Running Disk Utility First Aid

[Howard Brazee]

When I open Disk Utility, my disk has several levels. I can run First Aid on different levels, and since I don't know what it does, I run it on every level I can.

What does First Aid do on these different levels? Are they all needed?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

You can just run First Aid on the top level item, everything underneath it are volumes on that physical drive. So no need to go one-by-one and test each volume/partition/container.

 

[Howard Brazee]

Thanks. Is there any reason that someone might want to run First Aid on one part?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Sure, it would be faster to run the check on a smaller partition. Or a partition that is known to have issues, but since these are partitions you didn't create/manage, best to check the integrity of the entire drive.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

You can just run First Aid on the top level item, everything underneath it are volumes on that physical drive. So no need to go one-by-one and test each volume/partition/container.

I'm afraid that is contrary to Apple's guidance:

"For each disk that you're repairing, start by selecting the last volume on that disk, then click the First Aid button or tab...

"After Disk Utility is done checking the volume, select the next item above it in the sidebar, then run First Aid again. Keep moving up the list, running First Aid for each volume on the disk, then each container on the disk, then finally the disk itself. "

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210898

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Interesting, I would think that running the first aid on the drive would check everything, but following Apple's advice is best.

 

[MacInWin]

I think, but I admit I am not sure, that the tests run at each level are slightly different. So, start from the bottom and work to the top to do a full drive check.