{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-delete-an-extra-apfs-volume","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-delete-an-extra-apfs-volume","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"disks-formats","title":"Disks, APFS and formats"},"question":"How do I delete an extra APFS volume I no longer need?","alt_questions":["remove apfs volume mac","delete volume disk utility","free space from old volume","delete test macos volume","remove extra volume internal drive","apfs volume minus button"],"short_answer":"In Disk Utility select the volume and click − (Delete APFS Volume). Its contents are erased and the space returns to the container. Never delete the system volumes.","answer_markdown":"In **Disk Utility**, select the volume you want to remove, then click the **−** button in the toolbar (or choose **Edit → Delete APFS Volume**). Everything on that volume is erased and its space returns to the shared pool for the other volumes in the container.\n\nCopy anything you need first, and never delete Macintosh HD, its Data volume or the system volumes — see [Preboot, Recovery and VM volumes](/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-are-the-preboot-recovery-and-vm-volumes). If the volume is greyed out, mount it first to check what's on it.","answer_html":"

In Disk Utility, select the volume you want to remove, then click the − button in the toolbar (or choose Edit → Delete APFS Volume). Everything on that volume is erased and its space returns to the shared pool for the other volumes in the container.

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Copy anything you need first, and never delete Macintosh HD, its Data volume or the system volumes — see Preboot, Recovery and VM volumes. If the volume is greyed out, mount it first to check what's on it.

","answer_text":"In Disk Utility, select the volume you want to remove, then click the − button in the toolbar (or choose Edit → Delete APFS Volume). Everything on that volume is erased and its space returns to the shared pool for the other volumes in the container.\n\nCopy anything you need first, and never delete Macintosh HD, its Data volume or the system volumes — see Preboot, Recovery and VM volumes. If the volume is greyed out, mount it first to check what's on it.","tags":["apfs","volume","disk utility"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.what-are-the-preboot-recovery-and-vm-volumes","question":"What are the Preboot, Recovery, VM and Update volumes in Disk Utility?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-are-the-preboot-recovery-and-vm-volumes"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.what-is-an-apfs-container-and-volume","question":"What's the difference between an APFS container and a volume?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-is-an-apfs-container-and-volume"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I delete an extra APFS volume I no longer need? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"In Disk Utility select the volume and click − (Delete APFS Volume). Its contents are erased and the space returns to the container. Never delete the system volumes.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"How do I delete an extra APFS volume I no longer need?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-delete-an-extra-apfs-volume"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-delete-an-extra-apfs-volume","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I delete an extra APFS volume I no longer need?","alternateName":["remove apfs volume mac","delete volume disk utility","free space from old volume","delete test macos volume","remove extra volume internal drive","apfs volume minus button"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"In Disk Utility, select the volume you want to remove, then click the − button in the toolbar (or choose Edit → Delete APFS Volume). Everything on that volume is erased and its space returns to the shared pool for the other volumes in the container.\n\nCopy anything you need first, and never delete Macintosh HD, its Data volume or the system volumes — see Preboot, Recovery and VM volumes. If the volume is greyed out, mount it first to check what's on it.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-delete-an-extra-apfs-volume"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Disks, APFS and formats

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How do I delete an extra APFS volume I no longer need?

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Short answer: In Disk Utility select the volume and click − (Delete APFS Volume). Its contents are erased and the space returns to the container. Never delete the system volumes.

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In Disk Utility, select the volume you want to remove, then click the − button in the toolbar (or choose Edit → Delete APFS Volume). Everything on that volume is erased and its space returns to the shared pool for the other volumes in the container.

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Copy anything you need first, and never delete Macintosh HD, its Data volume or the system volumes — see Preboot, Recovery and VM volumes. If the volume is greyed out, mount it first to check what's on it.

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