Disk Utility is an essential tool for any Mac user, offering a full range of features to manage and optimize storage. Whether you need to format a new disk, create a disk image for backups, or configure a RAID to improve performance, Disk Utility has the solution. Make the most of this tool and keep your storage devices in perfect condition with ease and efficiency.
In the dynamic world of technology, keeping our devices in optimal condition is essential. Disk Utility on the Mac is a powerful and versatile tool that makes it easy to manage internal and external storage devices. From formatting volumes to creating disk images, Disk Utility offers a wide range of functionality that every Mac user should know about.
Main Features of Disk Utility
Formatting and Managing Volumes: Disk Utility allows users to format and manage volumes on their physical storage devices. This feature is crucial for preparing disks for use, whether for general storage, backups, or operating system installation.
How to erase and format a storage device using Disk Utility on your Mac:
Copy your important files: Before deleting, be sure to save any files you don’t want to lose somewhere else.
Open Disk Utility:
If you are erasing the main drive (where macOS is installed): First, you need to restart your Mac in Recovery mode. Then, select “Disk Utility” from the recovery menu.
For other disks: Simply open the “Disk Utility” application from the /Applications/Utilities folder.
View all devices:
In Disk Utility, select “View” and then “Show all devices” to make sure you can see all available disks.
Select the disk to erase:
In the sidebar, click the disk or storage device you want to erase.
Configure deletion:
Click “Delete.”
Under “Scheme”, select “GUID Partition Map”. If you don’t see this option, make sure you have selected the correct disk at the top.
Under “Format,” choose the file system format you prefer (such as APFS or Mac OS Plus).
Enter a name for the disk.
Security options (if available):
If you want to overwrite the data multiple times for greater security, you can do so in “Security Options”.
Delete:
Finally, click “Delete” and then “OK” to confirm.
And that’s it! The disk will be erased and ready to use again.
Creating Disk Images: Disk images are single files that can be used to transfer data between computers or to back up and archive important information. This functionality ensures that your data is secure and accessible at all times.
How to create images with Disk Utility on Mac:
Create an empty disk image for storage:
Open Disk Utility and select File > New Image > Empty Image.
Enter a file name, choose the location, and set the image size.
Select the disk format (APFS, Mac OS Plus, MS-DOS, ExFAT) according to your needs.
Optionally, choose encryption and partition options.
• Save the image and copy the necessary files to the mounted image.
• Create a disk image from a disk or connected device:
In Disk Utility, select the disk or device.
• Go to File > New Image > Image of [device name].
• Defines the name, location and format (read only, compressed, read/write).
• Save the image and avoid creating it from failed disks to ensure its reliability.
RAID Configuration: Disk Utility allows you to combine multiple hard drives into a RAID, functioning as a single disk. This configuration can improve performance, reliability, and storage capacity, offering flexibility based on user needs.
RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configuration in MacOS using Disk Utility is a powerful tool that allows you to group multiple hard drives so that they work together, optimizing both performance and data security. RAID is commonly used in servers and advanced storage systems, but it is also a viable option for home users looking to improve the efficiency of their hard drives.
Most common RAID types:
RAID 0 (Striping): Splits data across multiple drives, significantly increasing read and write speeds. However, if one of the disks fails, all information is lost.
RAID 1 (Mirroring): Duplicates data across two or more disks, offering redundancy. If one drive fails, data is still safe on the other. It is ideal for those who prioritize information security.
RAID 5: Requires at least three disks and combines the speed of RAID 0 with the redundancy of RAID 1. Data is distributed among the disks, and one stores parity information for recovery in the event of a disk failure.
RAID 6: Similar to RAID 5, but offers greater security by mirroring parity across two disks, allowing data recovery even if two disks fail.
RAID 0+1 and RAID 1+0 (RAID 10): They combine the advantages of RAID 0 and RAID 1, offering high speed and redundancy. They are useful for those who have four or more disks.
Setting up RAID in MacOS is easy using Disk Utility, which allows you to select the desired RAID type and group the disks to create the array. This configuration can be especially useful in environments where a balance between speed and security is required in data storage.
Error Checking and Repair: Maintaining the integrity of disks is essential for the smooth operation of your system. Disk Utility can check and repair errors on disks and volumes, ensuring optimal performance and preventing potential data loss.
To repair a disk on a Mac using Disk Utility, follow these steps:
Make a Backup: Make sure you have a current backup before starting the process.
Open Disk Utility:
If your Mac is working normally, open the app from the Utilities folder in Applications.
If it doesn’t start, access Disk Utility from macOS Recovery mode:
Apple Silicon: Press and hold the power button until you see the boot options, then select “Options” and “Continue.”
Intel processor: Turn on your Mac and hold down Command (⌘) + R until the Apple logo appears.
Select the Disk: In Disk Utility, select “View > Show all devices.” Then, choose the disk you want to repair from the sidebar.
Perform First Aid:
Start with the last volume in the list and click “First Aid.” If necessary, repeat the process for each volume, container, and disk in ascending order.
If the repair button is grayed out, skip that item.
Finalize or Erase the Disk:
• If no errors are detected, exit Disk Utility and restart your Mac.
• If errors are found that cannot be repaired, it may be necessary to erase (format) the disk.
• If the disk does not appear in Disk Utility, try disconnecting external devices or contact Apple support for further assistance.
How to Access Disk Utility
Opening Disk Utility is simple. You can do this from the Launchpad, Finder, or in macOS Recovery mode. Each method offers a quick and efficient way to access this tool, allowing users to manage their drives with ease.
Erasing and Formatting Storage Devices
Erasing and reformatting a storage device is a common task for many Mac users. Disk Utility makes this process easier by allowing you to select the appropriate file system format and offering security options for overwriting deleted data.
Disk Partitioning and Expansion
The ability to create and delete partitions on a disk is another powerful feature of Disk Utility. This tool allows you to divide a disk into multiple sections, manage storage space efficiently, and resize partitions as needed.
Compatibility and Flexibility
Disk Utility supports several file system formats, including APFS, Mac OS Plus, MS-DOS (FAT), and ExFAT. This compatibility ensures that users can work with different systems and devices without complications.
How to use Disk Utility on macOS
Disk Utility is a powerful tool included in macOS that allows you to manage the disks and volumes on your Mac. With it, you can format, partition, repair, create disk images, among other functions. This article will guide you through the basic steps to use Disk Utility and get the most out of its features.
Open Disk Utility
To get started, you need to open Disk Utility. You can do it as follows:
From the Finder: Click “Go” in the menu bar and select “Utilities.” Then, double-click “Disk Utility.”
From Spotlight: Press Cmd + Space, type “Disk Utility” and press Enter.
View and select discs
Once Disk Utility opens, you will see a list of all available disks and volumes in the left pane. The physical disks will appear with their volumes below them, indented.
Format a disk
Formatting a disk means erasing all its data and preparing the disk for use. To format a disk:
Select the drive you want to format from the list on the left.
Click the “Delete” button at the top of the window.
Choose a name for the disk, select the file format (such as APFS, Mac OS Plus Journaled, exFAT, etc.) and scheme (usually GUID Partition Map).
Click “Delete” and confirm the action.
Partition a disk
Partitioning divides a physical disk into several independent sections, each with its own file system. To partition a disk:
Select the disk on which you want to create a partition.
Click the “Partition” button at the top.
In the footer graphic that appears, click the + button to add a new partition.
Assign a name, format, and size to the new partition.
Click “Apply” and confirm the action.
Repair a disk
If your disk shows problems, you can try to repair it using Disk Utility:
Select the disk or volume you want to repair.
Click the “First Aid” button at the top.
Click “Run” to start the verification and repair process.
Create a disk image
Disk images are files that contain the entire contents of a disk or volume. To create a disk image:
Select the disk or volume you want to create an image of.
Click the “New Image” button at the top.
Choose a name and location for the disk image.
Select the desired format and encryption.
Click “Save” and then “OK.”