Install Mac Apps on External Storage in macOS Sequoia - MacRumors
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Install Mac Apps on External Storage in macOS Sequoia

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If you're running out of space on your Mac's internal drive, macOS Sequoia 15.1 includes a handy new feature that lets you install large apps directly to external storage. Here's how to use it to preserve space on your boot drive.

MacBook Pro OWC Envoy Ultra
Apple is known for charging customers a very high markup for additional storage when buying a new Mac. Given that internal storage usually can't be upgraded after purchase, it's no wonder that external drives are a popular solution for many Mac users who want the extra space but don't want to pay a premium for the privilege.

Until recently, macOS automatically installed new apps downloaded from the Mac App Store to a Mac's boot drive, which was not particularly helpful to users with dwindling internal storage. In macOS Sequoia 15.1, however, Apple has added a new option that lets you download and install apps that require more than 1GB of storage to an external drive. Anyone working with large apps like Final Cut Pro or Logic Pro, or gamers with space-consuming titles, will surely welcome this ability to download and install large apps to a separate disk.

Installing Mac Apps to External Storage

  1. Connect your external drive to your Mac.
  2. Open the App Store.
  3. Click App Store in the menu bar and select Settings....
  4. Check the box next to "Download and install large apps to a separate disk."
  5. Select your external drive from the dropdown menu.

install apps external disk mac app store

Some considerations to keep in mind: The feature only works with apps larger than 1GB, and your external drive must be connected when enabling the setting. (Make sure the drive you connect is APFS formatted.) Additionally, while apps will install to your external drive, bear in mind that, depending on the app, some app data may still be stored on your main drive.

It's also worth noting that you can't choose installation locations using this method on a per-app basis – it's an all-or-nothing setting for qualifying apps. Lastly, for the best experience, use a fast external SSD (or an internal SSD in an external enclosure) to ensure optimal app performance.

Top Rated Comments

kirky29 Avatar
kirky29
20 months ago
Once again, a very Apple way of doing this... :-/
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Slix Avatar
Slix
20 months ago
This is convenient! You could always move big apps after downloading them to the external disk, since day one essentially on the Mac. But having it automatically happen for big apps is a nice option.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
turbineseaplane
20 months ago
Anything other than "no longer charging extortion level SSD upgrade pricing", it would seem

:confused:
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
CharlesS
20 months ago
Why would anyone need this? It's always been possible to have your apps on a separate drive. Just drag them over. LaunchServices will detect the apps in their new location and they'll just work. It's one of the best things about the Mac, and it's been that way basically since the beginning.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
F
fathergll
20 months ago

A tiny step in the right direction. I don't know why it had to be this limited.

This is an absolute requirement to even begin to be taken seriously for games. Steam has had very flexible support for multiple libraries on multiple disks in whatever subfolder you choose, for like ten years.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Darmok N Jalad Avatar
Darmok N Jalad
20 months ago

Or you can move your Home folder to an external SSD - IF AND ONLY IF you plan to use the drive always connected.
You will however, always need to download the app and manually move it to the external drive.

I am using my Base M4 Mac mini like this with an external 4TB SSD
How well does the drive stay connected when the Mac idles/sleeps? Sometimes the biggest challenge to this approach is that the drive occasionally gets unmounted by the OS for some unknown reason, and then you have trouble until a reboot.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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