Is multi-drive mode enabled by default?

No. StreamStash starts in single-drive mode. Multi-drive support only turns on when you enable Use multiple drives in Settings.

What is the main drive in StreamStash?

The main drive is the original recordings folder chosen during installation or later in Settings. StreamStash keeps using it first for new downloads, then uses added drives when the main drive is running low on space.

Does removing a drive delete my files?

No. Removing a drive from multi-drive settings only unregisters it from StreamStash. It does not delete files from disk.

What happens if an added drive is unplugged?

StreamStash shows the drive as offline. Media stored on that drive is unavailable until the drive is reconnected, but the library database still remembers it.

Should I move my library or enable multi-drive mode?

Use Move existing library when you want to relocate everything to one new folder. Use multi-drive mode when you want to keep the current library where it is and add extra local drives for overflow storage.

Storage

Multi-Drive Library

Last updated 3 June 2026

Expand your StreamStash library across multiple local drives while keeping your original library folder as the main location.

Multi-drive mode is for users whose archive is outgrowing a single disk. It lets StreamStash keep the library readable across more than one local drive, while still treating the folder chosen during installation as the main library location.

Optional feature: Multi-drive support is off by default. Nothing changes for existing single-drive installs unless you enable Use multiple drives in Settings.

When To Use Multi-Drive Mode

Use multi-drive mode when you want to keep your current StreamStash library where it is, but add another internal or external local drive for more space.

Your original archive drive is filling up.
You want new downloads to continue without manually moving old folders around.
You have another local drive attached to the same Windows PC.
You want StreamStash to keep finding media even when content is split across drives.

Move Existing Library Vs Use Multiple Drives

Option	Use it when	What happens
Move existing library	You want one new storage location.	StreamStash moves or rewrites the library to point at a different folder.
Use multiple drives	You want to expand storage without relocating everything.	The current folder stays as the main drive, and added drives become extra library roots.

Simple rule: Move the library if you want one bigger home. Enable multi-drive mode if you want to keep the current home and add more shelves.

How The Main Drive Is Chosen

The main drive is the recordings folder chosen during installation, or the folder later saved in Settings. This is the folder StreamStash already uses for downloads, recordings, thumbnails, playlists, and app storage decisions.

When you enable multi-drive mode, StreamStash registers that existing location as the main drive first. Added drives do not replace it.

How New Downloads Are Placed

StreamStash fills the main drive first. When the main drive is nearly full, new media can overflow to an added drive with enough free space.

For existing creators, StreamStash tries to keep new files on the same drive where that creator already has a folder, as long as that drive has enough room. This avoids splitting one creator across drives unless space pressure makes it necessary.

Low-space behavior: A drive can stay registered and readable while being skipped for new downloads if it has too little free space. This protects active downloads from landing on a nearly full disk.

How To Enable Multi-Drive Mode

Open Settings in StreamStash.
Go to the storage section.
Turn on Use multiple drives.
Click Add drive and choose a local drive or folder you can write to.
Restart StreamStash when prompted so background workers read the new storage layout.

The added drive will use the same internal library folder layout as the main drive, so media paths remain predictable across platforms.

What Happens If A Drive Is Offline

If an added drive is unplugged or unavailable, StreamStash marks it as offline. The app still remembers the drive and the media stored there, but files on that drive cannot be played, streamed, deduplicated, or deleted until the drive is connected again.

Reconnect the drive and restart StreamStash if the status does not update immediately.

Removing A Drive

Removing an added drive from StreamStash only unregisters it. It does not delete anything from that disk.

Important: If you remove a drive and then delete its files in Windows, StreamStash cannot play that media anymore. The library database may still list the entries, but the files will be missing.

Supported Drive Types

Multi-drive mode is designed for local Windows drives: internal disks, SATA drives, NVMe drives, and attached USB storage that Windows reports as a fixed local drive.

Network paths and cloud-sync folders are not recommended for live library roots. They can be slow, unavailable, placeholder-backed, or subject to sync conflicts while StreamStash is downloading and transcoding files.

Recommended Setup

Keep your fastest and most reliable drive as the main StreamStash library.
Add a large secondary local drive for overflow storage.
Leave at least a few GB free on each drive for active downloads, thumbnails, and post-processing.
Restart StreamStash after adding or removing drives.
Do not manually rename platform folders inside the library unless you are deliberately repairing paths.

Troubleshooting

Problem	What to check
A drive shows as offline	Reconnect the drive, confirm Windows can open it, then restart StreamStash.
New downloads are not using an added drive	The main drive may still have enough space, or the added drive may be below the free-space headroom StreamStash needs for safe writes.
Media is listed but will not play	The drive holding that file may be offline, renamed outside StreamStash, or manually deleted.
You want everything on one new disk	Use Move existing library instead of multi-drive mode.

Related Guides

Configuration for storage and performance settings
Troubleshooting for missing media and local setup issues