How To Format an External Hard Drive for Mac - Everything You Need To Know

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of formatting an external hard drive, SSD, or USB flash drive on a Mac. We will cover the different file formats available, how to use Disk Utility, and tips for ensuring your drive is set up correctly for both Mac and Windows compatibility.

Step 1: Eject Other Drives

• Before connecting your external drive, ensure all other drives connected to your Mac are ejected. This prevents any potential data loss or confusion during the formatting process.

Step 2: Connect the External Drive

• Plug in your external hard drive or USB flash drive to your Mac. Make sure it’s recognized by your system.

Step 3: Open Disk Utility

• Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. This is the tool you'll use to format your external drive.

Step 4: Select the Drive

• In Disk Utility, locate and select your connected external drive from the list on the left side of the window.

Step 5: Choose the Format

• Click on the Erase button at the top of the Disk Utility window. You will see a drop-down menu for formatting options. Here are the key formats to consider:
  • APFS (Apple File System): Best for SSDs and newer Macs, but not ideal for external drives due to compatibility issues with older macOS and Windows.
  • Mac OS Extended (Journaled): Recommended for external drives primarily used with Mac.
  • MS-DOS (FAT): Good for compatibility with older systems and generally used for USB drives.
  • ExFAT: Ideal for compatibility with both Mac and Windows, recommended for larger external drives.

Step 6: Formatting Options

• If you don’t see APFS or other options, check that your drive is correctly connected and selected.
• You might also need to erase the drive first, which will allow all format options to appear.

Step 7: Additional Format Settings

• Consider whether you need a case-sensitive format or encryption.
  • Case-Sensitive: Useful for specific applications but may cause issues with some software.
  • Encryption: Protects your data but may slow down access.

Step 8: Erase and Format the Drive

• Once you’ve selected the desired format, give your drive a name and click Erase. This will format the drive, which may take a few moments.

Step 9: Test Drive Speed (Optional)

• If you're curious about transfer speeds, you can run some tests after formatting to compare the performance of APFS, Mac OS Extended, and ExFAT.

Practical Tips

• Always back up your data before formatting any drive.
• If using the drive on both Mac and Windows, prefer ExFAT for maximum compatibility.
• Avoid using APFS for external drives that need to be shared with Windows systems.

Conclusion

You now know how to format an external hard drive on a Mac, including choosing the right file format for your needs. Make sure to select the format based on your usage scenario, whether it’s for Mac-only use or for compatibility with Windows as well. Happy formatting!