{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-run-first-aid-in-disk-utility","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-run-first-aid-in-disk-utility","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"disks-formats","title":"Disks, APFS and formats"},"question":"How do I check a drive for errors on a Mac?","alt_questions":["disk utility first aid","repair disk mac","check ssd for errors mac","verify disk macos","fix drive errors mac"],"short_answer":"In Disk Utility, choose Show All Devices, select the volume, then its container and device, and run First Aid on each. Run it from macOS Recovery for the startup disk.","answer_markdown":"Open **Disk Utility**, choose **View → Show All Devices**, select the volume (then its container and the device, in that order), and click **First Aid → Run**. It checks the file system and repairs what it can.\n\nFor your startup disk, the most thorough check runs from **macOS Recovery**. If First Aid reports errors it can't fix, back up the drive's contents straight away and consider erasing or replacing it.","answer_html":"

Open Disk Utility, choose View → Show All Devices, select the volume (then its container and the device, in that order), and click First Aid → Run. It checks the file system and repairs what it can.

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For your startup disk, the most thorough check runs from macOS Recovery. If First Aid reports errors it can't fix, back up the drive's contents straight away and consider erasing or replacing it.

","answer_text":"Open Disk Utility, choose View → Show All Devices, select the volume (then its container and the device, in that order), and click First Aid → Run. It checks the file system and repairs what it can.\n\nFor your startup disk, the most thorough check runs from macOS Recovery. If First Aid reports errors it can't fix, back up the drive's contents straight away and consider erasing or replacing it.","tags":["disk utility","first aid","repair"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-erase-or-format-a-drive-on-a-mac","question":"How do I erase or format a drive on a Mac?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-erase-or-format-a-drive-on-a-mac"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.my-mac-wont-start-because-the-disk-is-full","question":"My Mac won't start or log in because the disk is full — what can I do?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/my-mac-wont-start-because-the-disk-is-full"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I check a drive for errors on a Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"In Disk Utility, choose Show All Devices, select the volume, then its container and device, and run First Aid on each. Run it from macOS Recovery for the startup disk.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"How do I check a drive for errors on a Mac?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-run-first-aid-in-disk-utility"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-run-first-aid-in-disk-utility","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I check a drive for errors on a Mac?","alternateName":["disk utility first aid","repair disk mac","check ssd for errors mac","verify disk macos","fix drive errors mac"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Open Disk Utility, choose View → Show All Devices, select the volume (then its container and the device, in that order), and click First Aid → Run. It checks the file system and repairs what it can.\n\nFor your startup disk, the most thorough check runs from macOS Recovery. If First Aid reports errors it can't fix, back up the drive's contents straight away and consider erasing or replacing it.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-run-first-aid-in-disk-utility"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Disks, APFS and formats

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How do I check a drive for errors on a Mac?

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Short answer: In Disk Utility, choose Show All Devices, select the volume, then its container and device, and run First Aid on each. Run it from macOS Recovery for the startup disk.

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Open Disk Utility, choose View → Show All Devices, select the volume (then its container and the device, in that order), and click First Aid → Run. It checks the file system and repairs what it can.

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For your startup disk, the most thorough check runs from macOS Recovery. If First Aid reports errors it can't fix, back up the drive's contents straight away and consider erasing or replacing it.

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