How To Setup External SSD Storage on the M4 Mac mini - Also 256GB or 512GB on Internal Storage?

This video discusses the best method for using external SSD storage on your brand new M4 Mac mini. What method is best for using an external SSD on your M4 Mac in order to get the most out of the external storage and without damaging the computer. Also, should you start with an internal drive on your M4 Mac mini that is 256 GB or 512 GB? We cover 3 different methods that people use with external SSDS on Macs and we recommend our preferred method for using external storage.

Timestamps in this video:

0:00 - Introduction - M4 mini External Storage
0:11 - Topics Covered In Video
1:03 - 256 or 512 GB on Internal SSD?
1:46 - Method 1 - M4 External Storage
3:43 - Method 2 - M4 External Storage
8:28 - Method 3 - Best Method IMO
16:32 - Final Thoughts

Links For Moving Home Directory on Mac:

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[bryans]

I opted for the base M4 mini and use a 2TB external drive (because I'm cheap). So far I still have 180GB free space on the internal drive so it's working for my use case since I'm a casual user now that I'm retired.

[newmanh]

for downloads, you can just set the browser to always ask where to save those downloads and so everytime you download something, you can directly save them on the external if its connected. what I didn't know was the app store setting...that one is definitely useful.

[andrewbrown]

Good info~! I'm a career IT'er (just retired) and a longtime Apple user (since Apple II+). I just bought my mini and opted for more memory (24Gig) over increasing onboard storage, but I picked up a 2TB NVME for an external drive. For the pure simplicity of it, I'll be using the 3rd method you describe. I'm retiring my 2012 iMac and can't wait to fire up this Mac Mini~! Always looking forward to what you put out next. 👍

[bridevalley]

Thanks for this. I had come across method 2 on YouTube and was going to use it but you have convinced me that method 3 is safer so I'll go with that for sure. I've been waiting for my SSD enclosure to arrive and am grateful it took a couple of days as I would have missed this video if it had got to me sooner! Thanks again.

[weholmes]

Thanks for this reality check! I got the base M4 Mini configuration (on sale at Costco) and saw some videos that convinced me that putting my home folder on the external thunderbolt SSD was a good idea. But I was worried I’d do something wrong. You just helped me decide to bag it and just move large files off the Mini, like I already do with my 256 GB MacBook Pro. Thanks! 😅

[gunting]

For those opting for External SSD, be sure to plug directly into one of the Mac Mini ports. Had experience where I plugged external SSD into one of the Hub that has type-c port in it, it works and all that, but when the OS went to sleep, it wakes up the Hub but not the SSD so I had to remove and insert the disk again, very annoying. I don't know, maybe each Hub behaves differently.

[peterlincoln]

Hi Craig, great video. A little tip I found when setting up my Mac Mini M4 base model and something it might be worth including in a future productivity video. I needed the machine for cloud backups to Dropbox. I was able to use a USB-C to SATA adapter for a 2TB drive which I already owned and used that as the host for the Dropbox folder. It runs nice and cool and at around 330 megabytes per second transfer is plenty fast enough for Dropbox and media storage. The issue came about when starting the machine it took a few seconds for the drive to mount (longer if one of the other login apps was updating). About 25% of the time Dropbox had already started before the disk had mounted, causing it to spew out an error message.

I was able to avoid the problem by creating an app in Automator (included in Mac OS). It adds a ten second pause, then opens Dropbox. I added that delay app to my login and now I am always up and running before Dropbox fires up and starts its syncing.

Its real niche, but I am sure there are other applications which could benefit from either a delayed start or shutdown which you can also do in Automator. Hope this information helps somebody out :-)

[Poverello]

This sounds perfect for me. I don’t want to go through the hassle of moving my entire home directory to an external drive, but moving creating specific folders on the external drive makes a lot of sense, and will save me a lot of money. Thanks for your help with this issue.

[janeicker]

Thank you, sir! Perhaps one of the more positive aspects of waiting for an AliExpress delivery is that it gives you plenty of time to watch virtually every video on a specific topic, like this one. I’m about to repurpose my late 2015 27” iMac as a sort of studio display for my base model Mac Mini (256GB/16GB). The iMac was upgraded long ago with a 2TB internal SSD via SATA, which raises some concerns about how to handle it comfortably.

The first videos I watched suggested outsourcing the entire home directory or, even riskier, mounting the entire core installation externally, as you also mentioned here. However, I’ve decided to go with your preferred method: moving only the largest files to a 40Gbps external drive with a 2TB NVMe 4.0 SSD. That way, I won’t have to worry about relocating everything and can leave the riskier approaches to the more adventurous users.

[ShaneConQueso]

You can drag and drop the app from external to Launchpad and it will put an icon/shortcut there.

[ooSpyderoo]

For apps such as FCP, make sure you disable the option to copy the media to the home drive otherwise that will fill the internal drive real fast if you’re into video editing.

[luizs]

Great video. Thanks!. I agree with the option 3 and I went that route too, however I moved the Photo library to the external drive too. There are several youtube videos explaining how to default the photo library to an external drive!. cheers

[BigOrangeCat]

Thank you! I recently did exactly what you said about keeping apps on external drive. I can say that it definitely works!

[jremi]

Great informative video! I’ve been a PC user all my life and decided I would buy a Mac mini this time around with 24 Gb RAM and a 512 Gb SSD. I want to keep it simple and was thinking of doing exactly what is suggested here with the 3rd option (large programs and data on an external drive). Subscribing now!

[debbiechutka]

Thank you for this great video. I just ordered my Mac mini 512 gb ssd and I’m just researching how to store on an external drive. I was really worried about storage. I now have to learn about backing things up but this is a great start.

[DosBlade]

Had the Mini M4 256.. something was up with it so I took it to Apple and they took it back and I got the 512 version. Don't need tons of space. First it was way over 14days yet they took it back. Ok I had benched the 256 it was baout 3300. Now the 512 and I have benched it allot because its 4400. If ANYONE says just that small bump you won't notice.. I thought I would never see the diff.. man you can. I am SO happy something went wrong with the 256gb one. VERY happy now

[nathanchurch]

12:56 if you drag the app from the external drive to the launchpad icon they’ll stay stored on your ex drive but show up normally in launchpad.

[DrAlanWeinstein]

Just found your channel. I made the mistake of following one of the methods of adding my Home folder to the external SSD drive which resulted in having to reinstall my OS system on a totally new Mac mini. MP4 pro. Your way is much smarter! Thanks

[Przemyslawpl]

Thx, I’m first time Mac user and after this video I don’t try now
Method 2, I go safe tomorrow with the third… good timing and very informative!

[pilgrim]

I am returning to the apple world. I bought the 512 MacMini. And a MacBook Air then ordered the Zike drive enclosure. I don’t know what I’m doing (yet) but I’m trying to learn. My 2TB Teamwork drive should be here in 3 more days. MacMini will stay at my office and I’ll do video editing there. Laptop is mobile.
I think your no 3 option is my plan. Just a little awkward trying to stay on top of moving files/documents I create while mobile into the external Zike drive so I have one consistent place of archival storage.
Thank you for your vid and keeping the cookies on the lower shelf for some of us!
Great work!