I want to use macmini 8,1 internal disk as startup disk and use external nvme as all the applications and downloads folder
This is all I need to know any help please as my Mac mini is only 128 gigabyte and external is 2tb
[Edited by Moderator]
Mac mini, macOS 15.7
That 128GB internal drive presents a bit of a problem.
Not so much for the downloads issue because you can simply create a "Downloads" folder on the external drive and point your browser(s) to that as the default folder.
As for apps... this will be a bit more complicated as most apps really really want to be installed into the Applications folder in the root directory of the startup drive. You can get away with installing some apps in another location such as a folder on an external drive, but others, not so much.
Unfortunately, you've bought a Mac mini with a severely under-sized startup drive, and unfortunately the 2018 mini (macmini 8,1) internal drive cannot be upgraded.
You may be able to free up some capacity by moving your Photos and Music libraries to an external drive, but it won't be long before that 128GB internal drive becomes too full regardless.
I suggest you simply use your 2TB external drive as the startup drive and leave a fresh copy of macOS on the internal as backup. This would be very easy to setup and much less worrisome as time goes by.
How to use an external storage device as a Mac startup disk - Apple Support
That 128GB internal drive presents a bit of a problem.
Not so much for the downloads issue because you can simply create a "Downloads" folder on the external drive and point your browser(s) to that as the default folder.
As for apps... this will be a bit more complicated as most apps really really want to be installed into the Applications folder in the root directory of the startup drive. You can get away with installing some apps in another location such as a folder on an external drive, but others, not so much.
Unfortunately, you've bought a Mac mini with a severely under-sized startup drive, and unfortunately the 2018 mini (macmini 8,1) internal drive cannot be upgraded.
You may be able to free up some capacity by moving your Photos and Music libraries to an external drive, but it won't be long before that 128GB internal drive becomes too full regardless.
I suggest you simply use your 2TB external drive as the startup drive and leave a fresh copy of macOS on the internal as backup. This would be very easy to setup and much less worrisome as time goes by.
How to use an external storage device as a Mac startup disk - Apple Support
Install macOS on an external SSD/NVMe drive. Boot from the external drive. Either ignore the internal drive or use it for miscellaneous storage.
How to use an external storage device as a Mac startup disk - Apple Support
Many applications expect to be installed in the internal Applications folder or other internal locations. If it were me, I would retire that old, underconfigured Mac Mini and start over with a new one having 32 GB RAM (or more) and a 1 or 2 TB internal drive. Then you can use it as it is intended.
Otherwise, you are embarking on an unsupported configuration that eventually will bite you.
How to use Mac mini's internal disk as startup and external NVMe for applications and downloads?
