DiskSalv — Support

Help, FAQ, and contact information for DiskSalv users.

Need help?

Email:

When reporting a bug, please include:

  • DiskSalv version (see DiskSalv menu → About)
  • macOS version (Apple menu → About This Mac)
  • Steps to reproduce the problem
  • If relevant, the tail of ~/Library/Logs/DiskSalv/audit.log

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DiskSalv free?

Yes. DiskSalv is free and open, released under the MIT License. There is no subscription, no in-app purchase, and no ads.

What macOS version do I need?

macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later. The app is a Universal Binary, so it runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

Why isn't DiskSalv on the Mac App Store?

Partition management requires running Apple's diskutil/hdiutil as external processes, which the Mac App Store sandbox does not permit. DiskSalv is therefore distributed directly, signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple.

macOS says the app "cannot be opened" — what do I do?

On first launch, right-click the app and choose Open, or go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway. This is standard Gatekeeper behavior for apps installed outside the App Store.

Why does it need Full Disk Access?

Raw block-level features — the ext4 reader, the hex viewer, and image restore — read and write devices directly, which macOS gates behind Full Disk Access. Grant it under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access. The app works for most disk and partition tasks without it.

Can DiskSalv accidentally erase my startup disk?

No. Every destructive operation resolves the target's whole disk from live diskutil data and refuses if it is the disk your Mac booted from. It is fail-closed: if it cannot verify the target, it will not run. Format, delete, resize, clone, restore, and secure erase additionally require you to type the action word to confirm.

Does S.M.A.R.T. monitoring need anything extra?

Basic health comes from diskutil and needs nothing. For detailed attributes (temperature, power-on hours, NVMe wear, critical warnings), install smartmontools — DiskSalv can do it for you via Homebrew from Settings → Optional Features, or you can run brew install smartmontools yourself.

Can it read Linux (ext4) partitions?

Yes — read-only. The built-in native ext4 reader browses directories and extracts files without mounting, and understands modern ext4 (extent trees, 64-bit filesystems). Writing to ext4 is intentionally not supported, to avoid corruption.

Can it write to NTFS?

Reading NTFS works through macOS. Writing requires a third-party driver (Paragon, Tuxera, or NTFS-3G/macFUSE). DiskSalv detects installed drivers and links you to them, but does not bundle one.

Is secure erase effective on an SSD?

Multi-pass overwriting is designed for spinning disks; on SSDs, wear-leveling means extra passes don't reliably reach the original cells (and add write wear). For SSDs, a single pass — or cryptographic erase via FileVault / reformatting an encrypted volume — is the appropriate approach.

Where is the audit log?

Every operation is recorded to ~/Library/Logs/DiskSalv/audit.log (private, rotating at 5 MB). It stays on your Mac and is never uploaded. You can also browse it in-app via ⌘⇧L (Operations Log).

How do I uninstall DiskSalv?

Drag DiskSalv.app from Applications to the Trash. Optionally also remove ~/Library/Logs/DiskSalv/. If you granted Full Disk Access, revoke it under System Settings → Privacy & Security.

How do I report a bug or request a feature?

Email with a clear description, the steps to reproduce, your macOS and DiskSalv versions, and — if relevant — the tail of the audit log. Screenshots help a lot.

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