MacBook Air M1 - SSD Size update

Question

Level 1

27 points

MacBook Air M1 - SSD Size update

Hi

I recently upgraded to the latest iOS version for my MacBook Air M1 2020. Everything is fine but for some reason my SSD is showing as 500GB with some 343GB free. However, I purchased a 256GB SSD with my MacBook Air. Has anyone noticed something similar or is this just an error?

I have recently installed Parallels onto my laptop for work so not sure if that impacts or affects. I also have two One Drives linked to the laptop but that is working fine.

Is it even possible that a patch can increase a SSD.

Thanks!

MacBook Air (2020 or later)

Posted on Sep 16, 2021 4:48 PM

Reply

Answer 1

ku4hx

Level 7

23,694 points

Sep 17, 2021 9:23 AM in response to Bryanmac75

No software patch can increase physical disk size. However, a patch might correct reporting errors. Keep in mind, a KiloByte (1,000 bytes) is actually 1,024 KB. the difference between 500 and 512 may just be how the programmer chose to express the size. On my iMac, "Storage" under "About This Mac" says 500GB. Get Info shows 499.96 GB. Both are correct depending on exactly how the size is reported and/or calculated.

If you bought a 256GB drive but actually got a 500 GB drive, my wife would call that "lagniappe" (pronounced lan-yap), an unexpected but welcomed gift.

Reply

Answer 2

Sep 16, 2021 6:19 PM in response to Bryanmac75

That might be some error, and a strange one. Never saw this kind of error here.

Try restarting your Mac holding Shift to enter Safe Mode and check Disk Utility there.

Restart normally and check again.

Can you post a print of Disk Utility and About this Mac > Storage tab?

Reply

Answer 3

SergZak

Level 6

10,756 points

Sep 17, 2021 11:23 AM in response to Bryanmac75

Look up the specs for your particular MacBook using it's serial number (or other device identifiers) at the following website:

https://everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/

Reply

Answer 4

Sep 17, 2021 4:48 AM in response to Rafael Scheid

Rafael Scheid wrote:

It's a bit strange because it should say 512GB, not just 500GB.

....

It is not strange that 500 GB is reported in disk utility for a 512 GB drive as the extra 12 GB is over provisioning. Extra blocks to replace bad blocks that are not included is "useable" space.

Reply