If you’re a Mac user juggling multiple storage needs—say for work, personal projects, or backups—optimizing your disk space is crucial. One highly effective way to do this is by resizing a volume using macOS’s built-in tool: Disk Utility. Whether you’re looking to reclaim space or allocate more to a specific partition, resizing volumes can help you manage your storage smarter and more efficiently.
Luckily, Disk Utility makes this process relatively user-friendly, though there are a few nuances to be aware of. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to resize a volume safely without losing your data, and also touch on the best practices for better long-term storage management.
Why Resize a Volume?
Before diving into the steps, it’s essential to understand why you might want to resize a volume in the first place. Here are a few common scenarios:
- You’ve run out of space on one volume, but another still has gigabytes to spare.
- You’ve decided to consolidate multiple volumes for simplicity and better space management.
- You need to isolate certain files or systems by allocating specific volumes for them.
Properly resizing your volumes can improve performance, reduce clutter, and prevent future issues caused by low disk space.
Pre-Resizing Checklist
Before making any changes, there are a few key steps to take:
- Backup Your Data: Always start by backing up your important files using Time Machine or another backup solution.
- Check Available Space: Ensure the source volume has enough space for resizing operations.
- Close All Applications: Running apps can interfere with the resizing process.
Steps to Resize a Volume Using Disk Utility
Now that you’re prepared, follow these steps to safely resize your volume on macOS:
- Open Disk Utility: You can find it by going to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
- Select the Drive: On the sidebar, select the container or drive that holds the volume you want to resize.
- Click the Partition Button: This is located in the top menu and brings up a pie-chart style interface showing your partitions/volumes.
- Select the Volume to Resize: Click on the volume you wish to change.
- Drag to Resize: You can adjust the volume size by dragging the resize handle or entering a specific size.
- Apply Changes: Once you’ve made your adjustments, click Apply. Disk Utility may ask you to confirm your choices once more.
Note: Depending on the macOS version, the terminology may slightly change. For example, newer systems organize volumes inside an APFS container, which means you may need to adjust the container settings instead of individual partitions.
Troubleshooting and Tips
Sometimes, resizing doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. Here are a few tips if you hit a snag:
- Greyed Out Resize Option? Ensure that the volume isn’t used by the system or mounted. Unmount it first if needed.
- Can’t Resize Due to System Restrictions? Try running in macOS Recovery Mode to access Disk Utility with more privileges.
- Errors Pop Up? Restart your Mac and try again or run First Aid on the drive before retrying.
Keeping your macOS updated also helps in reducing compatibility issues with Disk Utility operations.
Alternative Tools
If Disk Utility doesn’t give you the flexibility you need, there are third-party applications like Paragon Hard Disk Manager or iPartition that offer advanced volume management tools. However, for most users, Disk Utility is more than sufficient.
Conclusion
Resizing a Mac volume using Disk Utility is a smart way to reclaim or reallocate storage space, helping you stay organized and efficient. With its user-friendly interface and integrated macOS support, it’s an excellent option for anyone looking to manage their storage without diving into complex terminal commands.
Just remember to backup your data and follow the steps methodically. Once you’ve successfully adjusted your volumes, you’ll enjoy a smoother, more optimized Mac experience—no more constant “Storage Almost Full” warnings distracting you from your work or play.
Published on August 18, 2025 under .
