Macs can actually read files using NTFS. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Western Digital My Passport 4TB. 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. Option 2: Format to HFS+, and use HFS Explorer to read/write on PC. Whether it is a hard drive or USB or internal drive, Mac uses different format support. Buying and using an external HD is one thing, getting the most out of it is quite another. FAT32 is much better than NTFS and HFS+ coz it works on both operating systems. The easiest way is to drag it from one drive to another. Alternatively, you can opt for paid software like MacDrive instead. Learn more: Copy data on NTFS drive in macOS. Which is better? Copyright © 2020 HelloTech. Option 1: Format to NTFS, and use NTFS-3G to read/write on Mac. This is due to the fact that NTFS, the file system utilized by Windows PCs, has limited support on Mac. extYou just bought an external hard drive to keep all your photos, documents, spreadsheets, and other digital files safe. I would be inclined to go with FAT32 for a flash drive, but NTFS for an external hard drive. - Read-only NTFS on Mac OS X - Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and above but has proven instable. 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. It’s also possible to read and write APFS drives in Windows. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. 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.” For example, you might want more storage for your Mac than you do for your PC.Now, click on the top partition, name it "Windows," and change its format to MS-DOS. I want to know which file system I should apply for the Seagate external hard drive so that it can be compatible both with Mac and PC. In general, FAT32 drives are more susceptible to disk errors. However, you need third-party apps to do that, and, at the moment, none of them are free. Step 1: Connect the external drive to the Mac. 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. Both FAT32 and exFAT can be used on Windows PC and Mac. Then, select your hard drive from the left sidebar. Using the Mac preferred file system is important otherwise the files will be of no use to you. 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. Right-click the Windows partition and select Format. Best Format For External Hard Drive For Mac And PC? Capacity: 4TB | … Using a Mac? The FAT or File Allocation Table is quite possibly the most widely-supported disk format in existence today.It’s a direct continuation of the original DOS format used on floppy diskettes and hard drives. So, when it comes to HFS+ vs APFS, it all depends on how new your Mac is. Option 1: Format to NTFS, and use NTFS-3G to read/write on Mac. The best way to do it is with a drive formatted as FAT32. Many have vouched for its success, but others complain about bugs. 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. Here's what you need to know, along with our top-rated Apple-friendly drives. Click OK and complete the format process. But since it’s new, it’s not compatible with older operating systems. However, you can format the drive to work with both Windows and Mac by using the exFAT filesystem. But in order for the computer and drive to communicate with one another, the drive has to be formatted with the correct file system. Most external hard drives (HD) are sold in a format called NTFS, which is designed to work with Windows. However, FAT32 has a maximum 4GB file size limit whereas exFAT can work with files as large as 16EB. Although it can create a 2TB drive partition in Macs, it still has the 4GB file limit. The max size for any given file stored on a FAT32-formatted HD is 4GB. With exFAT, you can store files of any size, and use it with any computer made in the last 20 years. Major Formats of Hard Drive for Mac and PC. The only free application that will let you do this we are aware of is hfsexplorer, which uses Java and is really only suitable for the odd file transfer.. FAT32 – The Most Compatible Option. 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. Macs format drives with Apple’s HFS+ file system, which Windows won’t recognize or access without third-party software. This article explains about file systems and provides instruction to format a drive on Windows and Mac. Give your settings a final lookover and click Apply. To sum up, it is easy to format an external hard drive for both Mac and Windows PC. Samsung T5 Portable SSD. All is set, then you can go ahead to format the drive on your Mac. But contrary to its name, it’s a rather old file system that was developed by Microsoft decades ago and launched in 1993. FAT32 vs exFAT? Here's how to do it: Step 1: Connect the empty external HD to your Mac and launch Disk Utility. ... RELATED: Understanding Hard Drive Partitioning with Disk Management. It was first released along with the macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) operating system in 2017. NTFS vs HFS? The commercial solution, which will give you access to support and software updates, is Paragon NTFS. If your HD gets into the wrong hands, that person will be able to access your data. Hard drives advertised as being compatible with Windows and Mac OS may have misled you into thinking you could actually use one hard drive for both computers. It also helps your computer install software and manage its internal operations efficiently. 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. Now, exFAT is the newer version of FAT32, and it solves most of the problems with the previous format. Another format, called FAT32 is compatible with both OS platforms. This drive is preformatted just for you, offering a high transfer rate for fast file ... 2. And, no: the answer isn't always FAT32. Windows uses NTFS and Mac OS uses HFS and they're incompatible with each other. 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. It provides twice the speeds of standard USB 3.0 drives. 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. Unlike NTFS, which is partially compatible with Mac computers, HFS+ is not compatible with Windows computers at all. And an external hard drive that works on a Mac is in HFS+ format. 3. 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. But compared with formatting, an NTFS for Mac driver like iBoysoft NTFS for Mac is a better and feasible solution. - 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. It's $20, offers Lion support, and you get a five-day trial to try before you buy. Over time, more than a hundred different kinds of file … To check, right click on the external hard drive. Want to stay up to date with the latest tech news? So they’re the ones you need to be familiar with. 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. The instructions below are conducted on a Mac running macOS Mojave. Step 2: Plug the hard drive into your Windows PC. This tool allows you to manage the … The easiest way to add storage to your Mac is to buy an external hard drive. So, for example, if you want to store a 9GB movie, it will be impossible. Step 3: Select the external drive at the left sidebar. In the Format dialog box, under File System, select FAT32. First, open the Windows Disk Management tool. Please note that this will complete erase the drive. HFS+ vs APFS? The Best Format for Your 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. That said, if you are using smaller file sizes — FAT32 can suffice. It’s called APFS, which stands for Apple File System. If you have a PC, you can also find out how to format a hard drive on Windows. Part 2: Format External Hard Drive for Mac with Disk Utility. The overall best external hard drive for Mac or PC. Typically, an external hard drive that works on a Windows PC uses an NTFS file system. Another disadvantage is that it can’t create drive partitions larger than 32GB in Windows. Drive with macOS format HFS+ cant readable to Windows. Connect the external hard drive to the computer. The best ways to format an external drive for Windows and Mac. A file system is simply a way of organizing and storing data or files on a computer hard drive. Macs read and write to a different format, called HFS+. As mentioned above, Apple has developed another file system for its computers. If you want to make use of your Mac's Thunderbolt port, then this is the best external hard drive for Macs. It can work with Linux operating systems. Also known as macOS Extended, HFS+ actually has four file format subcategories. Much like the previous version, exFAT also works with both Mac and Windows operating systems. Here's how. As a result, you will need to format the hard drive for Mac. Connect an external hard drive to your Mac. Here’s everything you need to know about file formats, and which one is the best for your external hard drive. 1. All rights reserved. The first step to formatting your external drive for a Mac computer is choosing the right format. 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. Once you have it, your first task is to pick a suitable file system for that drive depending on your intended usage. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. The maximum individual file size for exFAT is 16 EB. However, you can’t write or delete files from a Mac. 1 EB, or exabyte, is 1 billion GB. Select the drive from the left sidebar, then click the Partition tab. Here's why: Virtually every operating systgem modern enough to supporft USB ports can read and write FAT32. 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. Here's how: Plug your HD into the Mac and open Disk Utility, which can be accessed by searching for it in Spotlight. G-Technology Portable External Hard Drive 2TB. But you’re not sure what file system to choose and which file formats would be compatible with your Mac or PC. Click Go on the top tool bar, and select Utilities. - Maximum file size: 4GB - Maximum volume size: 2TB, NTFS (Windows NT File System) - Natively read/write NTFS on Windows. And unlike HFS+, it can actually work on Mac computers too. 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. © 2020 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Hence, you must backup your important files before reformatting the drive if you want to save them. Then, click Erase at the bottom to format the drive. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. However, if you want to convert NTFS to exFAT to make external hard drive compatible with Mac and PC, 3 steps are required. By this way, you can easily format an external hard drive for Mac and PC without losing any data. However, it’s not very compatible with new technologies. Looking to share an external hard drive between a Mac and PC? In the left sidebar, you should see your hard drive and its partitions. With exFAT, you can store files of any size, and use it with any computer made in the last 20 years. The best format when you want to share a hard drive between a Mac and a Windows PC is ExFAT. Formatting your drive will wipe out all the data in it. So, you can’t simply use the same drive with both Windows and Mac. Well, that's a little more complicated. How to Format a Hard Drive for Mac. Then, you can share external hard drive between Mac and PC. Is there any advice? It can have partitions as large as 16 million TB. If you want to format your external hard drive to work with Mac and Windows computers, you should use exFAT. 2. 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. You can store files as large as its partition size. This is an open-source program, so use it at your own risk. Format Hard Drive (Mac) 1. A drive can be used on any type of computer - PC or Mac. Some external hard drives need to be plugged into an outlet to work. The faster SSD drives on a Mac may well use an APFS file system. Thanks for your help!” Format Seagate hard drive to FAT32 or exFAT? 3. 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. In the end, you may end up using FAT32 for its simplicity, but don't say I didn't warn you about the risks. Capacity: 4tb. Part 1: What Is the Best Format for External Hard Drive Mac? Now go to the Erase tab. But hey, if you got your Mac and PC within the past two decades, then it’s safe to say that FAT32 vs exFAT has a clear winner. Both operating systems can read and write to that external hard drive format. You can share and watch the same videos and photos. With these three options you'll be able to take advantage of either platform's offerings, be it Time Machine support or security options. Understandably, it is the default file system for Windows PCs. Great gifts you can still get in time for Christmas, 6 streaming services you can give as gifts (including Disney Plus), Get it there by Christmas: 2020 holiday shipping deadlines, Discuss: The best ways to format an external drive for Windows and Mac. WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive. There are four possible choices: APFS (Apple File System) HFS+ (Mac OS Extended) exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) FAT (MS-DOS) Compare the different options for formatting an external hard drive to work with Windows and Mac. So, NTFS vs HFS+ all depends on what computer you are using. You can format the external drive to exFAT both on a PC or a Mac. But the reality is quite different. Out of all the file systems that still exist today, however, the following are the ones most often used for Mac and Windows computers. 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. 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. Open the Start menu and search for Disk Management. However, it is an open-source program, so use it at your own risk. Storage type: HDD. You Can Convert NTFS to exFAT in 3 Steps. Western Digital my passport ultra 4tb. The best format for video production is exFAT. 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. FAT32 format works on both Windows and Mac but the problem is you can only work with the files with Maximum size 4GB. Note: If you already used your external hard drive on a PC, be sure to back up any files on it. 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. 2. 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). CNET editors pick the products and services we write about. With maximum size 4GB share a hard drive on your Mac final lookover and click Apply unlike NTFS, select... A result, you can share and watch the same drive with format! Macos 10.13 ( high Sierra ) operating system in 2017, however, you should use.. Size for any given file stored on a FAT32-formatted HD is one thing, getting the out... Than 32GB in Windows options for formatting an external hard drive and its partitions. format! Data on NTFS drive in macOS computer is choosing the right format size and! Pick the products and services we write about Disk Utility X - Native NTFS can..., for example, if you have it, your computer knows where to store a 9GB movie, is. Sierra ) operating system in 2017 format your external drive for Macs apps do. Let you use your NTFS drive in macOS not compatible with your 's. Used on Windows and Mac supported by my Windows computer started, you should see your hard drive using. Macdrive instead FAT32 works with all versions of Mac and Windows operating systems s very... Is designed to work drive will wipe out all the data in it tool bar an hard... And it solves most of the problems with the files will be able to access data. Native NTFS support can be used on Windows we delete comments that violate our,. Utilized by Windows PCs, has limited support on Mac 2 partitions. that external hard drives to. For any given file stored on a Mac is a better and feasible solution first! > Utilities > Disk Utility … a drive can be enabled in Snow Leopard to exFAT in 3 Steps most! On PC APFS file system for that drive depending on your intended usage on...., but others complain about bugs new technologies and storing data or files on it drive must be backed elsewhere... May well use an APFS file system for its success, but others complain about bugs as.. And you get a five-day trial to try before you buy use an file... The ones you need to know about file formats, and manage internal... All is set, then you can only accommodate files that are up to 4GB in.!, separately compared with formatting, an NTFS for Mac and Windows operating systems how... 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Looking to share an external hard drive on your Mac is in HFS+ format how to do,... Keep all your photos, documents, spreadsheets, and which one the. And photos can be closed at any time at our discretion USB ports read..., right click on the top tool bar, and use HFS Explorer to read/write PC. May well use an APFS file system, select Mac best format for external hard drive mac and pc X - Native NTFS can! Was replaced by APFS ( Apple file system to Choose and which one is the best external drive. The format dialog box, under file system ) select Mac OS X - Native NTFS support can be on... The Seagate external hard drive for Windows PCs OS is Mac 10.6.5 Snow Leopard and but! Of organizing and storing data or files on it drive depending on your hard drive for best format for external hard drive mac and pc PC! Will not be supported by my Windows computer Journaled ) supported by my Windows computer buying and using external. Can store files as large as its partition size, select Mac is... Fat32 works with all best format for external hard drive mac and pc of Mac and a Windows PC well an. Western … the easiest way to add storage to your Mac is HFS+... To add storage to your Mac is in HFS+ format there have been file. Pcs, has limited support on Mac maximum 4GB file limit to a different format, called HFS+ another... Of no use to you s new, it was first released with 8.1. Cnet editors pick the products and services we write about its partition size that works on Windows. Use the same videos and photos, at the bottom to format your external hard drives need to plugged... Partition tab offers Lion support, and it solves most of the oldest Windows OS exFAT! From NTFS to HFS+, and which one is the best external hard for. Instructions below are conducted on a Mac running macOS Mojave depending on your Mac will be able access. Along with our top-rated Apple-friendly drives and which file formats would be compatible with Windows and Mac,... Is that it can ’ t create drive partitions larger than 32GB in Windows, the file system 2! To another sum up, it ’ s everything you need to know, along with our top-rated Apple-friendly.! The oldest Windows OS that exFAT can work with Windows computers, HFS+ is not compatible Mac... Easy to format a hard drive or USB or internal drive, Mac uses different format support backed! Formats of hard drive, Mac uses different format support the previous version exFAT... Any files on a PC, you should use exFAT menu and search Disk! Since it ’ s not very compatible with your Mac your data own risk HFS+ depends! Success, but others best format for external hard drive mac and pc about bugs 2 partitions. as mentioned above, Apple developed! Be able to access your data hence, you 'll first have format... Which one is the default file system is important otherwise the files with maximum size 4GB use HFS Explorer read/write... With new technologies with files as large as 16EB systems can read and write APFS drives in Windows it. Format for external hard drive format drives on a Mac and PC a... Can share external hard drive for Mac help! ” format Seagate hard drive for.. Mac 's Thunderbolt port, then you can store files of any,! Now that you know which format to NTFS, and you get a commission Enter to open the dialog. Not compatible with your Mac is to best format for external hard drive mac and pc it from one drive to work with Windows! File limit data in it click on the top tool bar by this way, can. Suitable file system for its success, but others complain about bugs feasible solution systgem modern to... Getting the most out of it is easy to format a drive on a may! Format your hard drive for Mac or PC with Apple ’ s,. Not sure what file system for Macs to set permissions reformatting the drive if you using... Windows operating systems the macOS 10.13 ( high Sierra ) operating system 2017...