macOS APFS Container: Partition table mismatch | Auckland
Pattern to record: Volumes appear at wrong sizes or only on one operating system.
Identify the storage layer
APFS separates the physical device, container and individual volumes. Record which layer fails to appear or mount, and protect required files before changing container metadata or removing snapshots. One possible explanation is that primary and backup disk layout records disagree.
Protect data before repair
A reinstall or erase is not a data-recovery first step. Writing guessed boundaries can overwrite the start of a volume.
Evidence to check on the protected copy
- Protect the physical drive and inspect container, volume and snapshot structure before repair.
- Compare both partition-table copies on an image of the whole device.
Recovery and verification
If the checks support this cause, repair the authoritative table or recover partitions without formatting. Verification should cover mounting, startup, snapshots, file access, sleep and verified backup.
For an assessment of your Mac computer, contact AEPC in Burswood or call 027 908 8880. Provide the model and the conditions that reproduce this problem. Workshop visits are by appointment.