After you buy a new external hard drive which comes in with only one partition from the manufacturer, when you intall it in Mac or PC, you always would rather to partition external hard drive into separated partition to store different types of files. Partitioning your hard drive can help organize your data and make your life more convenient. But many users think it is an arduous task to partition hard drive, so in this tutorial, we will goes through the detailed steps of partitioning an empty external hard drive in Mac and PC.

• Hard Drive Partition Software
• Repartition Mac Hard Drive

Part 1. How to Partition an External Hard Drive on Mac

Step 1. Open a Finder

Method 2: Use Boot Camp to Partition A Hard Drive on Mac. As we mentioned above, you can run different operating systems on your Mac after partitioning a hard drive. So if you want to run Windows on another drive, this way is very helpful to get it done. Boot Camp is a pre-installed application in the later version of Mac. Tap on “Revert to un-partition hard drive” option on Mac. Once you’ve successful partitioned your Mac’s hard drive, you can use it like an all new hard drive or internal SSD, store any data you like, upload anything you like! So fellas, here was a quick guide on how to partition a hard drive on Mac. Mac OS X Snow Leopard makes it easy to partition your hard drive, which is a handy way to organize files and folders. If you find yourself needing another volume on a disk, or if you need to resize the total space on existing volumes on a disk, the Partition tab within Disk Utility offers partitioning controls.

Open the Finder by clicking on the icon on the dock. Alternatively, you can open the Finder through launching a Spotlight by tapping on 'CMD SPACE' and typing 'Disk Utility' then press the 'Return' key.

Step 2. Open Disk Utility

While on the Finder, click open Applications on your left hand side. Then scroll down to Utilities folder and double click on the folder. Double click on Disk Utility folder on Utilities folders to run the program.

Step 3. Highlight the External Hard Drive to be Partitioned

On your left column, identify the hard drive you intent to partition then highlight. The hard drive you are looking for should be right above Macintosh HD. On the right side of the column, there is a row of tabs. Click on the one written 'Partition' and a 'Volume Scheme' section will appear.

The blue area shows the space taken up by your hard drive. The white area shows the free space that can be used for partitioning. Below the rectangular box, there are a '+' and '-' symbols, click on '+' sign to add a new partition.

Step 4. Adding a New Partition

Once you click on '+' symbol, another box appears labeled Macintosh HD 2. To change the name, size of the drive (volume information) and format the disk, click on the new box once.

Note: Formatting the hard drive is necessary if you want to install a new operating system on the added partition.

Step 5. Partition the Drive

After adjusting the components of your new partition, click 'Apply' on the bottom of the screen. Immediately, a pop-up screen will appear, click on 'Partition' dialogue box and wait for the partition to be added. It only takes a few minutes for the external hard disk to be partitioned. You can also use the preceding steps to partition the internal hard drive of your computer.

Part 2. How to do External Hard Drive Partition on Windows

Yes, you can partition your hard drive into a couple of logical units you desire. Partitioning your hard disk, you reduce the chances of your vital data being corrupted, thus separate data from operating system. This is how to partition your hard drive using window.

Step 1. Select Disk Management

Right click on the 'Computer' icon and select 'Manage'. Click on 'Manage' and select 'Disk Management' below the 'Storage' folder. While on Disk Management, you will see all partitions and disks on your PC.

Step 2. Click on Shrink Volume Option

After shrinking the volume of your disk, Unallocated dialogue box in Disk Management screen. So, right click on the 'Unallocated' box and then proceed to click on 'New Simple Volume' box.

Step 3. Enter the Size to be Allocated to New Partition

On selecting a 'New Simple Volume Wizard' option, a New Simple Volume Wizard screen appears. Click on 'Next' option on the right corner of the bottom of the screen.

Here you are required to enter the amount of size that you want your new partition to contain. After entering the required size, click on 'Next'. Ensure that you're the figures your entered does not exceed the total amount of memory available.

Step 4. Assign a Name to the New Partition

Assign a path or name to your new partition by selecting from the menu and then click on 'Next' button. Assigning a name is important since it allows Windows to navigate and identify the new partition.

Step 5. Set Your New Volume or Partition

Select 'Format' this volume and ensure that you select the following: Select 'NTFS on File System' and 'Default on Allocation unit size'; On Volume Label, enter the name you want the name drive to be referred. Finally, select 'Perform a quick format' and then click on 'Next'.

Step 6. Format Your New Partition

Once again, go through the settings you made previously and then click on 'Finish' box. A pop-up window will appear on your screen, asking you to partition your new volume. Click on the 'Format' disk first and make sure that you retain the previous settings and then click on 'Start' option. You will also receive a warning concerning formatting but go further and select 'OK'.

If you followed the preceding steps correctly, you will notice that the new volume you created has been added to the Disk Management window.

Part 3. How to Recover Data from Partition External Hard Drive on Mac and Windows

Currently, many companies have come up with various data recovery applications to deal with data loss from external hard drives. However, Recoverit for Mac (or Recoverit for Windows) is one of the best applications and is dominating the market due to its unique features. This tool helps uses to recover all forms of lost data including photos, audio, documents, videos, and other vital data from external hard drive on Mac.

Easy Steps to Recover Data from Partition External Hard Drive

Step 1. Select Types for Your File

First, run the Data Recovery from Application folder after you have installed. Then attach the external hard drive to Mac computer. While on your primary window, select one or more file types to retrieve accurate lost files from external hard drive and click 'Next' button to continue. It retains the original folders and file names.

Step 2. Choose a Drive and Start Scanning

In another window, select a drive you wish to recover lost files from. Thereafter, click on 'Start' button, to scan all the existing files on your preferred drive. You can scan specific file types like audio, video, email, archive, or pictures.

Step 3. External Hard Drive Partition Recovery

After scanning is complete, check your lost files in the bottom list. Use preview feature of the software, to check whether your lost files have all been found. Identify the types of files you wish to retrieve and tap on the 'Recover' button. Choose a folder on Mac and not on the hard drive, and click 'OK' to allow the external hard drive recovery process to begin.

Most people use external hard drives to store vital information and in a way keep it safe. The problem is such information can be loss due to virus infection, formatted hard drive, or files accidentally deleted.

And people usually use external hard drive device in order to keep their important information safe and secure. But what to do when data loss happened due to varies reasons like deleted the files mistakenly, formatted the drive, virus infection. Therefore, ensure that you at least have reliable software to be in the safe side. That is why you need Recoverit Data Recovery.

Related Articles & Tips

The timing of this post is perfectly apt. Since now most and most users are inclining to Mac. But, the only query that is forcing you to halt and think again as per an analysis of several discussions is relevancy of partitioning the hard drive of your Mac system.

Indeed, you are using Windows since a long time and are well-versed with it partitioning requirements and demands. But, when it comes to Mac, you are still having a second thought. The reason being both operating systems are quite different.

A few days back, in a post in a Mac forum, a reader said: I am used to Windows OS. But, recently, owing relatively high demand of Mac, I have just switched to it. I am well-aware about Windows partitioning tactics. But, its Mac, how do I do? Or Do I really need to partition my Mac hard drive? In case, if yes, then is it good?

If you are also in such a dilemma, and this query is triggering your mind to rethink, then you have landed at the right platform. Have a look at our thoughts on Mac hard drive partitioning.

A Comprehensive Guide to Mac Hard Drive Partition

What is Mac Partitioning?

In one line, Partitioning Mac Hard Drive is a process to split your disk into separate and useable logical disks.

What does Partitioning Do?

Partitioning informs your Mac to treat different partition or logical disks as a separate drive.

Is Mac Hard Drive Partition a Viable or Smart Choice?

It is one of the prime questions that entangles you when partitioning comes into pictures. Here are top reasons why you should do it on Mac.

1. To Easily Run Multiple Versions of OS on One Mac

There are scenarios where you need to run more than one version of macOS. In such case, it is a perfect option as it offers you the option to divide your disk and access them all on one system easily from a different partition. Instead of forcing you to buy a separate system for each. For this, you simply have to go to the System Preferences < Startup Disk pane, choose the desired Partition, and click on Restart.

2. Access BootCamp Partition

Hard Drive Partition Software

Sometimes, you might require accessibility of both the operating systems: Mac and Windows. In such cases, having two separate system is not a smart option when you can easily both on Mac using BootCamp Assistant.

3. Repair Disk Issues

Start-Up Disk Errors can happen anytime, anywhere and with anyone. To resolve start-up volume disk errors, the solution is to run a repair program from another volume (a bootable DVD or external hard drive). But, if you already have a partition on your main disk that includes a repair utility and a bootable copy of macOS, the repair job will be quite easy. The reason being, you won’t require any secondary media as it is already there on your main disk.

4. Flexibility to share Photo library

Sometimes, you might require sharing Photo Library between more than one user accounts. For this, you need an external disk as you need to move it to the partition where there’s no ownership. Obviously, you cannot do it on the main startup volume. But, if you have separate partitions on the internal disk, you can do it as those partitions does not have ownership

5. Manage Backup Efficiently

Apple comes with an inbuilt backup feature—Time Machine to facilitate this need. In case, you have more than one partition on your disk, you can easily backup over there. This will not only offer you ease and convenience in backing up but also helps you to reduce the unnecessary cost of buying a different hard drive.

6. System Failure Won’t Impact your Stored Data

In present digitized era, system failure is quite common. In case you have a single partition to store your data and system files and a system failure happen then, as consequence everything will vanish. But, on contrast, if you have separate partitions for both, then certainly you will not lose your data as system files and other data are separate.

7. Enhanced Performance

It is quite logical to say that, a drive works in complete synchronization when it has fewer data in comparison when it has large chunks. So, when you have different partitions, automatically you have short stroking i.e. reduced reading head repositioning delays. As a consequence, improved performance

8. Easier and Better Data Organization

When you have more than one partition on the hard disk drive, you can easily organize the data as per convenience. As a consequence, you won’t face any mess, reduced reading head repositioning delays, and lastly most importantly data loss.

Point to Remember!

Make sure to back up your data prior partitioning the drive else you will end up losing data.

How to Create a Partition on Mac?

It is a quite simple. Using below-stated process, you can easily partition mac hard drive.

Steps are:

1. Go to Dock and open Finder
2. Choose Applications
3. Next, open the Utilities
4. Next, double-click and open Disk Utility
5. Now, choose your Hard Drive
6. Click on Partition followed by Plus (+) button
7. Next, using the Resize Controls, set the Partition Size.
8. Lastly, name the Partition and click Apply.

But, what in case if you do not need the created partition anymore?

Answer: Delete the Partition

How to Delete a Partition?

Similar to installation, it is also quite easy.

Steps are:

1. Click and open Finder
2. Choose Applications
3. Click and open Utilities Folder
4. Next, open Disk Utility by double-clicking on it
5. Next, choose the Partition that you do not require anymore
6. Click Erase
7. Lastly, click Done

What if you end up deleting a Partition without taking a backup? Or, what if you end up deleting a wrong Partition?

Don’t worry! Count on third-party recovery software like Stellar Mac Data Recovery. A recommended solution by technocrats dealing with file recovery for Mac since a long time.

How do Stellar Mac Data Recovery help in Recovering Deleted Partition?

The recovery steps of this software are very easy to understand and use. These are as follows:

1. Connect your Drive to Mac
2. Launch the software
3. Select your drive to recover your data
4. Next, Search lost and deleted volumes or partitions from the drive
5. Start Scan to search deleted Partition
6. Preview Files
7. Lastly, choose the Recoverable Files and Click Recover to save it to the desired location

Any Questions

Repartition Mac Hard Drive

If you still have any unanswered queries and are looking forward to its solution. Connect with us in the comments section; we will be pleased to serve you.