How to Repartition External Hard Drive on Mac

When Disk Utility fails to help you remove a partition on your Mac, Terminal comes to the rescue. In this guide, we will explore how to delete a partition on Mac using both Terminal and Disk Utility.

Removing a Partition with Disk Utility

Before we dive into the process of deleting a partition, it is essential to understand that doing so will erase all stored data in the partition. Therefore, make sure you have a backup of your Mac's data or intend to delete the data in the partition.

To remove a partition on Mac using Disk Utility:

1. Open Disk Utility and select the partition you want to delete from the sidebar.

2. Click 'Partition' and confirm that you want to remove the selected partition.

3. A popup window will appear, stating that the partition will be removed. Make sure the correct partition is selected in the pie chart.

Deleting a Partition with Terminal

If Disk Utility fails to help, you can use Terminal to delete a partition on your Mac. Here's how:

1. Open Terminal and type `diskutil list` to view a list of all disks and partitions.

2. Identify the partition you want to delete by reviewing its name and editing it if necessary.

3. Type `sudo diskutil eraseVolume freespace ` to erase the selected partition.

4. Enter your administrator password when prompted.

When to Delete a Partition

There are situations where deleting a partition on your Mac is essential, such as:

* Removing Boot Camp partition to uninstall Windows from your Mac

* Deleting a partition for data security or maintenance purposes

Benefits of Partitioning Your Hard Drive

Partitioning your Mac's hard drive (HDD) offers several benefits, including:

* Easy installation of multiple operating systems or VMs

* Streamlined data backup process

* Improved data organization and storage

In conclusion, deleting a partition on Mac can be done using both Disk Utility and Terminal. Make sure to back up your data before proceeding with the deletion process.

Repartition external hard drive mac