Aug 22, 2019 as both windows and mac provide native solutions to format hard drive, you should avoid using any unreliable thirdparty tool. How to format external hard drive to use on mac and pc. While formatting, you would be asked to pick a file system for the disk. How to convert a macformatted drive to a windows drive. This type of file system is the right choice to be usable for ssds and mechanical drives. Make sure your external hard drive is attached and mounted to. Select your external hard drive or usb flash drive from the list on the left. Fat32, ntfs, and exfat, lets have a look whats the difference between these formats. How to format drive with compatible file system for mac. However, you cant write or delete files from a mac. A single high resolution file can easily go over 4 gb, so fat32 may not the best format. This is due to the fact that fat32 is an older file system. A new mac with its inbuilt ssd comes preformatted with a file system that contains the macos itself. Mar 22, 2012 the best ways to format an external drive for windows and mac.
As both windows and mac provide native solutions to format hard drive, you should avoid using any unreliable thirdparty tool. Run it on your mac, choose this mode wipe hard drive. Rather than use a macformatted drive, you should get the important files off of it and use exfatformatted drives for moving data between macs and pcs. To this day, it remains the default file system for mechanical and hybrid hard drives, both while installing macos and while formatting external. Then you can choose one of the hard drive and format it by click on format button. Apfs apple file system this is a newer file system that apple introduced with its high sierra update. This mac disk formatting software is pretty simple to use. How to format a hard drive on mac to work on mac and pc. Also, if your current hard drive is more than 5 years old, it probably is nearing the end of its service life and needs to be replaced. Dec 29, 2015 how to format a hard drive for both windows and mac. Highlight your drive and click partition in disk utility. Both windows and mac can read drives formatted with this. If you format your external hard drive to hfs, you can use it on mac and linux by removing journaling. Format a usb drive as exfat for mac and windows compatibility.
Please keep in mind that reformatting will result in the loss of all the data on the hard drive so make sure you back up your data elsewhere before starting. Fat32 is the crossplatform format for windows and mac os x. How to format external hard drive mac 2 simple methods revealed. Format an external hard drive or usb flash drive for mac os x. How to format hard drives on windows, mac and linux. How to format an external hard drive on windows and mac. It will be the default format that will be used for internal drives and also newer external hard drives that are designed specifically for mac use. The best ways to format an external drive for windows and mac cnet. It is similar to exfat which can be read by both windows and mac, but it can store more than 4gb files. All data has to be put in a file format that the operating system can read off the hard drive. This is a simple procedure and is achieved the same way for all drive types and through all connections, be they usb, firewire, or thunderbolt. Doubleclick the icon of the drive in order to open it its window.
But luckily, there are file systems well supported by both mac and windows pc, and they are fat32 it might be called msdos on mac and exfat. If you want to make your drive compatible with mac and windows, you need to format it with a common file system for mac and windows. Make sure that the sidebar in disk utility shows the name of your startup disk. How to format a hdd from ntfs to apple os x file system. Click erase button, the external hard drive will be formatted. Give your drive a name and select the file system you want from the format dropdown. Windows uses ntfs, and mac os uses hfs, these file systems are not compatible with each other. As long as we format the external hard drive to one of these 2 file systems, it can be shared between mac and windows. Ntfs is the default file system for windows operating system and hfs for mac operating system. Just plug that drive into your mac, copy files to it, and use it as a neutral, shared storage location. The easiest way to do that is hit cmd and the spacebar at the same time and type in disk utility to find the program. The max size for any given file stored on a fat32formatted hd is 4gb.
This is a default file system for linux os including raspberry pi. How to format or partition an external hard drive for mac. In disk utility on your mac, format disks or volumes using apple file system. Heres how to format a drive if you are planning to use it with a mac. But before you click the format disk button and erase all the contents of the macformatted drive, consider the alternatives. Mar 15, 2018 rather than use a macformatted drive, you should get the important files off of it and use exfatformatted drives for moving data between macs and pcs. If you have already written any data to the drive, back it up before proceeding to the next. Sometimes, you may want to try format directly to format your external hard drive partition to exfat for mac and windows. The hdd file extension is mainly associated with parallels workstation and parallels desktop for mac virtualization software a family of competitive products to vmware workstation. How to share an external hard drive between mac and windows. How to format an external drive for mac compatibility. How to share files between mac os x and windows with boot camp. Transfer the files from your mac to an external drive.
The hdd file extension is mainly associated with parallels workstation and parallels desktop for mac virtualization software a family of competitive products to vmware workstation a typical. The main difference is it can store files over 4gb. Hard drives advertised as being compatible with windows and mac. When youre reformatting a hard drive, windows will ask you what format to use. Disk utility in macos high sierra or later can erase most disks and volumes for mac using either the newer apfs apple file system format or the older mac os extended format, and it automatically chooses a compatible format for you. Luckily, there are thirdparty tools to help you do so. However there is a simple solution you can format the drive to fat32 or exfat that performs better than fat32. Therefore, make sure that the file system is supported by your mac or windows. This mac propriety file system and is used in ios and mac. Jan 17, 2020 but luckily, there are file systems well supported by both mac and windows pc, and they are fat32 it might be called msdos on mac and exfat. File system formats available in disk utility on mac apple support.
However, when you format your hard drive with super eraser for mac, all your data will be permanently lost. It is advised not to change the builtin apfs format into mac os extended under any situation. How to format a drive for mac and pc compatibility posted by ant on march 11th, 2012 43 comments if you have an external hard drive or usb flash drive that youd like to use on both macs and windows pcs, choosing the right file system to format the drive can be confusing. Quickly format an external hard drive for mac and windows pc. The file system column on the storage sidebar displays the current file format. How to format drive with compatible file system for mac and. With disk utility open, locate the hard drive you want to partition and select partition. How to format a hard drive for both windows and mac laptop mag. Our goal is to help you understand what a file with a. Use the exfat file system and never format your external. Fat32 is another option, but it limits file transfer to 4gb, so choose exfat when formatting your drive. To find out the current format of the drive, you can look into the system information.
The best format for your external hard drive the hellotech blog. The volume representing your startup disk is macintosh hd, unless. If you need to format external hard drive mac or windows, you may also consider the exfat files system. How to format external hard drives for mac and windows. Instead of a quick format, you should follow the standard process. The mac drive may have an efi system partition on it. The thing is that by default, these platforms use different file systems discs are formatted differently. External data storage devices such as usb flash drives, external hard disk drives hdds, and solid state drives ssds provide one of the easiest ways to transfer files between separate computers without accessing the. Some people are asking for a way to format a hard drive for mac. How to format an external hard drive for mac and windows. May 29, 2018 two file systems compatible with mac and windows. You can format an external hard drive or thumb drive to work seamlessly with both mac and windows by using the exfat file system. To start, your first step will be to find disk utility. The format is good for handling the files between both os under 4gb size.
If you have never formatted a drive before on the mac, dont worry, its super easy and well walk you through the entire process. Feb 03, 2020 disk utility in macos high sierra or later can erase most disks and volumes for mac using either the newer apfs apple file system format or the older mac os extended format, and it automatically chooses a compatible format for you. Enter a name for the external hard drive in the name field. Essentially, its a file system thats both readable and writable on any modern mac or windows machine sorry, leopard users.
However there is a simple solution you can format the drive. How to format external ssd for mac time machine mashtips. The parallels desktop hard disk file type, file format description, and mac programs listed on this page have been individually researched and verified by the fileinfo team. The format apple support for mac owners for time machine is mac os extended journaled. File system formats available in disk utility on mac apple. Since windows isnt equipped to understand any of apples file systems, it will try to convert them to a usable file system. If you plan on using an external drive with both macs and pcs, you should format the disk with the exfat file system instead. How to format an external hard drive for mac and pc.
How to transfer files from a mac desktop to an external. You can format the drive on your mac or windows computer. Pick the right file system for your macs internal or. There are three common file system types to format an external usb or hard drive, ssd drive, sd card and etc. Here are your macos file system options and how to pick the best one for you. How to format internal andor external drive to work properly on mac and windows computers. Mar 16, 2020 choose between the format apfs or mac os extended format carefully. You can select the exfat format when using the disk. How to format external hard drive mac 2 simple methods. Windows uses nt file system ntfs and mac os x uses os x. This tool will quickly format the selected mac hard drive partition and permanently erase all. How to format a hard drive windows 10, 8, 7, vista, xp. As the default file system in windows, it can only read by mac os, writing to it is not available. Whether you are trying to backup mac to an external hard drive, wipe out any personal information and sell the computer, or even use a new operating system, you need to format the hard drive on your mac or pc.
Compare the different options for formatting an external hard drive to work with windows and mac. Just a car has its own system and a bus has its own system. However, to use it on windows you can hfs explorer read only. Once disk utility is open youll see the list of available drives on the left. Choosing the right format for your external hard drive b. Connect your external drive to your mac and wait for the icon of the pluggedin drive to appear. How to format a drive for mac and pc compatibility macyourself. Compare the different options for formatting an external hard drive to work with.
Which mac file system is best for an external drive. If you want to create multiple partitions on your external hard drive in fact, you should for better file organization, heres a stepbystep guide. This type of file system is suitable to use with both hdd and sdd drives, but the latter will perform slightly better with the apfs mentioned above. Sep 26, 2018 when you move to the format partition window, choose exfat under file system dropdown menu. After reading this post, youll know what is the best file system for your cameras sd card and what is the best format for your mac and pc. Mar 29, 2019 how to format a hard drive on mac to work on mac and pc.
To format the drive in windows, rightclick it in the file explorer window and select format. Seagate backup plus slim user manual optional formatting. File system formats available in disk utility on mac. You can then rightclick in the empty space and select new simple volume to create a partition and format it with the windows ntfs or fat32 file systems. Though the default hard disk file system also known as format of windows and mac are different, there should be some ways to format an external drive for both mac and pc. Please see below on how to reformat your external hard drive on mac and windows. How can i reformat my external hard drive without losing data. Pick the right file system for your macs internal or external storage there are nearly as many ways to format a disk as ways to skin a cat. Disk utility on mac supports several file system formats.
Fat32 and ntfs are the most common formats, but whats the difference. How you format a mac hard drive is entirely dependent on what kind of drive you plan on formatting. Select the partition you want to format and click on wipe now button. Both fat32 and exfat have advantages and disadvantages. Mar 12, 2018 fat32 is another option, but it limits file transfer to 4gb, so choose exfat when formatting your drive. Select disk utility from the utilities window in macos recovery. Tried reformatting drive using the latest file format and now when i restart i get an envelope on the screen. How to format a hard drive for both windows and mac. This format has all three features of the file systems above. Download disk formatting software for mac doyourdata. Similarly each operating system works on different file system and it is unique. The best ways to format an external drive for windows and mac. External data storage devices such as usb flash drives, external hard disk drives hdds, and solid state drives ssds provide one of the easiest ways to transfer files between separate computers without accessing the internet. If youre lucky, you can just rightclick each partition on the mac drive and select delete volume to remove the partitions.
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