26 2020
1.0
Jul 26 2020
1.0
Version: null
Linrey
Linrey
Jun 14 2018
5.0
Jun 14 2018
5.0
Version: null
9268006
9268006
May 11 2018
2.0
May 11 2018
2.0
Version: null
marc-cusumano
marc-cusumano
Aug 25 2017
0.5
Aug 25 2017
0.5
Version: null
Krocasta
Krocasta
Aug 2 2017
5.0
Aug 2 2017
5.0
Version: null
stephan-bourdon
stephan-bourdon
Jan 15 2017
4.5
Jan 15 2017
4.5
Version: null
e11471099
e11471099
Aug 24 2016
2.5
Aug 24 2016
2.5
Version: null
Caput-Draconis
Caput-Draconis
Aug 23 2016
5.0
Aug 23 2016
5.0
Version: null
planetfall
planetfall
May 5 2016
5.0
May 5 2016
5.0
Version: null
Winstonsmith
Winstonsmith
Mar 10 2016
5.0
Mar 10 2016
5.0
Version: null
smolson999
smolson999
Feb 3 2016
0.5
Feb 3 2016
0.5
Version: null
TeRRyZx
TeRRyZx
Jan 30 2016
5.0
Jan 30 2016
5.0
Version: null
beau-5
beau-5
Jan 15 2016
1.0
Jan 15 2016
1.0
Version: null
DanP7611
DanP7611
Oct 29 2015
5.0
Oct 29 2015
5.0
Version: null
kostas-iliopoulos
kostas-iliopoulos
Aug 8 2015
5.0
Aug 8 2015
5.0
Version: null
Foosterizer
Foosterizer
Jul 31 2015
5.0
Jul 31 2015
5.0
Version: null
federico-lite
federico-lite
Jul 14 2015
3.5
Jul 14 2015
3.5
Version: null
aeevr
aeevr
May 20 2015
5.0
May 20 2015
5.0
Version: null
Andrew8042
Andrew8042
Mar 17 2015
5.0
Mar 17 2015
5.0
Version: null
Eat-A-Peach
Eat-A-Peach
Mar 4 2015
4.5
Mar 4 2015
4.5
Version: null
matthew-hilton
matthew-hilton
Feb 19 2015
4.5
Feb 19 2015
4.5
Version: null
brandon-2
brandon-2
Nov 7 2014
5.0
Nov 7 2014
5.0
Version: null
mgrou
mgrou
Sep 13 2014
4.0
Sep 13 2014
4.0
Version: null
precapice@gmail.com
precapice@gmail.com
Sep 12 2014
5.0
Sep 12 2014
5.0
Version: null
kwmoore76
kwmoore76
Aug 17 2014
4.0
Aug 17 2014
4.0
Version: null
Jools912
Jools912
Jun 28 2014
5.0
Jun 28 2014
5.0
Version: null
JOHNNYR3864
JOHNNYR3864
May 22 2014
4.5
May 22 2014
4.5
Version: null
Terjek
Terjek
Mar 17 2014
4.5
Mar 17 2014
4.5
Version: null
Saratxe
Saratxe
Mar 17 2014
5.0
Mar 17 2014
5.0
Version: null
Djrumpy
Djrumpy
Feb 22 2014
4.0
Feb 22 2014
4.0
Version: null
laurenR5672
laurenR5672
Feb 7 2014
4.0
Feb 7 2014
4.0
Version: null
OneBitLeft
OneBitLeft
Jan 9 2014
4.5
Jan 9 2014
4.5
Version: null
FuzzyNormal
FuzzyNormal
Dec 15 2013
2.0
Dec 15 2013
2.0
Version: null
Bebbo
Bebbo
Oct 30 2013
4.5
Oct 30 2013
4.5
Version: null
Macvet22
Macvet22
Oct 11 2013
5.0
Oct 11 2013
5.0
Version: null
RunTime
RunTime
Sep 21 2013
5.0
Sep 21 2013
5.0
Version: null
rakins2maccom8005
rakins2maccom8005
Aug 6 2013
2.5
Aug 6 2013
2.5
Version: null
Mark-S
Mark-S
Jul 13 2013
5.0
Jul 13 2013
5.0
Version: null
PascalSt8020
PascalSt8020
Apr 1 2013
5.0
Apr 1 2013
5.0
Version: null
How would you rate Keep Drive Spinning?
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