An external SSD, or solid state drive, is a type of storage device that uses flash memory instead of a spinning hard disk for improved performance. External SSDs connect to computers via USB or Thunderbolt ports and are a popular way to add storage capacity to laptops, desktops, game consoles, and more.
One useful feature supported by some external SSDs is the ability to create multiple smaller logical partitions or volumes from a single physical drive. This can be advantageous for separating operating system files from user data, keeping personal and work files distinct, or creating spaces for different operating systems if you switch between Mac, Windows, and Linux machines.
Splitting an external SSD allows you to better organize and manage your storage for different needs. And with SSDs being faster than traditional hard drives, it makes an external SSD a high-performing storage expansion for large files like photos, videos, or games.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the steps to partition and split an external SSD on both Windows 10 and macOS systems.
Requirements
To split your external SSD, you’ll need:
– An external SSD drive with enough free, unallocated space to create the partitions you want. solid state drives with at least 250GB of capacity work best.
– For Windows: a Windows PC with the Disk Management utility.
– For macOS: a Mac with Disk Utility.
– The SSD should be directly connected to your computer via USB, Thunderbolt, or another interface – not in an external enclosure. Enclosures often have limitations on splitting drives.
– An SSD splitting or partitioning tool: On Windows 10, you can use the built-in Disk Management utility. On macOS, you can use the built-in Disk Utility application. Third-party partition manager programs also work if you need advanced features.
– Time to backup your data. Creating new partitions erases existing data on the drive. So always backup your SSD before partitioning and be prepared to restore backups after to any new volumes you create.
– Patience. Splitting an SSD into multiple partitions takes time. It can take over an hour or more depending on the drive size, computer speed, and number of partitions. Avoid interruptions once the process starts.
Limitations
Before splitting your external SSD, be aware of some limitations and downsides:
– Each partition will take up some space for overhead. So a 250GB SSD for example, may only have a total of 232GB of usable space if split into two equal 116GB volumes.
– More partitions means more points of failure. If one volume gets corrupted, damaged, or deleted, others may be impacted.
– Smaller partitions can lead to slower performance as data is scattered. A single large partition allows files to be written more efficiently.
– If securely erasing the entire SSD, you’ll have to erase each partition individually.
– Reorganizing or resizing partitions later is complex, especially if they contain data already. It’s best to settle on partition sizes up front you can live with for the long haul.
– Using multiple partitions goes against the design of SSDs and flash memory and can shorten the drive’s lifespan due to more frequent use of maintenance processes like wear leveling and garbage collection.
Within those limitations, partitioning an external SSD can still be very useful. But it’s important to plan partition sizes carefully in advance.
Should You Partition an External SSD?
Here are some of the most common reasons why partitioning an external SSD can be beneficial:
– **Separate operating systems** – Create distinct partitions for Mac, Windows, Linux, or even multiple Windows installations that you can select individually at boot.
– **Organize data** – Maintain partitions for work files, personal files, games, photos, and other distinct types of data. Making backups or finding files is easier.
– **Share drives between platforms** – Split drive format so part is Mac OS Extended (HFS+) and the other Windows NTFS to freely share files on both platforms.
– **Quickly erase data** – Wipe just one partition to erase those files rather than the whole drive.
– **Isolate sensitive data** – Store financial records, tax documents, medical files, or other private data in an encrypted partition for added security.
– **Prevent system file corruption** – If your operating system becomes corrupted, separate data partitions are protected.
– **Clone drives** – With multiple partitions, you can clone just one section of your drive rather than copying the whole thing.
– **Dual boot environments** – Keep different versions of Windows or Linux distributions on separate partitions.
– **Organize games** – Divide gaming storage between platforms like Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.
Those are some of the most useful reasons to consider an external SSD split. But single partition drives are simpler and often sufficient for many users. Think about your own needs and usage to decide if partitioning is right for you.
Partitioning Tools
The process of splitting an external SSD is done by a disk partitioning or manager application. On Windows machines, this tool is called Disk Management. On macOS, it is called Disk Utility.
Third party partition manager programs are also available with more advanced features. Some popular options include:
– **Windows:** EaseUS Partition Master, MiniTool Partition Wizard, Aomei Partition Assistant
– **Mac:** Paragon Partition Manager, EaseUS Partition Master
– **Cross-platform:** GParted
The tools above allow more control over the partition alignment, file system type, volume labeling, resizing, and other options. But the native Windows and Mac tools have the advantage of being built right into the operating system.
For most external SSD splitting purposes, Disk Management on Windows or Disk Utility on Mac provide ample functionality for basic partition creation and management. The rest of this guide will focus specifically on using the native tools. But third party managers work in a similar way.
Partitioning in Windows 10
On a Windows 10 PC, the built-in Disk Management utility allows you to split an external SSD into multiple partitions. Here is how to use it:
Step 1: Backup Files
First, backup all data from the external SSD to another location. Creating new partitions erases the drive, so you don’t want to risk losing your information.
Step 2: Connect SSD
Connect the external SSD you want to partition directly to a USB, Thunderbolt, or other port on your Windows 10 PC. External enclosures can interfere with partitioning in some cases, so connect the bare drive if possible.
Step 3: Open Disk Management
In Windows 10, click the Start menu and type “disk management” and select the Create and format hard disk partitions result. This opens the Disk Management utility.
Step 4: Initialize Disk
If your drive shows as unknown or not initialized, right-click it and choose Initialize Disk. Select a partition table type – GPT is best for SSDs. Click OK.
Step 5: Create New Volume
Right-click the unallocated space on your disk and choose New Simple Volume. Go through the wizard to specify the volume size, drive letter, file system, and volume label. Repeat to create additional partitions.
Step 6: Format Volumes
Once created, your new volumes need to be formatted. Right-click each one and select Format. Choose NTFS or exFAT file system and click OK.
Step 7: Assign Drive Letters
You can assign or change drive letters to your new partitions within Disk Management if needed. Right-click and choose Change Drive Letter and Path to set.
When finished, you should see all your new external SSD partitions with their own drive letters and storage capacities. You can manage the volumes right within Disk Management going forward.
Partitioning in macOS
To partition an external SSD on a Mac, you will use the built-in Disk Utility program rather than any command line tools or Terminal.
Step 1: Backup Data
As always, backup all your important files from the external SSD before partitioning to another drive or cloud storage. Partitioning the drive erases all contents.
Step 2: Connect SSD
Connect the bare external SSD directly to your Mac via USB, Thunderbolt, or another port. Don’t use a drive enclosure which can interfere with partitioning.
Step 3: Open Disk Utility
On your Mac, open the Disk Utility program. It is located in your Applications/Utilities folder.
Step 4: Select External SSD
In the left sidebar of Disk Utility, locate and select the external SSD drive you want to partition. Note the total drive capacity.
Step 5: Click Partition
At the top of the Disk Utility window, click the Partition button to start the partitioning process.
Step 6: Add Partitions
Click the + button below the external SSD area to add a new partition. Set the size, name, and format for that volume. Click Add.
Step 7: Complete Partitioning
Repeat Step 6 to create additional partitions as needed. When finished, click Apply. This will split and format the external SSD based on your settings.
Once complete, you will see all new external SSD partitions listed with their own space allocations and formats within Disk Utility. Manage as needed.
Partitioning Tips
Follow these tips for the best results when partitioning your external SSD:
– Create partitions in multiples of gigabytes rather than odd custom sizes for simplicity.
– Stick to 5 partitions or less total to keep things organized.
– Make partitions equally sized if splitting between operating systems or dual booting.
– Reserve at least 25% of total space as free, unallocated space for wear leveling needs.
– Align partitions to 1MB boundaries for optimal SSD performance.
– Use volume labels rather than drive letters for partitions to identify contents.
– Leave 10-15% free space in each partition for files to grow into over time.
– Formatting deletes all data, so backup partitions before formatting if needed again.
– Select NTFS or exFAT for maximum compatibility with Windows and Mac.
– Reorganize partitions by backing up data, deleting all volumes, then recreating from scratch.
Those tips will help you optimize your partitions and avoid running into performance or usability issues down the road.
Conclusion
Splitting up your high-speed external SSD into multiple partitions can make managing data and operating systems much easier. With partitions, you can neatly separate things like personal files, work projects, games, or even different operating system installations that you can boot between.
Both Windows 10 and macOS make partitioning an external SSD straightforward using the built-in disk utility programs. Just be sure to backup your data first before partitioning, since the process erases the entire drive. Also consider partitioning limitations like wasted overhead space, more points of failure, and reduced lifespan.
Carefully plan out partition sizes in advance for your needs. Align to 1MB boundaries. Leave ample free space. Use volume labels to track contents. And utilize the disk utilities to periodically manage your partitions when needed after creation.
With a well-partitioned external SSD, you can make the most of your high-performance storage expansion across many devices, operating systems, and use cases. Just take time to properly plan and backup before splitting the drive since partitioning erases all existing contents and replaces them with your new volume layout.