CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202), Domain 1, Objective 1.8 expects you to recognize and use common macOS tools for support tasks. On a real help desk, the difference between a quick fix and a long outage often comes down to knowing where to click, and when not to click.
This objective highlights four tools: Disk Utility, FileVault, Terminal, and Force Quit. Together, they cover storage repair and formatting, device encryption, command-line troubleshooting, and closing frozen apps. In simple terms, these tools help you fix storage problems, protect data, run commands, and regain control when an app stops responding.
By the end, you should be able to find each tool fast, describe what it does, and perform basic, exam-ready actions without taking unnecessary risks.
Disk Utility, check drives, fix errors, and manage storage safely
Disk Utility is macOS's main tool for inspecting and managing disks, volumes, and partitions. Use it when a Mac runs slowly, an external drive won't mount, or storage errors appear after an unsafe shutdown. It also handles tasks like erasing and formatting drives before reuse.
Finding Disk Utility is part of the skill. You can open it in three common ways:
- In Applications > Utilities
- Through Spotlight Search (Command + Space, then type "Disk Utility")
- From Recovery (useful when the startup disk needs repair)
For the A+ exam, focus on what Disk Utility helps you confirm. Is the drive present? Is the volume mounted? Do errors show up in the file system? Those checks matter because they guide your next step. Guessing wastes time and can make damage worse.
Disk Utility also shows the storage hierarchy. A physical disk can contain a container, which can contain one or more volumes (common with APFS). If you understand that structure, you can pick the correct target for repair or erase actions. That reduces mistakes, especially when multiple external drives are connected.
If you're not sure which disk is which, stop and confirm the name, size, and connection type before you act.
First Aid, verify and repair a disk without guessing
First Aid checks and repairs file system structure. In other words, it looks for problems in how files and folders are tracked, not whether a single document "looks corrupted." When those structures break, the symptoms feel random.
Common signs include a Mac that boots slowly, apps that crash more often, Finder that hangs during copies, or an external drive that mounts and then drops. Sometimes you also see alerts about a disk not ejecting properly.
Run First Aid in a safe order, because each layer depends on the one below it:
- Run First Aid on volumes first
- Then run it on the container (if present, such as an APFS Container)
- Finally, run it on the physical disk if problems persist
Repairs work best when the disk is not busy. For an external drive, close apps using it and try again. For the startup disk, macOS may block repairs while it's running. In that case, boot into macOS Recovery and run Disk Utility from there, since the startup disk is less active.
Even when First Aid reports success, you should still watch for repeat symptoms. A drive that keeps failing checks may have hardware issues, so backups become the priority.
Erase, partition, and format, choosing APFS or Mac OS Extended the right way
Erasing a disk wipes its data and sets up a file system. You do this when selling a Mac, reusing an external drive, or fixing a drive with stubborn file system errors. Partitioning splits a physical disk into separate sections, which can help with multi-boot setups or separating data, although most users don't need it.
Formatting choices matter for compatibility. In a CompTIA A+ context, two names show up often:
| Format option | Best fit in practice | Quick reason |
|---|---|---|
| APFS | Modern macOS systems, often SSD-based | Designed for current macOS features and efficiency |
| Mac OS Extended (Journaled) | Older Macs or older macOS compatibility needs | Works well for legacy setups that don't support APFS |
When erasing a boot drive for macOS, GUID Partition Map is the typical scheme. Keep the idea simple: the partition scheme helps the Mac understand how the disk is organized at boot.
One warning belongs in every support workflow: erasing is destructive. Before you click Erase, verify you selected the correct disk in the sidebar. Also confirm you have a backup if the data matters. Many "accidental wipes" come from choosing the wrong external drive name or confusing a volume with the full disk.
FileVault, encrypt your Mac and recover access if something goes wrong
FileVault is full-disk encryption on macOS. It protects data at rest, meaning files stay unreadable if someone removes the drive or steals the laptop. That protection matters most for mobile users, shared environments, and any system with sensitive data.
In current macOS versions, you turn it on in System Settings > Privacy & Security > FileVault. From an exam viewpoint, knowing that location matters. From a support viewpoint, what matters is planning before you enable it.
Start by confirming the user can sign in reliably and knows their password. Encryption is not the time to discover a forgotten password. Next, check for a stable power source, since laptops should stay plugged in during the early stage. Also confirm you have a recovery plan, because FileVault trades convenience for stronger security.
FileVault does not replace backups. It protects against unauthorized access, not accidental deletion or disk failure.