Plugsquire
Docs: Getting started
Requirements
- macOS 14 or later.
- An Apple silicon Mac, to detect power-only devices on USB-C ports. Everything else works on any Mac that runs macOS 14.
- An internet connection is optional. It is used only for "Online details".
Install
Plugsquire is in early access. Request an early build by email.
[proof needed — install steps for the early-access build]
Plugsquire is not on the Mac App Store: the App Store sandbox blocks the hardware reads it depends on.
Configure
| Setting | Effect | Default | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Signature is the app's own dark look. Native macOS uses the standard split view, sidebar, toolbar and grouped forms, and follows the system's light or dark mode and accent colour. | Signature | Settings (⌘,), the View menu (⌥⌘1 / ⌥⌘2), or the sidebar |
| Online details | Looks up model and maker names online, and downloads product photos. Off: no lookups and no downloads; stored details are still shown. | On | Settings, or the sidebar |
| Full Disk Access | Lets the storage breakdown measure, and cleaning empty, the Trash and iPhone backups. Without it they show as "Not measured". | Not granted | System Settings, Privacy & Security, Full Disk Access |
Early builds are signed ad hoc, so a Full Disk Access grant does not survive an update to a new build. Grant it again after each update.
First run
- Open Plugsquire. It scans every bus at launch, again every two minutes, and whenever a USB device is plugged in or removed.
- Read the list. Devices that need attention are flagged; observations that need no action are labelled "Nothing to fix".
- Select a device to see its identity and findings. Each finding says what to do in one line, then gives numbered steps and its source.
- Select the internal disk to see where its space goes. The breakdown is measured when you first open it, and again when you press "Measure again".
- Open "Bluetooth" under Diagnostics to score the radio's health (Pro). It reads five minutes of logs, which takes a few seconds.
Rescan at any time with ⌘R.
Commands
The Plugsquire executable also runs without a window. Path to the executable in the installed app: [proof needed — install path]
| Flag | What it does |
|---|---|
--report | Prints the inventory and the audit as text and quits. No window, and no network. |
--report --online | The same, refreshing the public sources first. |
--bluetooth | Prints the Bluetooth diagnostic as text. It reads five minutes of logs, which takes a few seconds. |
--snapshot out.png | Renders the window to a PNG and quits. |
--select "name" | With --snapshot: selects the first device whose name contains name. |
--filter attention|bluetooth | With --snapshot: shows the devices that need attention, or runs and shows the Bluetooth diagnostic. |
--scroll "Connected now" | With --snapshot: scrolls the overview to that section. |
--style native | With --snapshot: renders the Native macOS appearance. |
Troubleshooting
- The Trash or iPhone backups show "Not measured", or a total reads "At least". Grant Plugsquire Full Disk Access, then press "Measure again".
- A Bluetooth or power-only device change is not shown yet. These are picked up by the two-minute rescan. Press ⌘R to rescan now.
- A device shows no maker. A Bluetooth device can announce any vendor ID, so Plugsquire names a maker only when something else agrees. Type the maker in yourself.
- Some product photos or descriptions are missing. When Wikipedia limits requests, Plugsquire waits, stops asking for that pass, and tries the remaining names on the next rescan.
- Deleted space does not show as free yet. macOS may keep it in a local Time Machine snapshot for a few minutes.
- A drive will not eject. macOS refused, for example because the drive is in use. Plugsquire shows the reason macOS gave.
Uninstall
Delete the app, then delete ~/Library/Application Support/Plugsquire/ and ~/Library/Caches/Plugsquire/ to remove the stored details and cached answers.