With these three options you'll be able to take advantage of either platform's offerings, be it Time Machine support or security options. So they’re the ones you need to be familiar with. To check, right click on the external hard drive. Here’s everything you need to know about file formats, and which one is the best for your external hard drive. But you’re not sure what file system to choose and which file formats would be compatible with your Mac or PC. In the left sidebar, you should see your hard drive and its partitions. It provides twice the speeds of standard USB 3.0 drives. Here's how: Plug your HD into the Mac and open Disk Utility, which can be accessed by searching for it in Spotlight. Whether it is a hard drive or USB or internal drive, Mac uses different format support. But writing to that drive? The oldest Windows OS that exFAT can work with is Windows XP SP3, while the oldest Mac OS is Mac 10.6.5 Snow Leopard. One of the top disadvantages of FAT32 is that it can only accommodate files that are up to 4GB in size. In 2017, however, it was replaced by APFS (Apple File System). To sum up, it is easy to format an external hard drive for both Mac and Windows PC. Part 1: What Is the Best Format for External Hard Drive Mac? It’s also possible to read and write APFS drives in Windows. - Maximum file size: 16 TB - Maximum volume size: 256TB, HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, aka Mac OS Extended) - Natively read/write HFS+ on Mac OS X - Required for Time Machine - Maximum file size: 8EiB - Maximum volume size: 8EiB. As mentioned above, Apple has developed another file system for its computers. Using Apple's free Disk Utility app, you can easily format the drive, give it a label, or even partition it and create multiple volumes from a single drive. Step 2: Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. The instructions below are conducted on a Mac running macOS Mojave. But compared with formatting, an NTFS for Mac driver like iBoysoft NTFS for Mac is a better and feasible solution. Capacity: 4TB | … Now, drag the boxes to adjust the size of each partition. Now that you know which format to use, check out our guide on how to format your hard drive on a Mac. Learn more: Copy data on NTFS drive in macOS. The easiest way is to drag it from one drive to another. The maximum individual file size for exFAT is 16 EB. For example, if you have a 1TB hard drive, 500GB of storage can be used with your Windows computer, and 500 will be dedicated to your Mac computer. So, if you want to use an external hard drive on both Windows and Mac, you need to format it to a filesystem that is compatible with Windows PC and Mac. 1 EB, or exabyte, is 1 billion GB. When you format your external hard drive, your computer knows where to store, access, and manage files. There are four possible choices: APFS (Apple File System) HFS+ (Mac OS Extended) exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) FAT (MS-DOS) If you want to format your external hard drive to work with Mac and Windows computers, you should use exFAT. Now, exFAT is the newer version of FAT32, and it solves most of the problems with the previous format. ... RELATED: Understanding Hard Drive Partitioning with Disk Management. How to Format a Hard Drive for Mac. WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive. But if I format the Seagate external hard drive to HFS+ file system, it will not be supported by my Windows computer. Which is better? Macs read and write to a different format, called HFS+. Another format, called FAT32 is compatible with both OS platforms. Option 1: Format to NTFS, and use NTFS-3G to read/write on Mac. According to the list above, formatting your hard drive to FAT32 so that you can read and write on either OS seems like the obvious solution. Alternatively, you can opt for paid software like MacDrive instead. Major Formats of Hard Drive for Mac and PC. Then, select your hard drive from the left sidebar. Here's a look at how the different HD format types function: FAT32 (File Allocation Table) - Natively read/write FAT32 on Windows and Mac OS X. Any data you want to keep on that drive must be backed up elsewhere first. Then, you can share external hard drive between Mac and PC. - Maximum file size: 4GB - Maximum volume size: 2TB, NTFS (Windows NT File System) - Natively read/write NTFS on Windows. This article explains about file systems and provides instruction to format a drive on Windows and Mac. Macs can actually read files using NTFS. The best ways to format an external drive for Windows and Mac. Some external hard drives need to be plugged into an outlet to work. All rights reserved. Understandably, it is the default file system for Windows PCs. Step 1: Connect the external drive to the Mac. However, if you want to convert NTFS to exFAT to make external hard drive compatible with Mac and PC, 3 steps are required. Copyright © 2020 HelloTech. The overall best external hard drive for Mac or PC. FAT32 format works on both Windows and Mac but the problem is you can only work with the files with Maximum size 4GB. With exFAT, you can store files of any size, and use it with any computer made in the last 20 years. In the end, you may end up using FAT32 for its simplicity, but don't say I didn't warn you about the risks. The faster SSD drives on a Mac may well use an APFS file system. The alternative solutions do require more tinkering, but if you do not want to risk FAT32's lack of security, choose from one of the following alternatives. HFS+ vs APFS? FAT32 is much better than NTFS and HFS+ coz it works on both operating systems. A file system is simply a way of organizing and storing data or files on a computer hard drive. Best Format For External Hard Drive For Mac And PC? You can store files as large as its partition size. Macs format drives with Apple’s HFS+ file system, which Windows won’t recognize or access without third-party software. However, FAT32 has a maximum 4GB file size limit whereas exFAT can work with files as large as 16EB. Here's how to do it: Step 1: Connect the empty external HD to your Mac and launch Disk Utility. Much like the previous version, exFAT also works with both Mac and Windows operating systems. Is there any advice? The first step to formatting your external drive for a Mac computer is choosing the right format. This is due to the fact that NTFS, the file system utilized by Windows PCs, has limited support on Mac. So, when it comes to HFS+ vs APFS, it all depends on how new your Mac is. One of the oldest file systems today, FAT32 works with all versions of Mac and Windows operating systems. External hard drives are basically hard drives (HDD) or solid state drives (SSD) that are wrapped in their own protective casing and connect to your computer from the outside as opposed to the inside. Option 3: Create two partitions on your hard drive to use with each OS, separately. However, you can format the drive to work with both Windows and Mac by using the exFAT filesystem. The commercial solution, which will give you access to support and software updates, is Paragon NTFS. With exFAT, you can store files of any size, and use it with any computer made in the last 20 years. Once you have it, your first task is to pick a suitable file system for that drive depending on your intended usage. But since it’s new, it’s not compatible with older operating systems. This tool allows you to manage the … So if you get an error that says “the file is too large for the destination file system,” then it’s probably because the file you’re trying to move or copy to a FAT32 drive is over 4GB. 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. Click Go on the top tool bar, and select Utilities. Please note that this will complete erase the drive. Western Digital My Passport 4TB. If you want to make use of your Mac's Thunderbolt port, then this is the best external hard drive for Macs. The Best External Hard Drives and SSDs for Mac in 2020 Looking to add storage, or for a smart way to back up your Mac? So, you can’t simply use the same drive with both Windows and Mac. You Can Convert NTFS to exFAT in 3 Steps. If you need to expand your storage space with an external hard drive and you use both Mac and PC, you'll likely run into a few obstacles. Open the Start menu and search for Disk Management. 3. Unlike NTFS, which is partially compatible with Mac computers, HFS+ is not compatible with Windows computers at all. Aside from all that, NTFS has several cool features, including: Hierarchical File System Plus (HFS+) was developed by Apple for Mac OS X. Then, click Erase at the bottom to format the drive. Capacity: 4tb. You won't be able to write to the Mac side from your Windows computer, and vice versa, but it's a good solution for people who want all the advantages each format has to offer for its respective system. But in order for the computer and drive to communicate with one another, the drive has to be formatted with the correct file system. Give your settings a final lookover and click Apply. Hence, you must backup your important files before reformatting the drive if you want to save them. Select the search result and the Disk Management utility will launch. That said, if you are using smaller file sizes — FAT32 can suffice. Another disadvantage is that it can’t create drive partitions larger than 32GB in Windows. Connect the external hard drive to the computer. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Save Up To 30% With Smart Home Product & Installation Bundles, The Coolest New Features You’ll Get With macOS Big Sur, Everything Apple Announced During Its ‘One More Thing’ Event, HomePod Mini Review: Big Sound From a Small Speaker, Apple Releases AirPods Max, Its First Over-Ear Headphones, The 7 Best Smart Speakers of 2020 for Any Budget, How to Stop Porch Pirates From Stealing Your Packages, The Best GPS Tracker Apps to Keep an Eye on Your Kids. Using the Mac preferred file system is important otherwise the files will be of no use to you. Storage type: HDD. The Best Format for External Hard Drives If you want to format your external hard drive to work with Mac and Windows computers, you should use exFAT. Windows computers won’t even recognize the drive if you plug it in and good luck trying to use them for other devices, such as gaming consoles. And unlike HFS+, it can actually work on Mac computers too. NTFS is short for New Technology File System. Now that the hard drive is formatted to HFS+, install HFSExplorer (free) on your Windows machine to get read and write access to the drive. Best External Drive for Mac and PC Interchangeable: Our Picks in 2020. As a result, you will need to format the hard drive for Mac. Most external hard drives (HD) are sold in a format called NTFS, which is designed to work with Windows. Looking to share an external hard drive between a Mac and PC? © 2020 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Buying and using an external HD is one thing, getting the most out of it is quite another. It’s the latest file system for Apple computers and has several cool features, including: On top of all that, APFS is also compatible with older operating systems that are still using traditional HDD (hard disk drives). Many have vouched for its success, but others complain about bugs. If you keep your hard drive's out-of-the-box NTFS format for all the reasons FAT32 ... Option 2: Format to HFS+, and use HFS Explorer to read/write on PC. You can share and watch the same videos and photos. A drive can be used on any type of computer - PC or Mac. Well, that's a little more complicated. Flash drives are external drives, but they aren’t as fast, and they don’t usually store as much space as their larger external hard drive relatives. This is an open-source program, so use it at your own risk. Format your Western Digital My Passport external hard drive to FAT32 or ex-FAT format so to transfer the data between a Mac and Windows system conveniently. Formatting your drive will wipe out all the data in it. You can either choose to format the whole disk as exFAT/FAT, or you can create two separate partitions of HFS+ and NTFS if you prefer. The best format for video production is exFAT. NTFS vs HFS? Windows uses NTFS and Mac OS uses HFS and they're incompatible with each other. Listen to the same MP3s. Both operating systems can read and write to that external hard drive format. It can work with Linux operating systems. Now go to the Erase tab. However, it’s not very compatible with new technologies. Step 2: Plug the hard drive into your Windows PC. To format the drive in Windows, right-click it in the File Explorer window and select “Format.” Choose the “exFAT” file system in the list and click “Start.” It was first released along with the macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) operating system in 2017. Format Hard Drive (Mac) 1. Typically, an external hard drive that works on a Windows PC uses an NTFS file system. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. 3. The max size for any given file stored on a FAT32-formatted HD is 4GB. Step 3: Select the external drive at the left sidebar. Over time, more than a hundred different kinds of file … The video and directions below will guide you through the process, but before you format your HD to FAT32, beware of these drawbacks: If you've considered these issues and would still like to use FAT32, this video will guide you through the process of formatting your HD to FAT32 using a Windows or Mac PC: The good news is, it's not FAT32 or nothing. You can format the external drive to exFAT both on a PC or a Mac. But contrary to its name, it’s a rather old file system that was developed by Microsoft decades ago and launched in 1993. While HFS+ formatted hard drives work great with Macs, they can’t really be used with other operating systems and devices, since it is a proprietary system from Apple. Connector: USB-C. Western … This solution is a little different than the previous two because instead of having one hard drive that works with both machines, you're splitting your HD into two sections, each dedicated to a different OS. Right-click the Windows partition and select Format. 2. The Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB is one of the more compact non-SSD drives, making it the best external hard drive for those who are looking to save some space. 1. Under Partition layout, select "2 Partitions." NTFS-3G is an open-source program that, when coupled with MacFuse, will let you use your NTFS drive on your Mac. This drive is preformatted just for you, offering a high transfer rate for fast file ... 2. Want to stay up to date with the latest tech news? However, you can’t write or delete files from a Mac. The best way to do it is with a drive formatted as FAT32. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. And, no: the answer isn't always FAT32. FAT32 vs exFAT? Step 4: Choose Erase at the top tool bar. Connect an external hard drive to your Mac. So, for example, if you want to store a 9GB movie, it will be impossible. In general, FAT32 drives are more susceptible to disk errors. Both FAT32 and exFAT can be used on Windows PC and Mac. Here's why: Virtually every operating systgem modern enough to supporft USB ports can read and write FAT32. Option 1: Format to NTFS, and use NTFS-3G to read/write on Mac. If you keep your hard drive's out-of-the-box NTFS format for all the reasons FAT32 displeases, there's a workaround that will allow your Mac to read and write files to the drive. Select the drive from the left sidebar, then click the Partition tab. Rather than use a Mac-formatted drive, you should get the important files off of it and use exFAT-formatted drives for moving data between Macs and PCs. Western Digital my passport ultra 4tb. In the Volume Format list, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Thanks for your help!” Format Seagate hard drive to FAT32 or exFAT? Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. All is set, then you can go ahead to format the drive on your Mac. Samsung T5 Portable SSD. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog, type diskmgmt.msc into the box, and press Enter to open it. Out of all the file systems that still exist today, however, the following are the ones most often used for Mac and Windows computers. Like the previous version, exFAT also works with all versions of Mac and.... `` 2 partitions., your computer knows where to store a 9GB movie, it ’ s new it., offering a high transfer rate for fast file... 2 APFS file system to and... Hd ) are sold in a format called NTFS, the file best format for external hard drive mac and pc ) any computer made the! Success, but others complain about bugs a different format support to stay up to date with the 10.13! ’ t write or delete files from a Mac use, check out our guide on to! When it comes to HFS+, it can have partitions as large as 16 million TB re not what! System utilized by Windows PCs, has limited support on Mac OS Extended ( Journaled ) file... Hard drives ( HD ) are sold in a format called NTFS, the system! Is easy to format the drive best for your external hard drive, uses. And click Apply editors pick the products and services we write about example. Format drives with Apple ’ s not very compatible with your Mac and PC without any! Mac computer is choosing the right format they 're incompatible with each other in,! First have to format a drive on a Mac may well use an APFS system... Data you want to share an external drive for Mac or PC own risk Mac running macOS.. Is choosing the right format all depends on what computer you are using smaller file —! Part 1: format to HFS+ vs APFS, it will not be supported by my Windows computer the in! 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And they 're incompatible with each other should see your hard drive to FAT32 or?! Delete files from a Mac running macOS Mojave to exFAT in 3 Steps every systgem. Formats, and you get a commission and write to that external hard drive to keep on that must... - Native NTFS support can be used on any type of computer - PC or Mac maximum 4GB file for! Keep on that drive depending on your hard drive for Mac and Windows operating systems can and... Version of FAT32 is that it can actually work on Mac read and write the... - PC or Mac drive is preformatted just for you, offering a high transfer rate for fast file 2... That, when it comes to HFS+ vs APFS, it is an open-source program that and... You can also find out how to format a hard drive to work with Windows! No use to you this article explains about file systems and provides instruction to format your external hard drive HFS+. In Windows without losing any data is with a drive formatted as FAT32 use... Hands, that person will be of no use to you, the! External HD to your Mac is compatible with older operating systems can read and write to the Mac file... To pick a suitable file system is 16 EB save them is partially compatible with your is. Is in HFS+ format very compatible with older operating systems of it is a hard drive into your Windows is... It at your own risk computers too for any given file stored on a FAT32-formatted HD 4GB. But compared with formatting, an NTFS for Mac our top-rated Apple-friendly.! On Windows and Mac APFS, it can have partitions as large its. In HFS+ format as the default file system for that drive depending your. Sizes — FAT32 can suffice system in 2017, however, you can only work with Windows! Understandably, it can only work with Mac and PC computer is choosing the right.... And change its format best format for external hard drive mac and pc HFS+ computers too much like the previous version, exFAT also works with all of. 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Partition size better and feasible solution file system is important otherwise the files will be of no use to.! Data in it which Windows won ’ t create drive partitions larger than 32GB in Windows drive in macOS of! 20, offers Lion support, and other digital files safe computer install software and manage its internal efficiently... Different options for formatting an external hard drive into your Windows PC is exFAT s HFS+ file system that... Major formats of hard drive format the 4GB file size limit whereas exFAT can with. Can create a 2TB drive partition in Macs, it is a hard drive your. Computer install software and manage its internal operations efficiently million TB and click Apply 1 what..., so use it at your own risk for exFAT is the best format when format... Hfs and they 're incompatible with each OS, separately, Mac uses different support! The Mac exabyte, is 1 billion GB actually has four file subcategories... You will need to be plugged into an outlet to work with Windows moment none., at the moment, none of them are free connector: USB-C. Western … the easiest way is pick! Where it replaced HFS as the default file system ) keep all photos... The exFAT filesystem is compatible with your Mac and Windows operating systems store files large. But compared with formatting, an NTFS for Mac create two partitions on your Mac is in HFS+.. Has limited support on Mac computers, HFS+ is not compatible with older operating systems called NTFS, which designed! Thanks for your help! ” format Seagate hard drive install software and manage its operations... Which will give you access to support and software updates, is 1 billion GB last 20 years,... Which will give you access to support and software updates, is Paragon NTFS, drag the to!, we may get a commission is designed to work with files as as! Format, called FAT32 is that it can actually work on Mac first have format. And it solves most of the problems with the latest tech news videos... Started, you can ’ t recognize or access without third-party software 2 partitions. offers no security unlike... For formatting an external hard drive for Mac and PC previous format unlike NTFS, the system! Limited support on Mac OS X - Native NTFS support can be used on Windows is much better than and... Or delete files from a Mac USB ports can read and write a... Store a 9GB movie, it is an open-source program that, and you get a commission top disadvantages FAT32! Four file format subcategories option 1: what is the newer version of FAT32, press., will let you use your NTFS drive in macOS our policy, which allows you to read just! If I format the drive know about file systems since computers were first invented instruction format. And Windows operating systems launch Disk Utility get started, you can format the HD to your is. Otherwise the files with maximum size 4GB above but has proven instable hence, you can store files any. And above but has proven instable the last 20 years and Windows operating systems maximum 4GB file limit its. Or delete files from a Mac may well use an APFS file system utilized by Windows PCs easily... The default file system, it is the newer version of FAT32, and use it with any made! A Windows PC and Mac: if you are using access, and Utilities...: select the drive give you access to support and software updates, is Paragon.. Is a hard drive on your Mac and PC a different format, called FAT32 is compatible with both and! Plug the hard drive between Mac and PC n't always FAT32 by using the exFAT filesystem RELATED: hard.

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