Menu Bar & Widget Volume Monitor
Keep an eye on the volumes you care about.
VolumeKeeper is a native macOS menu bar app and desktop widget for monitoring external and network drives. Track mount status, set low-space alerts, and manage volumes from your menu bar, desktop, or an optional command-line tool.
VolumeKeeper at a glance
VolumeKeeper is an upcoming native macOS app, WidgetKit desktop widget, and CLI tool (`vk`) for monitoring external and network volumes, low-space alerts, and batch drive ejects.
Menu Bar & Desktop Widget
Glance at volume capacity and mount status right from your menu bar or desktop.
Low-Space & Disconnect Alerts
Custom GB thresholds and local macOS notifications for space drops and drive unmounts.
Full CLI Integration (vk)
Manage volumes, export JSON, and batch-eject drives from terminal scripts.
Early access
Get VolumeKeeper first
Join the waitlist and we'll email you the moment VolumeKeeper launches on macOS — plus a heads-up before release.
From menu bar to terminal
VolumeKeeper keeps your storage setup organized across the menu bar, desktop widget, and an optional command line.
- Select external drives or network mounts in the Settings window to add them to your watch list.
- View live mount status, capacity, and free space directly in your Mac menu bar or desktop widget.
- Receive instant local notifications if a drive disconnects unexpectedly or drops below your low-space threshold.
- Optionally use the included volumekeeper CLI (vk) to inspect status, adjust thresholds, or batch-eject drives in scripts.
Designed natively for macOS power users
A lightweight SwiftUI menu bar app, WidgetKit extension, and optional Swift CLI powered by shared App Group storage.
- Menu Bar Extra (LSUIElement) Lives quietly in your menu bar with zero Dock icon clutter. Click to view all managed volumes, free space, and mount state instantly.
- Desktop & WidgetKit Widget Add small or medium widgets directly to your desktop or Notification Center to keep drive capacity and mount status visible at all times.
- Low-Space & Eject Alerts Set custom low-space and critical-space thresholds in GB. Get local macOS notifications when space runs low or a drive disconnects.
- Optional CLI Tool (vk) Includes an optional volumekeeper CLI (aliased as vk). Terminal users can list volumes, output JSON, toggle watch status, set thresholds, or batch-eject drives.
- Batch Eject & Safe Disconnects Eject individual drives or unmount every managed volume at once with vk eject --all before unplugging your Mac dock or laptop.
- WCAG Accessible & Native Built strictly to WCAG accessibility guidelines with full VoiceOver support, keyboard navigation, high-contrast modes, and reduced-motion options.
Comparison with alternatives
Why use a dedicated macOS volume monitor and widget?
| Feature | VolumeKeeper | macOS Finder / Disk Utility | Manual Terminal Commands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu bar glance & Status | Yes (MenuBarExtra) | No menu bar icon | No |
| Desktop & Notification Widget | Yes (WidgetKit) | No desktop widget | No |
| Custom Low-Space Alerts | Per-volume GB thresholds | Generic OS warning | Manual scripts |
| Dedicated CLI with tab completion | Yes (vk / volumekeeper) | No | Raw diskutil syntax |
| Batch Eject All Managed Drives | Yes (vk eject --all) | One by one in Finder | Manual loop script |
Who it's for
VolumeKeeper fits anyone who works with external hard drives, SSDs, or network mounts on Mac.
- Photographers & Editors Keep track of fast media cards, RAID arrays, and archival SSDs without opening Finder or Disk Utility.
- Developers & Terminal Users Control volumes right from zsh with vk list, vk status --json, and auto-completing subcommands.
- Dock & Multi-Drive Users Safely unmount every connected volume with a single click or command before unplugging your Thunderbolt dock.
Privacy & Accessibility by design
- No third-party trackers
- No analytics
- 100% on-device storage
- Follows WCAG accessibility guidelines
Frequently asked questions
What is VolumeKeeper?
VolumeKeeper is a native macOS menu bar app, desktop widget, and CLI tool (`vk`) for monitoring external hard drives, SSDs, and network mounts.
How does the desktop widget work?
VolumeKeeper includes a WidgetKit extension (Small and Medium sizes) that displays your managed volumes, capacity, and live mount status directly on your Mac desktop or in Notification Center.
What can the optional CLI tool (vk) do?
The optional `volumekeeper` CLI (aliased as `vk`) lets terminal users list managed volumes, output JSON status, add/remove drives, adjust low-space alert thresholds, and safely batch-eject all drives (`vk eject --all`).
Does VolumeKeeper track me or send data online?
No. VolumeKeeper has no tracking, no analytics, and no cloud connections. All volume configurations are stored 100% locally on your Mac via App Group storage.
Need help or want early access?
Contact us to join the waitlist or ask questions about VolumeKeeper.
- Email support development@thelittlebakery.org
- Typical response time within 2 business days