Defragmentation reorganizes empty fragments back into contiguous blocks.įile fragmentation occurs when the file size outgrows the original space when saved. However, over time the empty space fragments into smaller parts. On a new drive, the empty space is usually a large, contiguous chunk of hard drive space. Free space fragmentation primarily occurs when programs are uninstalled or files deleted. There are two types of fragmentation, free space and file fragmentation. This is not only a problem with documents and data but with program installation. Apple will even defrag your Mac if you’re a ProCare Member at their retail stores.įragmentation occurs because of the manner that files are stored when created, saved or deleted. However, it can greatly improve the performance of the computer and possibly extend its useful life. The benefits to defragging include faster seek times to access files, quicker boot times and over time it reduces wear on the drive, because the read/write heads do not need to travel as much across the media when searching for a file.ĭefragmentation is often misunderstood and dismissed as non-essential. That means that files are spread out all over the drive, which in turn makes the files harder to access. Also, the Mac operating system will NOT optimize how the files are placed on the drive. Of course, you have many files that are much larger than that and those files are not optimized (defragged) by the operating system. The Mac operating system will defrag files as long as they are under 20MB in size. Drive Genius 3 makes that very easy to visualize with its color-coded fragmentation map of the files on your hard drive. Compacting the files allows new files to be written onto the HDD without data fragmentation. Reorganizing the files into one continuous block improves access time for the file to be opened. The defrag tool in Drive Genius 3 reorganizes the fragmented pieces of all files and compacts their content into one contiguous block for faster access times. This is one reason you may see the beach ball more often than you used to (it’s a sign of having a fragmented HDD). The reason is because your Mac has to open the file and piece the various pieces together as it’s opening. This is a problem because opening and using files slows way down when your files are fragmented. The more time that goes by, the more you’re going to have fragments of files all over your hard drive. When that happens, your Mac fragments large files, places bits of the file in one location and other bits of it in other location. As the hard drive is used, the Mac starts to run out of space to put very large files. Your Mac has millions of files on its HDD. What does defragging a hard drive actually mean? Want to speed up your Mac and get rid of that spinning “beach ball”? Defragging your Mac hard drive with Drive Genius 3’s award-winning defrag tool is your best option to improve your hard disk drive’s speed and performance.

How to defrag a mac book pro