M2 Mac Mini - Out of storage, looking for options

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Level 1

5 points

M2 Mac Mini - Out of storage, looking for options

When I got my mac mini I very dumbly only got the 256GB option. I figured with iCloud file syncing and an external hard drive I would have enough storage.

The issue is applications - I utilize both the Adobe Suite and Microsoft Suite for work. I have read up on moving applications to an external drive and creating symlinks which I have done for many of my apps, but this does not work well for these two suites of apps. Between macOS and Office/Adobe, I am nearly at my storage limit already. iCloud files are constantly undownloading themselves to make room, I can't really install anything new - even Photoshop won't launch half the time because my disks are too full.

I know the M2 mac minis do not allow you to upgrade the storage, you're stuck with whatever you bought. I'm just curious if I have any options other than upgrading my entire computer - really at a loss here. If anyone has success running at least Office from an external drive would love to know how you did it.

Mac mini, macOS 15.0

Posted on Oct 29, 2024 7:48 AM

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Answer 1

varjak paw

Level 10

178,408 points

Oct 29, 2024 7:56 AM in response to chazbot7

In my experience, neither Office nor Adobe's products can be moved to an external drive, at least not without a ton of work if even then it's possible; highly doubtful. You'll either need to move other apps - some apps will work just fine from any location - and data where possible to an external drive, or get a large external drive and move your OS, apps, and everything else there and just run off of that drive.

Regards.

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

82,630 points

Oct 29, 2024 8:13 AM in response to chazbot7

You can move your Photos, Music or Movie Libraries onto an external hard drive to free up space.

Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support

Change where your music files are stored on Mac - Apple Support

Move your iMovie for Mac library - Apple Support

If you move any of your Media Libraries, it is wise to use at least two external drives.

One drive for the Libraries and one drive to backup the Mac and Libraries.

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Answer 3

Oct 29, 2024 4:27 PM in response to chazbot7

You could get a large external SSD – and install macOS, the Adobe suite, and the Microsoft suite on it. I think what is difficult is "putting them on a drive other than the startup drive", not "putting them on an external drive, per se."

To boot off an external SSD, you might need to relax some of the system security that Apple has been building into Apple Silicon Macs.

Install macOS on an external storage device and use it as a startup disk - Apple Support

AppleInsider – How to boot an Apple Silicon Mac from an external drive

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Answer 4

chazbot7 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 29, 2024 4:24 PM in response to varjak paw

Same experience here - I attempted and it never ran correctly. I've moved everything I can and still out of room, maybe 20 GB left which can be quickly exhausted working with his res graphics files on a daily basis.

I was unaware you could actually run macOS off an external drive - after some research I think that's my best option. Just ordered a Thunderbolt NVME enclosure and M2 drive, will come back with results next week.

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Answer 5

chazbot7 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 29, 2024 4:25 PM in response to den.thed

I have already moved everything possible and am still out of room. I don't even have music or photos downloaded because I'm so short on space. Thank you for the suggestions though.

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