

- #Best hard disk format for mac and pc how to
- #Best hard disk format for mac and pc mac os x
- #Best hard disk format for mac and pc mac os
- #Best hard disk format for mac and pc update
- #Best hard disk format for mac and pc plus
Reformatting an external hard drive for use with Mac OS is not as difficult as it might seem. Part 2: Format External Hard Drive for Mac with Disk Utility Luckily, there are third-party tools to help you do so. NTFS: As the default file system in Windows, it can only read by Mac OS and writing to it is not available. Nevertheless, this older file system is limited to no more than 4GB and there might be security issue and disk errors.ĮxFAT: It is similar to ExFAT which can be read by both Windows and Mac, but it can store more than 4GB files. It enables you to regularly share files with your friends. MS-DOS FAT (aka FAT32): In addition to Mac, it can also be written and read by Linux and Windows. You can encrypt it so that no one can access the contents on your drive. Mac OS Extended (encrypted) would be an ideal option if you probably carry your laptop or external drive here and there.
#Best hard disk format for mac and pc update
Mac OS Extended (Journaled/HFS+): If you didn't update your Mac OS to High Sierra, the default file system on your Mac shoule be Mac OS Extended. What's more, it is compatible with SSD and flash storage devices only.

However, it won't be readable and usable on machines that are not running Mac High Sierra, Windows or Linux PCs. Which one is right for your circumstance? We'll describe them here, and you'll be able to make your choice after reading the details.ĪPFS: This is the default file system in Macs with High Sierra. There are a few file formats you can use, but it depends on the purpose you want to use the drive for. The most important, you should decide which format to use. That’s why countless people from around the world have turned to Disk Drill, selecting it as their data recovery tool of choice.Part 1: Which File Format You Should Choose?īefore you begin formatting the drive, there are a few things to do. Without a capable data recovery tool, there’s nothing you can do about it. Realizing that you’ve forgot to back up a critically important file from a newly formatted hard drive feels horrible. After you confirm your selection, it should take just a few moments for the formatting process to finish. Windows will present you with a formatting window where you can specify various formatting parameters. Keep in mind that you can only format storage devices that are currently not in use. Right-click on it and select the Format option from the context menu. If the hard drive you want to format is connected to your PC, it should be there. To format a hard drive for Windows, open the File Explorer and click on This PC. Click on the Erase button again to confirm your decision and wait for the process to end. Select your storage device, choose your desire file system, specify the name, and click on the Erase button. The main window of the utility contains a list of storage devices, storage device details, and formatting options.

You can launch it from the App list or use Spotlight. With it, it’s possible to easily format and storage device with just a few clicks.
#Best hard disk format for mac and pc mac os x
Mac OS X users have at their disposal a handy tool called Disk Utility.

Developed by Microsoft, this modern file system is optimized for situations where the NTFS file system is not a feasible solution, and the file size limit of the standard FAT32 file system is unacceptable. If you need to format external hard drive Mac or Windows, you may also consider the exFAT files system. Because FAT32 supports only up to 4 GB large files, it should be used only with flash drives. Both Mac OS X and Windows also support the FAT32 file system, but we don’t recommend it for hard drives.
#Best hard disk format for mac and pc plus
Mac OS X uses the HFS Plus file system, while Windows uses the NTFS file system. First and foremost, you need to decide which file system to use. Regardless of why you want to format your hard drive, there are some considerations to be made before you begin. Of course, you may also just want to quickly delete the content of an entire hard drive.
#Best hard disk format for mac and pc how to
Data fragmentation remains an issue even in the era of mobile devices, and in some cases formatting is the fastest way how to solve it. Optimization is another good reason for hard drive formatting. When you purchase a brand-new hard drive, there’s no guarantee that it will be pre-formatted from the factory, nor is there any guarantee that it will come with the right file system. Even though most people associate formatting with system installation, there are many other reasons why you might want to format your hard drive. Both Mac OS X and Windows allow users to format their hard drives using built-in utilities.
