# Workspaces and storage

> Where your projects live on your Mac, switching workspaces, missing media and cache maintenance.

Formats Studio docs · Start · https://formats.app/docs/workspaces · Updated 2026-09-27

## The workspace model

- A **workspace** is your account's area inside a folder on your Mac. The first one is created for you in **Movies › Formats Studio**.
- Everything Formats generates lives there: project files, media metadata, thumbnails, waveforms, transcripts, scene data, generated media, caches and exports.
- Imported source media is not copied into the workspace. Formats records a link to each file where it already sits.
- Different accounts can use the same parent folder; their projects, media and caches stay separate. Signing out does not delete your files.

## Add and switch workspaces

- Open **Workspaces** and choose **Add workspace...** to use another folder, such as an external drive for a big shoot.
- Choose **Switch** to change which folder Formats uses. Switching never moves your source media.
- **Show in Finder** opens the workspace folder.
- **Remove** only takes a workspace off the list. Its projects and media stay on disk.

> **Tip:** Pick a folder you own and can write to. Avoid system locations and folders that sync aggressively while you edit.

## Missing media

**Missing Media** means Formats cannot currently read one or more linked source files, usually because they were moved, renamed or are on a drive that is not connected.

- Use **Locate** or **Locate Folder** when a file or its folder moved.
- Use **Browse Another Folder** to point Formats at a new copy of the media.
- Use **Work Offline** only when you plan to relink later; clips stay as broken references until then.

## Move projects and clear caches

- Use **Export Project** to package a project and its media into a portable bundle that another workspace can import.
- Project cache actions clear regenerated data such as waveforms, filmstrips and decoded audio.
- **Storage** settings also regenerate thumbnails, generate missing proxies and delete proxies.
- Clearing caches never deletes your source media; previews are rebuilt when the project needs them.

## Related

- [Projects](https://formats.app/docs/projects): Create, configure, duplicate, organize, trash, restore, and move projects.
- [Install Formats Studio](https://formats.app/docs/install): What your Mac needs, installing the app, signing in, where projects live, and staying up to date.
- [Troubleshooting](https://formats.app/docs/troubleshooting): Common symptoms and their fixes: install, agents, media, Local AI and export.