Let macOS manage space between multiple volumes
Below the file system format, the Disk Utility dialog box will list another contextual menu, the partition map scheme, which gives you another great tool to create targeted volumes. If you are looking to format a disk that will be shared with Windows users, the MBR scheme and MS-DOS (FAT) are the best choices. Disk Utility is a system utility for performing disk and disk volume-related tasks on macOS and Mac OS X systems. With this easy-to-use program, you can perform tasks as the following: Mount, unmount, and eject connected hard drives including SSDs. 1) Erase the USB with the Disk Utility gui, setting the format as OS X Journaled. 2) Erase the USB using the diskutil 'eraseDisk' command. I.e., diskutil eraseDisk JHFS+ STORENGO disk3. 3) Select the whole disk in a Finder window, right click on it, and then select 'encrypt'.
By default, a Mac runs a different file system, so it may bring issues while partitioning your disk on Disk Utility. Hard drive partitioning is a common issue discussed in many tech forums. In a thread on Apple’s support forum, users complain that their Mac Disk Utility partition grayed-out while trying to partition their external hard drives. Give your disk a checkup If you’re having problems with a disk, Disk Utility can check the disk and repair problems it detects. How to repair a disk To browse the Disk Utility User Guide, click Table of Contents at the top of the page.
With Apple File System (APFS), the file system introduced in macOS 10.13, you can easily add and delete volumes on your storage devices. APFS-formatted volumes automatically grow and shrink—you never have to repartition a storage device again.
Keep your external storage devices secure
When you get a new flash drive or other storage device, format it as APFS and encrypt it with a password to protect its contents.
Give your disk a checkup
If you’re having problems with a disk, Disk Utility can check the disk and repair problems it detects.
To browse the Disk Utility User Guide, click Table of Contents at the top of the page.
Disk Utility User Guide
Partitioning a disk divides it into individual sections, each of which acts as a separate volume.
However, with APFS, you shouldn’t partition your disk in most cases. Instead, create multiple APFS volumes within a single partition. With the flexible space management provided by APFS, you can even install another version of macOS on an APFS volume.
Important: If you’re partitioning your internal physical disk because you want to install Windows, use Boot Camp Assistant instead. Do not use Disk Utility to remove a partition that was created using Boot Camp Assistant. Instead, use Boot Camp Assistant to remove the partition from your Mac.
Mac Disk Utility Erase Options
Add a partition
Important: As a precaution, it’s best to back up your data before creating new partitions on your device.
- In the Disk Utility app on your Mac, select a volume in the sidebar, click the Partition button , then click Partition.Internal storage devices appear below the Internal section in the sidebar. External devices appear below the External section in the sidebar.When you select a volume that already has data on it, the pie chart shows a shaded area representing the amount of data on the volume and an unshaded area representing the amount of free space available for another volume. Disk Utility also shows whether the volume can be removed or resized.Note: If you see a small volume with an asterisk, the partition is smaller than can be represented at the correct scale in the chart.
- Click the Add button .
- Type a name for the volume in the Name field.For MS-DOS (FAT) and ExFAT volumes, the maximum length for the volume name is 11 characters.
- Click the Format pop-up menu, then choose a file system format.
- Enter the size or drag the resize control to increase or decrease the size of the volume.
- Click Apply, click Partition, then click Continue.Click Show Details to view the step-by-step process of creating a new volume.
- After the volumes are created, click Done.
After you partition a storage device, an icon for each volume appears in both the Disk Utility sidebar and the Finder sidebar.
Delete a partition
WARNING: When you delete a volume or partition, all the data on it is erased. Be sure to back up your data before you begin.
- In the Disk Utility app on your Mac, select a volume in the sidebar, click the Partition button , then click Partition.
- In the pie chart, click the partition you want to delete, then click the Delete button .If the Delete button is dimmed, you can’t delete the selected partition.
- Click Apply, then click Partition.
- After the volume is deleted, click Done.
Erase a partition
- In the Disk Utility app on your Mac, select the volume you want to erase in the sidebar.
- Click the Erase button , then click Erase.If the Erase button is dimmed, you can’t erase the selected volume.
- After the volume is erased, click Done.
Enlarge a partition on a storage device
If you have multiple partitions on a device and one of them is running out of space, you may be able to enlarge it without losing any of the files on it.
To enlarge a volume, you must delete the volume that comes after it on the device, then move the end point of the volume you want to enlarge into the freed space. You can’t enlarge the last volume on a device.
Disk Utility Erase Scheme
WARNING: When you delete a volume or partition, all the data on it is erased. Be sure to back up your data before you begin.
- In the Disk Utility app on your Mac, select a volume in the sidebar, then click the Partition button .
- In the pie chart, select the partition you want to delete, then click the Delete button . Sketch free mac.
- Click Apply.The partition is removed, reformatted, and all free space is assigned to the previous partition.
- Click Done.
See alsoFile system formats available in Disk Utility on MacAdd, delete, or erase APFS volumes in Disk Utility on MacAbout Disk Utility on Mac