where's my What goes into a good drive name
- A unique number — never reused.
- Optional type or size — helps you grab the right drive:
SSD,8TB. - Optional role —
RAW,PROXY,ARCH,BKP.
Examples that work
| Convention | Example | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Running number | WMD-017 | Anyone — simplest |
| Type + size + number | T7-2TB-03 | Mixed hardware |
| Role + number | RAW-042, BKP-042 | Media + backup pairs |
| Year + number | 2026-011 | Archives by year |
| Client + number | ACME-02 | Agencies with long-running clients |
Pair backups explicitly
If RAW-042 has a backup, call it BKP-042. Anyone looking at either drive knows its twin exists and what it is called. Add a note in your catalog saying which is the master.
Match the volume name to the label
Rename the volume itself (in Finder / Disk Management) to the same ID as the label. When the drive mounts, you see immediately which physical drive it is.
Avoid spaces and special characters in volume names — some tools and scripts still stumble on them. Letters, numbers and hyphens are safe everywhere.
What to avoid
- Project names as drive names — projects move, drives stay.
- “NEW”, “FINAL”, “MISC”, “BACKUP??” — the classics.
- Reusing a number after a drive dies.
Renaming a volume
- macOS: click the drive on the desktop or in Finder’s sidebar, press Return, type the new name.
- Windows: right-click the drive in File Explorer → Rename.
Some file systems limit name length (FAT32 volume labels are 11 characters), which is another reason to keep IDs short.
What to do with drives that already have names
Do not rename everything in one go if projects reference drives by name — some editing software relinks media by path. Give each drive its new ID on the label and in the catalog first; rename the volume when its current project closes.
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Frequently asked questions
How should I name my external hard drives?
Use a short unique ID (e.g. WMD-017 or T7-2TB-03), rename the volume to match, and keep project details in a catalog instead of the name.
Should the drive name include the project?
No — projects move between drives. Keep the drive name stable and let the catalog show what is on it.
