Symbiote
Symlinks to save space
Only for Mac
$1.99
Mac
New in 2.1: one-click presets for Applications, Photos, Downloads, Obsidian and more — plus custom icons and colors for every folder pair.
Symbiote frees up space on your Mac's internal drive by keeping your files on an external drive — while they still appear exactly where you want them.
It works using symbolic links: lightweight pointers that behave just like the original files (apps launch, files open) but take up almost no space, because the real data stays on the external drive. No copying, no duplication.
Just pick a source folder (on your external drive) and a destination folder (like /Applications or a folder in your Documents). Symbiote keeps the destination in sync — automatically linking new items as you add them and cleaning up links when you remove them.
PERFECT FOR
• Installing apps on an external drive but launching them from /Applications
• Storing photo libraries, video projects, or large attachments off your main drive
• Keeping an Obsidian vault's attachments external while your notes stay local
• Reclaiming internal storage on a Mac mini or any space‑limited Mac
FEATURES
• Create multiple source → destination pairs, each enabled independently
• Automatic, real‑time syncing that only processes what changed
• Per‑pair status at a glance, with live link counts
• Automatically resumes when your external drive reconnects
• Sync on demand whenever you want
• Lives in the menu bar (and optionally the Dock)
• Launch at login so it's always working
• Sandboxed and private — Symbiote collects no data
Set it once and forget it. Symbiote quietly keeps everything linked so your Mac stays organized and your internal drive stays free.
Ratings & Reviews
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Faster setup and a more personal library.
• Add from Preset — a new gallery of common places people move to an external drive (Applications, Photos Library, Downloads, Documents, Music, Movies, plus creative targets like Native Instruments, audio libraries, and Obsidian attachments). Pick one and Symbiote pre-fills the destination for you — just choose the folder on your drive.
• Custom pair icons — give any folder pair its own icon and color so your list is easy to scan at a glance.
• Cleaner, clearer pairs list — refined status indicators, a tidier card layout, and a smoother renaming experience.
• Various polish and small fixes.
The developer, BaconWorks, LLC, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- BaconWorks, LLC
- Size
- 464.2 KB
- Category
- Utilities
- Compatibility
Requires macOS 15.0 or later.
- Mac
Requires macOS 15.0 or later.
- Mac
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- Copyright
- © BaconWorks, LLC
