Requirements
Supported Operating Systems
MacOS versions 13.0 and newer
Windows versions 10 and newer
Internet connectivity
Minimum bandwidth: 10 Mbps
Approximately 2-3 minutes of lost connection will cause uploads to fail
Random-access memory (RAM)
Minimum: 2 GB
Recommended: 16 GB
Disk Storage Size
Recommended storage size: 250 GB free SSD space
Minimum storage size: 50 GB free SSD space
Minimum cache limit: 20 GB free SSD space
File Size
Maximum upload/download size: 8.5 PB (8,500 TB)
Disk cache usage
The disk cache defaults to using 250 GB of space on your system volume
(C: drive for Windows, MacintoshHD for MacOS)Regardless of where it is set, the disk cache will only use 90% of available space on the destination volume.
How to install Frame.io Drive
Mac
Download the Frame.io Drive installer here.
Click open the PKG installer and follow instructions to completion.
Launch Frame.io Drive and accept any macOS security prompts (for example, confirming the app was downloaded from the internet).
Log into Frame.io by clicking the Sign in link (it will send you to your web browser for authentication).
Windows
Download the Frame.io Drive installer here.
Open the installer and, when prompted to, allow the app to make changes to your device, select "YES."
Click “Install” and then “Finish.”
Launch Frame.io Drive.
Log into Frame.io by clicking the Sign in link (it will send you to your web browser for authentication).
FAQ
Q: What are the recommended hardware specs?
A: For the best experience: 16 GB RAM minimum (more is better for creative apps), 250 GB free SSD space recommended (used for cache and application temp files), and a reliable internet connection. Network speed and stability are the primary performance factors.
Q: Can I use external drives for storage and caching?
A: Yes. You can expand storage using an external drive for cache. It must be Mac OS or NTFS formatted, not EXFAT.
Q: Can I use Mounted Storage over Wi-Fi?
A: Yes, but Ethernet is recommended for the best performance, especially with high-bitrate media. Streaming performance depends on available throughput versus the media bitrate—if your connection is slower than the bitrate of a 4K file, playback may buffer.
Q: Why are certain characters blocked in file/folder names?
A: To ensure projects work seamlessly across macOS and Windows. Windows does not allow certain characters and reserved names; blocking them prevents a Mac user from creating names a Windows collaborator can’t access.
Q: Which characters and names are restricted in Windows compatibility mode?
A: Restricted characters include: >, <, ?, :, |, *, ", and /. File/folder names also can’t end with a period or a space. Reserved names (for example CON, PRN, AUX, NUL, COM1–COM9, LPT1–LPT5) are not allowed, including variants like “CON.mp4”.
Q: What happens if I mount a project with Windows incompatible file or folder names?
A: On Mac, the project will mount and those files will be available. However, saving and working with files with an incompatible name anywhere in the file path, including parent folder, can throw an error. If this happens, the recommendation is to rename the file or folder and try again.
On Windows, those invalid paths will not be available at all.
Q: Can a Mac-only team disable Windows compatibility restrictions?
A: Yes. A Windows compatibility toggle is available in project settings for admins. Turning it off allows Mac-only teams to use additional characters, but it can prevent Windows users from accessing files that contain restricted characters. It is recommended to only turn off Windows compatibility if the team is truly Mac-only.