MacOS has two SSD on desktop after re-install

[manyelski]

Hi after re-install I have two SSD icons on my desktop one says Apple SSD and one Apple SSD-Data, but only one in the sidebar in Finder. Can I remove one without re-installing all over again? Thanks.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Open Disk Utility, select View→Show All Devices, select the Container. Post a picture showing the info.

How did you do the re-install? Did you you a clean install or just install on top of your current install? And if you did a clean install, did you erase the physical device (View→Show All Devices) or erase the Apple SSD Volume?

 

[jbarley]

Hi after re-install I have two SSD icons on my desktop one says Apple SSD and one Apple SSD-Data, but only one in the sidebar in Finder. Can I remove one without re-installing all over again? Thanks.

Try going to "Finder->Preferences->General" and deselecting "External Disks".
Catalina needs these two disks so do not attempt to remove one.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Try going to "Finder->Preferences->General" and deselecting "External Disks".
Catalina needs these two disks so do not attempt to remove one.
View attachment 949749

The OP has a different issue. If they look in Disk Utility they will probably see 1 instance of Apple SSD and 2 instances of Apple SSD - Data. That happens sometimes but it is not clear why it happens.

 

[jbarley]

Open Disk Utility, select View->Show All Devices


The OP has a different issue. If they look in Disk Utility they will probably see 1 instance of Apple SSD and 2 instances of Apple SSD - Data. That happens sometimes but it is not clear why it happens.

Good call, a quick Google search turns up a load of info on this issue and some possible solutions.

 

[halofan56]

Hi after re-install I have two SSD icons on my desktop one says Apple SSD and one Apple SSD-Data, but only one in the sidebar in Finder. Can I remove one without re-installing all over again? Thanks.

If you are referring to Mojave or Catalina, Your Apple SSD is the read-only system files, and the Apple-Data is your data partition. That's why you see (2) drives. What I understand it helps protect the system from malware or other type malicious software from modifying the system files. On your finder, you only see the data side that relative to you. Completely normal. I think it's pretty smart. Only the osMAC installer can modify these (2) drives.

 

[Taz Mangus]

If you are referring to Mojave or Catalina, Your Apple SSD is the read-only system files, and the Apple-Data is your data partition. That's why you see (2) drives. What I understand it helps protect the system from malware or other type malicious software from modifying the system files. On your finder, you only see the data side that relative to you. Completely normal. I think it's pretty smart. Only the osMAC installer can modify these (2) drives.

You should not see a separate volume mounted on the Desktop for the Data Volume, there should be only Volume mounted on the Desktop. In the OP cases, they should only see Apple SSD Volume, not the Apple SSD - Data Volume. Yes you are correct, Catalina splits the OS in a read-only Volume and a RW Data Volume. They appear combined as one Volume named without the "- Data".

 

[halofan56]

I know you only see (1) drive in finder. Thanks for clarification.