How to Defrag a Mac? Do They Need Defragmentation? [Necessity for Apple]

Mac Computer Disk Defragment Guide: Do I really need it?

If you have used a Windows computer, you may have used disk defragmentation to optimize your computer's performance. The Windows operating system has always included its own defragmentation software.

But what if you are using a Mac? macOS (formerly Mac OS X) does not have similar disk defragmenters. (However, it has Disk Utility and Apple Diagnostics to fix the Mac's hardware).

So what should you do? Is there a way to run defragment on a Mac manually? Is this necessary and safe? Please read our article to find all the answers.

What is disk defragmentation?

Defragmentation is the process of inverting fragmented data on a computer hard disk. When files are stored on traditional hard disks and accessed, their data bits may end up scattering in different locations on that hard disk chip (the rotating disk within the drive).

When files are fragmented, it takes longer to access them. Defragmenting organizes the files so that all data is stored together. This way, it is easier and faster to read files.

How does defragmentation work on Mac?

Unlike Windows, macOS does not have any built-in defragmentation tools. We will explain why later. Just know that if you really want to run disk defragmentation on your Mac, you need to use some kind of third-party tool.

Why is defragmentation good for PC but not for Mac?

When storing files on a hard drive, Windows places data anywhere there is free space on the drive. If you delete the files, their space will open. This means you may end up spreading a lot of free space on your hard drive, which may be split into those available sectors when you store large files.

Reading such a file takes more time, because the system needs to access multiple sectors to read it. The heads inside the drive need to be moved from one sector to another, looking for different parts of the file. This behavior means that Windows needs to be defragmented from time to time.

Mac file system works differently and can prevent fragmentation. Starting with Mac OS X 10.2 (Java), Macs have a feature called Hot File Adaptive Clustering, which stores common files in special "hot zones" for quick access. When they are moved, the system defragments them instantly. This applies to Apple's two Mac file systems - Mac OS Extended (HFS) and Apple File System (APFS).

You don't need to defragment unless you're using a very old Mac, which is why Mac optimization software usually doesn't include defragmentation as a feature.

Should you defragment your Mac?

Is it good to defragment your Mac or MacBook? The short answer is:

When does Mac need to be defragmented?

In some rare cases, your Mac may benefit from defragmentation. If you meet these criteria, you may need to defragment the hard drive on your Mac:

• You need to use HDD.
• You often use multimedia files larger than 1GB.
• You have less than 10% of your disk space left.

In this case, macOS may not have enough capacity to automatically defragment your files. However, according to our research, the built-in algorithms in macOS handle the arrangement of files fairly well, requiring additional defragmentation only when your Mac is very old.

Also, macOS does not provide a defragmenter, and you cannot use a terminal on your Mac to do this. However, if your Mac is very old and running slow, you can still defragment the hard drive by installing third-party software. Select your favorite software and follow the instructions provided by the developer.

Can defragmentation damage the hard drive?

The short answer is: No. Defragmenting does not damage the hard drive (HDD) and can sometimes be very useful and effective for slow computers, provided you execute it correctly.

Defragmentation organizes the data and makes it easier to access, and is safe for HDDs. It won't delete or corrupt your data in any way. But while it's especially useful for Windows operating systems, Macs usually don't need any defragmentation.

Why is it a bad idea to defragment SSDs?

If you have a Mac with an SSD instead of an HDD, you should never defragment it. SSDs work differently and have their own maintenance routines. And because the SSD has no mechanical parts, your Mac can access each sector at roughly the same speed.

In addition, the number of read and write cycles of SSD is limited, and defragmentation is actually the process of reading data from one sector and writing it to another sector. Therefore, defragmenting the SSD shortens the service life of the SSD and causes damage. If you are concerned, follow our guide to learn how to check your Mac's SSD health.

Other ways to maintain a MacBook

As a way to optimize your Mac, defragmentation is almost never worth it. For newer Macs, it may even cause more performance issues, as the SSD can be corrupted by defragment routines.

Instead of running disk defragmentation on your Mac, try our six Mac optimization tips:

1. Regularly clean up junk files on your MacBook
2. Check and optimize your Mac storage space
3. Optimized battery charging
4. Install software updates in time
5. Regular backup
6. Avoid harmful software

1. Regularly clean up junk files on your MacBook

The more you use your Mac, the more old cache data and other junk files you will eventually accumulate. These files will take up space unnecessarily and may eventually affect the performance of your Mac. Here is how to do this manually:

1. Press Cmd SpaceCreate Spotlight, then type or paste ~/Library/Caches, and select the Caches folder.
2. View CachesFolders. The folder names in it will show which applications they are related to.
3. Delete folders to clear cache for each application.

2. Check and optimize your Mac storage space

If your Mac's hard drive becomes very full, it may prevent automatic Mac defragmentation from happening. Use macOS built-in storage optimization settings to avoid this problem:

1. Open System settings and go to General>About . Scroll down and click Storage settings .
2. Click the i icon to open the storage optimization tool for each file type.
3. Use each tool to delete unwanted data on your Mac hard drive.

3. Optimize battery charging

While this won't help your hard drive, Optimize battery charging can extend the life of your MacBook battery. In macOS Big Sur or later, if you use it primarily when your Mac is connected to a power supply, this feature will automatically pause charging at 80%.

You can turn this feature on or off at any time:

1. Open System settings and select Battery. Click the i button next to Battery Health (display details).
2. OffOptimize battery charging and select Off or Off until tomorrow. Click to finish .

If your MacBook is running slowly, it may be due to a battery failure, which may cause the CPU to slow down. Check out our guide to learn how to deal with this issue.

4. Install software updates in time

To avoid problems with your Mac, including potential disk defragmentation, you should always keep macOS and installed applications as the latest version. Please follow these steps to check macOS updates:

1. In System settings , check if there are any updates available in the sidebar.
2. Click Update after seeing the update. Then click Update now.
3. Tap Agree and follow the on-screen instructions.

5. Regular backup

If you are smart, you will set up Time Machine for regular backups. This built-in tool can create a complete copy of your Mac hard drive, as well as allow you to recover snapshots of deleted or changed files. If you are running defragmentation on your Mac, it's best to make sure your data is backed up first. You need to insert an external drive formatted to a macOS compatible format.

The following is how to set up Time Machine:

1. Go to Settings>General>Time Machine.
2. Click Add backup disk.
3. Select your external drive and click Set disk .
4. Select your settings and click to finish .

6. Avoid harmful software

Malware can cause all kinds of damage to your Mac. In addition to posing a threat to your privacy and finances, some malware may also write large amounts of data to your Mac's storage space. If your Mac uses a hard drive, this may result in the need to defragment the Mac.

As always, follow basic cybersecurity tips to avoid malware:

• Avoid websites you don't trust and never click on pop-ups.
• Don't open email attachments from people you don't know.
• Do not install software from untrusted sources or pirated websites.
• Make sure you have installed antivirus software with real-time protection.

Don't defragment. Clean up the mess.

There are many reasons why you shouldn't bother with Mac defragmentation. Unless your Mac is very old, it will automatically defragment the files. If your Mac is one of Apple's newer devices, it won't have a hard drive at all, but an SSD, which isn't worth defragmenting.

If you are worried about your Mac's performance, it is best to use MacKeeper's Safe Cleanup to delete junk data. With almost no effort, you can find and delete unnecessary files that clog SSD or HDD, making your Mac simpler and cleaner. MacKeeper also includes other security and optimization tools that are critical to your system.

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