Formatting external hard drive for mac and pc
Formatting external hard drive for mac and pc. (Image: © Future) Plug your external hard drive into your Mac then launch the Disk Utility app. Click the "Command + Space" keys to find "Disk Utility" and open it. Jun 22, 2018 · While you can read files from these drives just fine, if you need to write to a PC-formatted hard drive, you'll need some third-party software to get the job done. Select the drive on the left. Nov 3, 2022 · Steps for how to format an external drive on a Mac. Pick your Seagate drive, then click Setup Disk. Connect the Mac hard drive to Windows computer as an external hard drive. Choose the WD hard drive on the left side and click "Erase. Jan 25, 2024 · Need some extra storage space on your mac? This guide will show you how to format an external hard drive for Mac. Then type in “Disk Utility”. Apr 27, 2014 · 5. Works with PC, Mac, and iPad USB-C, just plug-in and go. For example, you might want to do this if you use a flash drive to store data files you need to use on your Mac at home and when using a Windows-based computer at school or the public library. First to format your Elements WD drive to Mac OS Extended Journaled file system. " Step 4. Boot your Mac computer and then plug your WD hard drive into your Mac. Not for performance on a Mac. Launch Disk Drill and grant it full disk access (required if you want Disk Drill to find your lost files). #9. “ External Hard Drive Compatible with Mac and PC Without Reformatting “. Connect your external hard drive to your Windows 10 PC. To do this on Windows 8 or Windows 7, press the Windows key once, type cmd , and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter. If the hard drive you want to format is connected to your PC, it should be there. 1. Under the “Format” option, select “ExFAT”. Once Apr 19, 2022 · An external SSD gives you the best performance over APFS, provided you don’t need to use the drive with other pre-Sierra Macs. 2. Connect your Seagate external hard drive to your Mac. The steps to format your WD hard drive are provided here. Right-click on your external hard drive’s volume and select ‘Format’ from the context menu. Plug the WD hard drive into the Mac. " It will automatically locate the connected drive, and you can load it. Open the default Apple application called Disk Utility. Jan 29, 2024 · Formatting a hard drive can change the file system to make it compatible with your computer's operating system and fix any errors on the drive. Click OK. This will list all storage devices connected to your Mac. Most storage devices will come formatted for Windows PC. . And set your drive up for Time Machine. Jan 12, 2024 · 3. Follow these steps to do so: In Disk Utility, locate the list of storage devices on the left sidebar. The Disk Management window will open. Tick "Perform Quick Format" and click "Start". Both a Mac and a PC can read and write ExFAT but that would mean formatting your external disk. Select ExFAT. Apple created APFS for the faster solid state drive technology. Because both a Mac and a PC can read and write to an ExFAT formatted external drive. Set a new file system format to an external hard drive, such as FAT32 or exFAT. In the sections that follow, we will break down the process of using a Mac-formatted external hard drive on a PC into simple steps. May 12, 2023 · Step 1. Ensure "Quick Format" is checked and hit Start. Select a new name for your external hard drive in the pop-up window. If you want to optimize performance, it’s best to format the drive using the computer’s native file system. g. Check Perform a quick format Click Next. Also, drives that will be used for storage need to be formatted. You use Disk Utility. In Mac, two ways to format drives can be used for both Mac and PC. In Disk Utility, you can format an external disk that you can use with both a Microsoft Windows-based computer and a Mac. It should appear as a separate drive under “This PC” or “My Computer. It’s never been easy to upgrade the storage in Macs, so it’s always a good Oct 25, 2023 · Open the file explorer on your PC by clicking the folder icon in the taskbar or pressing the Windows key + E. Apr 19, 2024 · It can format WD Passport for Mac. Click Next. Look in the side bar of the File Explorer window and click on This PC. 5. Choose your external disk from the sidebar. Click the Partition tab. ExFAT runs on a Mac but is designed for sharing. Seagate Firecuda Special Edition . Link the external hard drive to your Mac. See full list on digitaltrends. Apr 22, 2012 · Remember, formatting a drive erases all data contained on it so back up important files before proceeding. You format WD My Passport to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) file system. It’s important to choose the file system that suits your need. How to Format an External Hard Drive for use on Ma Aug 19, 2013 · It appears that you have formatted your external hard drive in Mac OS Extended format, which is not supported in Windows. Select the drive you want to format (internal or external) by right-clicking and choosing Format…. APFS (Apple File System) is the best format for a Mac SSD drive. Aug 14, 2022 · Mac OS Extended VS ExFAT For External SSD’s. The exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) format is a file system specifically designed for use with external storage devices, including external hard drives. Let’s quickly review how to format any drive for Mac and Windows PC compatibility with read and write support. Mar 27, 2023 · In this video we'll cover how to Format a Western Digital External Hard Drive for use on macOS and Windows. Oct 20, 2023 · Step 4: Select the Seagate External Hard Drive. Wait until Windows automatically detects the external hard drive and configures it as an expansion drive. Feb 9, 2008 · Feb 9, 2008. Open up File Explorer and right-click on the drive. If this option is not available to you, reformat the drive to NTFS 3 days ago · Step 1: Connect the external hard drive with your Mac, and the computer will mount your external hard drive. Aug 2, 2022 · If you’re using Windows 7 or more recent versions, you can follow the next steps to format a new hard drive or reformat a used one, including an external hard drive using a macOS format. Format with Disk Utility on Mac. If you are not sure which one is best for you the File System Format Comparisions Therfore, you can connect Backup Plus Desktop to a Windows PC without formatting the hard drive. On the Apple menu, click "Go" and select "Applications". Next you format to ExFAT. Click the "Erase" button and select the desired file system. Apr 23, 2023 · Making Your External Hard Drive Compatible Mac And PC On A PC. Press CMD + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search. Change the Partition Layout from Current to 1 Partition. Then Scroll down to Time Machine and click that option. FAT stands for File Allocation Table. First format your Seagate external drive to Mac OS Extended Journaled file system. Jan 8, 2024 · Here’s how to reformat external hard drive Mac using Disk Utility: Connect the external drive to your Mac. It’s the oldest Microsoft file format originally developed for MS-DOS. How do I format a WD external hard drive for a Mac? 1. Jul 21, 2022 · Then choose Utilities > Startup Security Utility and change the security policy. /dev/disk2) for your external drive. Let Terry show you the way. Plug In Your External Hard Drive And Open File Explorer. Share. Mar 20, 2024 · To format an external drive from Terminal: Connect the external drive to your Mac. Choose Format. Oct 25, 2023 · Select your Seagate external hard drive from the list of available storage devices in Disk Utility. SAMSUNG T7 Portable SSD. Choose the drive and click "Erase" to format it. Right-click. Locate and right-click on the target external hard drive and click "Format". Next, open a Command Prompt window as administrator. In this video, learn How to Format your Western Digital (WD) 5TB External Hard Drive for Mac and PC🔔 Subscribe for more free small business marketing tips: Mar 13, 2023 · If you’d like to format your external hard drive for Mac and PC, Disk Management will come in handy. Disk Utility Select External Hard Drive. Click Go on the top tool bar, and select Utilities. To Partition The External Hard Drive For Mac And Windows PC. Both file system formats will run fine on external SSD’s. $99. Aug 29, 2020 · Have you ever wondered how to format your external hard drive or SSD to work on both an Apple Mac and a Windows PC computer. APFS is optimized to run on a Mac. Choose the disk format and partition scheme (GUID Jan 23, 2024 · Download Disk Drill and install it on your Mac by dragging the icon to the Applications folder. When you want the fastest speed from your SSD drive. In the Devices and Drives section of the main window, you should see your external hard drive. Click the Erase button in the toolbar. Click Utilities. Feb 14, 2024 · To format WD My Passport for Windows, do this: 1. Steps to Format a Drive on macOS. Choose a name that is descriptive and easy to remember. Aug 20, 2018 · Check the box Perform a quick format. Hey all. May 23, 2024 · Method 2. ly/32SoDnDImportant Tip:😎 Leave comments Mar 10, 2022 · It’s the original format the Mac operating system – Mac OS, used. Connect the USB or external hard drive to your Mac computer. External storage space for Macs uses HFS+ or APFS. Sep 9, 2023 · Plug-in your drive into the computer’s USB port. In the Disk Management app, right-click on the drive and select “New Simple Volume May 14, 2024 · Check the following questions about formatting WD my passport for Mac. Apr 28, 2016 · To use HFSExplorer, connect your Mac-formatted drive to your Windows PC and launch HFSExplorer. Open File Explorer. Apr 22, 2024 · You can try the following steps to format USB or external hard drive for Mac with Disk Utility on Mac: Step 1. On your Windows PC open the File Explorer App. WD Black P10 Game Drive. See the Mac section for more details. You can do this quickly by pressing CMD and the spacebar at the same time. Press Windows key + R to open Disk Management. If you want to erase any other type of storage device: Double-click Disk Utility in the /Applications/Utilities folder. Your Mac will then format your Seagate hard drive as a Mac drive. You can find this in the /Applications/Utilities folder but you can Mar 13, 2023 · FAT32. Then your Seagate storage is ready for your Mac and your Windows computer. In Disk Utility on Mac, you can erase and reformat storage devices to use with your Mac. You can use LaCie Setup Assistant to format your LaCie hard drive when it is first connected to a computer (Mac or Windows). Oct 23, 2023 · ExFAT Format for External Hard Drives on Mac. For you to use those ‘for Mac’ hard drives for Mac and PC, you’ll need to change their format. Step 1. Open the Disk Management tool by right-clicking This PC -> Manage -> Disk Management. a little window will open and select NTFS and quick format. Name the external SSD and select the format you need. However, NTFS is not fully compatible with Mac computers. 3 days ago · How to Partition an External Drive in Windows 10. When formatting, consider the capacity, file system, allocation unit size, and volume label. 6) Change the Partition Layout from Current to 1 Partition. Choose ‘Mac OS Extended (Journaled)’ as the format. 3. Open the Windows search box, type “diskmgmt. Open Disk Utility and select the hard drive you want to format. 4. Both ExFAT and MacOS Extended were created in the days of the external hard drive. Link the drive to your Mac. Launch EaseUS Partition Master, right-click on the Mac hard drive and select "Format". ExFAT VS APFS For External SSD Or External Hard Drive. Click the Start button and type this PC > select This PC app. Shop for formatting hard drive for mac and pc at Best Buy. Connect the USB cable to your hard drive and plug the other end into your Mac. If you plan to directly connect the disk to your Mac, Time Machine will only work on it if it's formatted as an HFS+ volume (which Windows can't read without installing some third-party HFS+ driver software ). In the sidebar, select the disk you want to format to use with Windows computers. Open Disk Utility. Select the drive from the left sidebar, then click the Partition tab. Select NTFS if using the drive only with Windows and exFAT if also using it with Mac. Click on the “Erase” tab at the top of the Disk Utility window. Steps for macOS. Step 4. Just select the files or folders you want Jan 28, 2024 · Click there. Choose the formatted hard drive you want to scan and click the “Search for lost data” button to start the scan. Dec 1, 2015 · Format Hard Drive (Mac) 1. Next you format your drive to an ExFAT file system. Then, click Erase. 3) Select the drive you want to format. ExFAT was created in 2006 by Microsoft. Time Machine backups to APFS are impressive Aug 20, 2018 · Select and assign a drive letter. Here are the tools you can use to work with NTFS-formatted drives on your Mac. To do that, connect the empty external HD to your Mac and launch Disk Utility. May 9, 2023 · To format your drive using Disk Utility: Connect your external hard drive securely to your Mac and launch Disk Utility (Finder > Applications > Utilities). With exFAT, you can store files of any size, and use it with any computer made in the last 20 years. Click Go. Select NTFS Format (recommended). Formatting as FAT32 will let both your PC and your Mac read from and write to the disk. You'll see the contents of the HFS+ drive in the graphical window. Click This PC. Click ‘Erase’ to format the drive. Tuxera NTFS for Mac. Backup Your Existing Data: Before proceeding with the formatting process, it’s essential to back up any important data on the external hard drive. If you need to use a single external hard drive to format for Mac and PC, however, there are a couple of LaCie Mobile Drive (2022) 3. Now that you know which format to use, check out our guide on how to format your hard drive on Apr 19, 2024 · Let's take a look at the steps below. Available from the smallest 500 GB size all the way up to 2TB, this external SSD from Samsung writes up to 1,000 MB/s, which is a stellar rate. Aug 30, 2017 · Aug 30, 2017. LaCie Setup Assistant helps you to quickly format the storage device according to your needs. Enter a name for the drive. Apple lets you format an external drive and choose APFS for Time Machine on macOS Big Sur. To unlock an encrypted hard drive, Control-click the drive icon in the main Finder. In the menu that pops up, select Decrypt “Drive Name” and enter the password for that drive. Follow the steps to format an external drive on a macOS. Oct 16, 2019 · The Best Format for External Hard Drives. Right-click on the external hard drive and select “Format” from the context menu. msc then click OK. Method 3. Click on Erase on the top. 2) Open Disk Utility. msc and then click OK. Click the Scheme pop-up menu, then choose GUID Partition Map. And that formatting makes them a Mac hard drive. 7. Oct 23, 2023 · Follow these steps to format your external hard drive for both Mac and PC: Connect the External Hard Drive: Connect the external hard drive to your computer using the appropriate cable or connector. For example, in the screenshot below, the Mac-formatted drive is Disk 2. Click here when the external hard drive doesn't mount on Mac. Jan 27, 2018 · Here’s how to format a drive if you are planning to use it with a Mac. #13. Locate and select the External Drive under This PC. Step 2: Launchpad → Other → Disk Utility, and click the Disk Utility. Type “diskutil list” and press Enter. Go to Applications and launch Disk Utility. For Mac, you will need to reformat the drive prior to using it because it will be read-only on a Mac, which means you will be unable to copy or move data to the drive. Improve this answer. Jul 29, 2022 · You can use an APFS formatted external drive as the destination for your Mac Time Machine backup. ”. Can you Sep 6, 2023 · Follow the steps to format an external drive on a Windows. Double-click "Utilities" in the Applications window. Open Disk Utility, select the external hard drive and go to Partition. Select a File System. Apr 19, 2024 · Remove and disconnect the Mac hard drive from your Mac computer. To format a hard drive or SSD in Windows 11, open File Explorer, browse to "This PC," right-click the drive, and select "Format" to start the process. Feb 22, 2012 · To create a new partition, click the drive in the list on the left side of the Disk Utility menu. To format a hard drive for Windows, open the File Explorer and click on This PC. With files getting larger and larger Microsoft kept extending the number of bytes they supported until they released FAT32. Formatting an external hard drive for Mac is not a daunting task, but it’s important to approach it with caution. Best Format For Mac SSD Drives. Launch Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal). By default, Mac OS X will use the GUID Mar 30, 2023 · 1) Connect your external hard drive to the Mac. Select the external hard drive. Jul 18, 2023 · If you have a smaller flash drive or removable storage, FAT32 can likely get the job done. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up 4 days ago · Bottom Line: The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro external drive is designed for professional videographers and others who work in the field with Thunderbolt 3-equipped computers (most often Macs). Before you click ‘Format’, ensure that you’ve backed up any important data from your external hard drive because formatting will permanently erase everything on the drive. The steps are as follows. com Dec 14, 2023 · 1. It is the faster file system format for your Mac running MacOS High Sierra (10. Click the + sign to add a second partition It’s important to choose the file system that suits your need. Right-click on it and select the Format option from the context menu. Both computers use different op Apr 22, 2024 · Step 3. G-Drive ArmorATD. It normally uses a USB-C cable, but if your computer doesn’t yet support this, a standard USB-A cable is also provided. Jan 24, 2024 · 1. Look across the top of the Disk Utility screen and you’ll see a button labeled ‘Partition’. Set Up To Show Time Machine Icon In Menu Bar. And the best security features use APFS. Windows operating systems will support FAT 32, NTFS file format. Oct 28, 2020 · Disk Utility In Spotlight Search. If necessary, first copy your important data. ----This video is from CMAC — the community media c May 9, 2023 · Connect your WD Elements drive to your Mac. Then your Western Digital external hard drive is ready to use on your Mac. Jul 21, 2022 · Formatting an external hard drive on Windows can be accomplished in just a few steps. After that you can use your Passport external hard drive on both Mac and PC. It was introduced by Microsoft to address the limitations of FAT32 and provide better compatibility and performance. " Step 3. Oct 8, 2021 · Start up your computer as usual, but hold down the WINDOWS key and type in R to open the Run dialog box. Conclusion. But in order for the computer and drive to communicate with one another, the drive has to be formatted with the correct file system. Locate the external hard drive in the file explorer. Step 5. Connect the drive to the computer. Open "Utilities" in the Mac Finder and look for "Disk Utility. Select your drive from the left sidebar and click Erase. Right-click on your external hard drive and select Shrink Volume. Select your disk in the left sidebar. If you are not sure which one is best for you the File System Format Comparisions Dec 23, 2020 · Formatting a hard drive to work with both PC and Mac is easier than you think. Format Your Hard Drive on Windows Using File Explorer. Select the external hard drive on the left-hand side. Click Start. Select Format. One-click or automatic backup makes file storage extra smooth, plus up to 2TB of capacity makes plenty of room for photos, playlists, docs, and more. Enter a Volume Label (eg. 4) Click the Partition tab. Small Sep 26, 2023 · An external drive formatted with the exFAT or FAT32 file system can be read and written to by both Windows PCs and Macs natively. Step 3. See all Mac External Hard Drives & SSDs. Select exFAT under the File system, and give the drive a name under the Volume label . Apr 19, 2024 · If you want to format the external hard drive on your Mac system, you can use it and follow the steps below. NTFS (recommended) exFAT if the drive is to be used on both Windows and macOS; Leave the Allocation unit size to the default value. Click the ‘Erase’ button. Type Disk Utility Press Enter. Reformat to a format called ExFAT. Connect the external SSD to your Mac. Click the Partition button in Disk Utility’s main window. J. Click Ok. However, you won’t be asked for this option for the already formatted HFS+ disk. Click Erase in the toolbar. Step 3: Choose your target external hard drive or volume, and click Erase on the top. Step 2. Click Show All Devices. Connect the external hard drive to the computer. Then choose MSDOS under the Format menu. The old format was designed in 1978 as an 8-bit file system. Click the Format drop down. Be aware that formatting a hard drive erases the drive's contents in the process. Connect your WD My Passport hard drive to your Windows PC through the USB cable. Feb 17, 2023 · Follow the steps below to format WD Elements for Mac with Disk Utility. Click View. Here's how to format an external hard drive on your Mac, Windows 10, or Windows 11 computer. And this post is all about a compatible hard drive for Mac and PC without formatting. Locate and open A drive can be used on any type of computer - PC or Mac. I agree with others - you have two viable options: 1 - purchase a second hard drive, format the new hard drive in HFS+, transfer the files from the NTFS drive into the new HFS+ external, and then format the old NTFS drive to HFS+, ExFAT, or FAT32. Identify the disk identifier (e. Choose Master Boot Record. Oct 20, 2023 · While the PC can read both NTFS and exFAT formats, by default, it cannot directly access or write files on a Mac-formatted drive. And on your Windows computer. While a Mac can read NTFS drives, it cannot write to them without third party software. After opening Disk Utility, the next step in reformatting your Seagate External Hard Drive for Mac is to select the drive you want to reformat. If you have a drive that is formatted for a different type of computer or a drive that is not preformatted, you will need to format the drive before you can use it. Jun 14, 2022 · Take a look at this document. Whether it’s an external hard drive or an external SSD. My Book, My Passport, Backup1). When you click Erase, a format menu will pop-up with three main choices with sub-formats: – Apple In the Disk Utility app on your Mac, choose View > Show All Devices. Click the "Erase" option again. In the sidebar, select the storage device you want to erase, then click the Erase button . When the box opens, type in diskmgmt. Plug in your external hard drive to your computer via a USB cable and open Disk Management. If the drive needs an external power supply, plug that in ahead of connecting up the USB cable. Set a new file system - NTFS to the drive, and tick "Perform a quick format". Erasing a storage device deletes everything on it. For maximum compatibility, back up everything from the external hard drive onto your Mac. The Windows Search Box is the magnifying button icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen. Paragon NTFS for Mac. Choose View > Show All Devices. Open "Utilities" and find "Disk Utility. Decrypt the External Hard Drive. Aug 30, 2019 · Formatted external hard drive without backup and want to recover the data? Try Recoverit data recovery: http://bit. Click "OK", and "Execute Task". Read the information below if you: Aborted LaCie Setup Assistant while it was formatting. If you want to format your external hard drive to work with Mac and Windows computers, you should use exFAT. Once your PC mounts the hard drive, a disk icon will appear on the desktop. Important note: All your data on the external disk will be erased. Locate your external hard drive, right-click on it, and select “Format” from the context menu. Pick The External Hard Drive You’re Going To Partition For Mac And Windows. If you want to connect Backup Plus Desktop to a Mac as well as a Windows PC, you can install special software that allows Macs to read and write files to NTFS hard drives similar to Windows PCs. Select the external SSD on the left side and click "Erase" on the page. Possibly you might get NTFS or May 9, 2024 · In the left-hand margin, click on the external hard drive you have connected and in the main window, you’ll see information such as the drive name, capacity and connection type. msc,” and hit enter. Click on Erase to start the formatting the external hard drive. Run the format command, replacing Feb 14, 2024 · Steps To Set Up WD Passport For Mac And Windows. This article explains about file systems and provides instruction to format a drive on Windows and Mac. Nov 18, 2023 · Learn how to reformat an external hard drive (disk drive, SSD) to use with your Mac. After plugging in your external drive. Click The Button Add Backup Disk. Type diskmgmt. Jul 7, 2021 · Next, open File Explorer, navigate to This PC in the left-hand column and click on the shortcut. Disk Utility is a tool for Mac that can change the file system or format internal and external drives. Enter a name for your formatted hard drive. Formatting a new external hard drive on Windows. Click Finish. Right-click on the drive's icon to bring up the context menu, then select Format from the list. Mar 27, 2019 · An external hard drive is typically formatted for use by a single operating system type. Name your drive, select the ExFAT format, and select the GUID Partition Map scheme. If Disk Utility isn’t open, click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, type Disk Utility in the Search field, then click the Disk Utility icon . Head to This PC (My Computer), right-click the drive you want to format, and select Format. Either head to Applications > Utilities, or tap Command + Space and start typing Disk Utility. 13) or later. If you need to use your drive on both Mac and PC then it’s best to format exFAT. 6. Make sure the Quick Format box is ticked and leave all the Dec 10, 2023 · Quick Links. Connect Your WD Passport Into Your Mac. Power Up And Sign Into Your Mac. then when in XP right click the external disk (only the FAT32 parition should should show up) and click format. Choose the external hard drive’s partition or the unallocated space you want to Feb 15, 2024 · Step 4: Right-click and select ‘Format’. Aug 30, 2018 · To do so, connect the Passport to your PC, enter the Windows 8 Start menu and choose “Disk Management. MacOS Extended in 1998 for Mac OS X by Apple. Under Volume Scheme, choose 1 Partition, then click Options. I will introduce a simple method. Sep 2, 2014 · First, note the number of the disk in the disk management window. However, a drive formatted with NTFS or HFS+ will only work optimally on a PC or Mac respectively. Jun 16, 2022 · Typically, an external hard drive for a Windows PC uses an NTFS file system. Launch Disk Utility. However, for larger flash drives and external drives that have higher file capacity, exFAT may be best Drives that will be bootable are formatted during the process of installing the operating system (ie, Windows or macOS). Anyone recommend the best format to make an external drive to work on both Mac and PC? The current external drive I have I formatted to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) but I've been reading a few articles that are saying exFAT is the way to go, as long as you're not planning on using the drive on older systems, which I most likely will not be. Feb 15, 2024 · Connect the external hard drive to your Mac. But neither is optimized for SSD’s. Connect your WD external hard drive to your Mac. Optional Formatting and Partitioning. Click the "File" menu and select "Load File System From Device. 99. In the File System dropdown, choose exFAT. in Leopard FAT32 is listed as MS-DOS (FAT) and in Tiger MS-DOS. In Disk Management, you’ll see your external hard drive as partition or unallocated space. Open Finder. ca za br yg yj jw rr qt yp ox