You can format these devices as APFS and try to make a bootable backup, but if the performance of the device is too slow to be practical, then we recommend you choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for the format. 'Slim' backup devices, 2.5' disks) APFS is not designed for these devices, macOS boot performance may be poor. If your destination device is an HDD with a rotational speed of 5400RPM (or slower): (e.g. Choosing a Format for your destination volume If you do not see the Scheme option, go back two steps and select the whole disk device, not one of the volumes on the disk. You can set the name to whatever you like, but set the Scheme to GUID Partition Map. Erase the specified diskĬlick on the Erase button in Disk Utility's toolbar, then configure the name, format, and partitioning scheme of your disk. Click the Eject button next to any volumes on the disk to preemptively unmount them before erasing the disk.

because Spotlight prevents the unmount request). Unmount any volumes on the specified diskĭisk Utility occasionally has problems with unmounting a volume while attempting to erase it (e.g. If your disk is a Fusion device, you may erase the 'container' within it instead. You must select the whole disk to correctly initialize the device. Please pay particular attention to selecting the disk, not one of the volumes on the disk. A startup disk will often include the manufacturer's serial number in the title (e.g. The name of a new disk will often include the manufacturer’s name (e.g. This disk should not be the same as your startup disk.

Before doing anything else in Disk Utility, choose Show All Devices from the View menu, or from the View popup button in Disk Utility's toolbar.Ĭlick to select the disk that you would like to use as the destination for your CCC task.

Unfortunately, this hides the devices that you need to select to modify the partitioning of your backup disk. Watch a video of this tutorial on YouTube Show All Devicesĭisk Utility offers a very simplified view of your devices by default. Instructions for Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, and High Sierra macOS 10.12 Sierra and OS X 10.11 El Capitan.macOS 11Big Sur, 10.15 Catalina, 10.14 Mojave, and 10.13 High Sierra.Choose About This Mac from the Apple menu to determine your current OS, then make a selection below. The remaining steps vary considerably depending on the operating system you are running.

How to clear your startup disk