How to Run Disk Utility First Aid on Your Mac (And Fix Disk Errors Yourself)
By Shrey Sharma, Founder & Lead Technician · May 2026
Random crashes, apps that won't open, or a Mac that's slower than usual? Disk Utility's First Aid tool can scan and repair common storage errors — completely free, built right into macOS.
Before you spend money on a repair — or worse, a new MacBook — try the free diagnostic and repair tool that's been built into macOS for over a decade: Disk Utility's First Aid. It scans your storage drive's directory structure for errors and automatically repairs the common ones. Here's how to run it properly, and what it can (and can't) fix.
Method 1: Run First Aid While Logged In (For Minor Issues)
- 1Open Finder, then go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility (or Spotlight search: Cmd+Space, type 'Disk Utility')
- 2In the sidebar, select your main startup disk — usually named 'Macintosh HD'
- 3Click the First Aid button in the toolbar
- 4Click Run when prompted — the scan can take 2 to 20 minutes depending on storage size and how full it is
- 5Review the results: 'The volume [name] appears to be OK' means no errors found; any errors found are usually fixed automatically and reported in the log
Method 2: Run First Aid from Recovery Mode (For Deeper Issues)
If your Mac is freezing, showing the spinning beach ball constantly, or apps are crashing on launch, running First Aid from Recovery Mode gives the tool full access to repair the disk without your operating system actively using it — leading to a more thorough scan and repair.
- 1Shut down your Mac completely
- 2Apple Silicon: press and hold the power button until 'Loading startup options' appears, then click Options > Continue. Intel: press the power button, then immediately hold Command (⌘) + R until the Apple logo appears
- 3From the macOS Utilities window, select Disk Utility and click Continue
- 4Select 'Macintosh HD' (or your main volume) in the sidebar, then click First Aid > Run
- 5Once complete, restart your Mac normally from the Apple menu
What First Aid Can Fix vs. What It Can't
| First Aid CAN Fix | First Aid CANNOT Fix |
|---|---|
| Directory structure errors and corrupted file system metadata | Physical/mechanical drive failure (clicking sounds, complete drive death) |
| Permission issues causing apps to crash or misbehave | Logic board faults (won't turn on, random shutdowns from hardware) |
| Minor file system inconsistencies after improper shutdowns | Data already overwritten by new files after deletion |
| Some causes of slow performance related to disk indexing errors | Liquid damage, swollen battery, or any physical component failure |
| 'Disk not ejected properly' related corruption | Severe corruption requiring a full data recovery and fresh macOS install |
You'll see a message like 'The underlying task reported failure' or a specific error code. At this point, back up your data immediately (if the Mac is still accessible) — this usually signals deeper file system corruption or early signs of drive failure that need either a fresh macOS reinstall or, in worse cases, a drive replacement plus data recovery.
Never interrupt First Aid mid-scan by force-shutting down your Mac — this can make existing corruption significantly worse and, in rare cases, render the drive unreadable. If it seems frozen for an unusually long time (more than an hour on a standard SSD), that itself is a sign of a deeper hardware issue, and you should consult a technician rather than force-restarting.
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