Machine users MacBook Pro a MacBook Air sooner or later they will start to find out that they have little space. Unfortunately, due to the "originality" of the construction, design, business policy... the storage space for these machines cannot be easily expanded. In the latest models (memory chips are directly on the motherboard), in Retina models from 2013 you have to choose exactly according to the model and compatibility and don't forget to add the price for the disk-USB reduction or installation service. To replace it yourself you need to know something about disk cloning, have tools (another item), instructions and courage. Other options are Cloud, USB external drive, NAS…
And what about using the SD card slot? Ingeniously simple! All you need is a suitable adapter, such as BaseQi, and a microSD card, in our case from the proven SanDisk brand. So that's exactly what will help most users (I think ☺) to rapidly increase the useful value of their machine. Be careful, the reduction must be selected according to the model! In my case MacBookPro Retina 2013 Late "A1502" (information can be found on the back cover of the machine) the "iSDA 303A" adapter is suitable. It can also be purchased in the Czech Republic.
Advantages and disadvantages of possible solutions
Replacing the system disk
+ the user just pays "more", he doesn't have to worry about anything, access times of copy speed within the disk
+ the SD card slot remains free
+ the user will have an extra fast disk
- price
– possible heating and higher power consumption (for OWC disks)
Using an external drive
+ lower price per GB
+ large selection and easy availability of equipment
+ can also be used with another computer, with another system
– you carry another extra box that can get lost or destroyed
– you do not have the data online, the device must be connected, disconnected
– because data is not always available, space cannot be freed up on the system disk (backups iPhone, iTunes library)
Using the SD card slot with an adapter
+ nothing disturbs the appearance and does not exceed the edges, nothing can be broken or mechanically damaged
+ data is always available online, storage can be used to move user libraries, install programs (some), backup mobile devices, photos, iTunes library, documents, movies, e-books, ...
+ availability of fast microSDXC cards up to 400 GB in size
+ the price for 128 GB microSDXC is approx. 1 CZK, for 000 GB approx. 200 CZK
– the price of a 400GB card, but that is extreme...
- permanent occupation of the SD slot - if it is not just a simple "storage"
– ejecting the card with a fingernail is not entirely easy, I recommend the tip of a knife. Copying speed (writing, reading depending on the quality of the technological capabilities of the media and the controller)
How to do it…
We'll skip the purchasing stage, let everyone choose the source they like. So we have an adapter for our MacBook and a storage medium, i.e. a reasonably large and fast microSDXC card. Those who only need storage space can just "insert" it and not worry. The card is formatted with ExtFat, so it can be written to and read from both macOS, Linux and Win systems. However, that is the only "advantage". This solution does not take into account access rights and, by extension, security.
But if you want to take advantage of macOS's capabilities on maximum and use SD storage more sophisticatedly, freeing up space on the system disk, there are several options available.
Attention! Before starting the upgrade, ideally back up using "Time Machine". If you click away, you won't lose any data!
Brief procedure:
- We reformat
Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility
Result:
- Move iTunes files to SDA
Don't forget to set! iTunes > Preferences > Advanced
- Moving the backup location iPhone
Applications > Utilities > Terminal
Command: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE (press ENTER)
Command: killall Finder (press ENTER) – you will see hidden files in Finderu; do not close the terminal, you will still need it;
Ve Finderyou will find the "Backup" folder (path according to the picture), ideally in a "new window"
Copy the folder to microSD
Applications > Text editor.app and create a new file
Type ln -s into an empty text.file
Procedure according to the picture: watch out for spaces, whoever wants to understand it, studies the syntax of the "ln" command (creating a symlink), dragging to the terminal partially eliminates the possibility of a typo or ignorance of the user, confusion of uppercase and lowercase letters, etc.
Procedure according to the picture:
Now we have a complete command set up in the text editor to paste into the terminal, in my case:
ln -s /Volumes/SDA/Backup /Users/admin/Library/AppLication Support/MobileSync/Backup
We delete the "original Backup folder" on the system disk
We enter the command in a clean terminal and press ENTER
Analogously, you can work with any folder (Documents, Downloads) in this way, exceptions may occur with some applications that will not work outside the "Applications" folder on the system disk. Always make sure first that the application itself does not allow user data to be routed to a location other than the preset location! You can find out what is taking up the most "space" using: "Apple in the upper left" > About this Mac > "Storage" tab > Manage.
Have fun "freeing up space" and working... ☺
In this gallery, you can find the entire manual step by step:
The instructions for our website were written by Pavel Kovář, for which we thank him.
Note: The editors bear no responsibility for the above information.
Many other disadvantages of microSD are glossed over.
– unusable performance with full encryption. In practice, it cannot be encrypted.
– unusable performance for virtual machines. These must also remain on the SSD.
– the card disconnects itself after sleep (unpleasant feature/behavior of macOS), you have to slide it back in every time, or mount it via DIsk Utility, or use a paid utility like Mountain.
– So even if someone tried, for example, to run a lightweight Linux virtual machine, or an old undemanding one windows, data/state will be lost after sleeping
– And Jet is better in terms of performanceDrivethan microSD, but the problems are the same.
I think it's only good for video storage/video library. Or do you have other suitable uses?
JetDrive I had it. I returned it within 14 days. The main reason, apart from the above points, was the battery life. It dropped by up to 50%, even when it was extended. So, that's about it.
I don't know what else I'm doing, but I still have the card connected. I can't imagine having to pull it out all the time or deal with some utility.
It would probably be a problem with encryption, I haven't even tried that. But I normally use a virtual Linux web server on a microSD card (Parallels) for development and it's not a problem at all. And my card has never disconnected – every time I find it where I left it (13″ MBP 2015).
Where can I find out which adapter is suitable for my model? ?
Just read the article?
Marie Darja Parth-Rychtaříkova Maybe I'm reading wrong, but the article only contains an example for MacBookPro Retina 2013 Late "A1502" ?
The latest 13" models do not have an SD slot
On OsX, this solution is almost unusable. The speed in the encrypted card is tragic. It is interesting that on Windows I have a 128GB card with Bitlocker and it's fine. On the other hand, it's unusable on a Mac. And now on the memory card Macbook Pro There is no option for expansion for sure. 4 x USB C and that's all... I'm a little sorry that I didn't take the previous model MacbookThis one is pretty bad. It doesn't even mention the touchbar.
I use Nifty Drive, the card is formatted "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)", however, it sometimes happens that if Macbook I go to sleep or close the display, the storage/SD card "disconnects", it is not visible in Disk Utility either. Please, does anyone have any advice?
Unfortunately the exact same thing is happening to me..
Would this be a solution for me? when I need to edit larger videos in iMovie? (MAC 13" 2013)
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