In this step-by-step tutorial, we show you how to set up an automation on Mac that automatically opens a specific app when you connect an external SSD, thumb drive, hard disk, or SD card.
This is a simple tip you’ll especially love if you edit videos or photos. For instance, you might connect an external SSD or a camera SD card to your Mac daily, then open Final Cut Pro, Pixelmator, or Adobe Photoshop. Automating this app-opening process will ensure you have one less thing to do after plugging in the external drive.
Set a Mac app to open when you connect an external drive
1) Connect the external SSD, hard disk, pen drive, or SD card to your Mac.
2) Open the Shortcuts app on your Mac running the latest version of macOS and select Automation from the left sidebar.
3) Click the plus icon (+) to create a new automation.
4) Select External Drive as the condition and click Next.
5) Now, check the box for Specific External Drive, then click Choose Drive and select the external disk you connected previously in Step 1. You can also leave it set to ‘Any External Drive’ if that better suits your workflow.
6) Leave ‘Is Connected’ checked. Then select Run Immediately to ensure this automation can run automatically without your confirmation. With everything in order here, click the Next button.
7) Click New Shortcut.
8) Double-click the Open App action to add it to your build. Then, click the ‘App’ placeholder and select the Mac application you want to open when this drive connects. You can now click the red traffic light button to save this automation and close this screen.
You have successfully set up an automation that opens the app when you connect a specific external drive.
To check, eject the external drive, then reconnect it after a few seconds. You’ll notice that the app opens automatically, so you can start working right away.
Can you do this on iPhone or iPad?
Unfortunately, the automation section of the iOS Shortcuts app does not have the ‘External drive’ condition. Therefore, there isn’t a straightforward way to trigger a particular app to open when you connect an external drive to the USB-C or Lightning port of your iPhone or iPad.
Read next: How to import photos and videos from external drive to iPhone