If you format your fat32 drive in windows, the drive partition cannot be larger than 32gb. You can format an external hard drive or thumb drive to work seamlessly with both mac and windows by using the exfat file system. Here are two outstanding mac hard drive format software tools you can rely on. Format hard drive on windows 7 or earlier versions step 1 restart your computer and press f8 or del key to enter the bios settings. Mar 29, 2019 how to format a hard drive on mac to work on mac and pc. How to format drive with compatible file system for mac and. How to format external hard drive mac 2 simple methods. How to share an external hard drive between mac and windows. How to convert a macformatted drive to a windows drive back up the drive s data first. For this reason, a mac formatted hard drive is not directly compatible, nor.
The best ways to format an external drive for windows and. Formatting external harddrive for both mac and windows. Nov 22, 2019 i have an old external 1 tb hard drive id like to format for use with apple time machine backup. The easiest way to do that is hit cmd and the spacebar at. Well show you everything you need to know about the. Fat32 and exfat can be compatible with mac and windows and you can choose one after realizing their respective merits and defects based on your demands. A single pass of zeros to a hard drive should prevent all software based file recovery programs from extracting information from the drive, which the format command in windows 7 and vista does by default. How you format a mac hard drive is entirely dependent on what kind of drive you plan on formatting. External hard drives use either spinning disks or solid memory to save your files.
To format external hard drive for mac with time machine, you must follow the steps below. Mar 31, 2020 if you buy a new external hard drive, you may notice that working between mac and pc is an often difficult but it doesnt need to be. For this reason, a macformatted hard drive is not directly compatible, nor. Disk utility on mac supports several file system formats.
Apr 22, 2012 to format a hard drive for compatibility of both mac and windows you can use fat32 format which has both readwrite capability on winmac respectively. Mac os x uses the hfs plus file system, while windows uses the ntfs file. Sometimes, you may want to try format directly to format your external hard drive partition to exfat for mac and windows. Whether youre selling your computer, trying a new operating system, or setting up an external drive for backups, sometimes you need to completely erase and format a. Whether youre selling your computer, trying a new operating system, or setting up an external drive for backups, sometimes you need to completely erase and format a hard drive. The best ways to format an external drive for windows and mac. The problem is that the disk is currently formatted as ntfs and is not readable with time machine. But compared with formatting, an ntfs for mac driver like iboysoft ntfs for mac is a better and feasible solution. Compare the different options for formatting an external hard drive to work with windows and mac. Format an external hard drive or usb flash drive for mac os x. How to format an external hard drive for mac and windows. Quickly format an external hard drive for mac and windows pc. The instructions below are for windows 10, but other versions of windows from windows 7 and up can also format an external drive as exfat for use with mac as well. Although we know its limitation of 4gb file size only.
Apr 29, 2020 to format a hard drive means to erase any information on the drive and to set up a file system so your operating system can read data from, and write data to, the drive. It will automatically locate the connected drive, and you can load it. But before you can do anything, you need to make it clear that the hard. Mar 22, 2012 the best ways to format an external drive for windows and mac. Format an external hard drive or usb flash drive for mac. Apr 17, 2020 to format external hard drive for mac with time machine, you must follow the steps below. It is a quick way to format external hard drive on mac. For instance, is the hard drive internal or external. Give the drive a descriptive name and leave the default settings. 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. For instructions on how to format your hard drive on a mac, please reference the following links. Bonus tip data recovery from formatted hard drive on mac.
Therefore, it is necessary to present a tutorial guide here to format or partition a hard drive within mac os. Sep 26, 2018 windows pc and mac use different filesystems. You need to format a hard drive if you plan on using it in windows. 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 format the primary drive the hard disk where the operating system resides you need to boot into the setup program on windows 7 or windows 10 and use it to format your drive. Dec 22, 2019 how to format external hard drive mac. The other limitation is the total size of the partition. For a windows computer to be able to read a hard drive, it needs to have a file system format that is compatible with windows.
Please backup your data off the hard drive that is being formatted. How to format a hard drive using the command prompt toms. Mac os journaled is the formatting option for mac and ntfs or msdoc is the formatting option for pc. File systems compatible with windows include fat32 and ntfs. Therefore, it is necessary to present a tutorial guide here to. In the main interface, right click the partition on that need. If you want to insure full mac compatibility of a new external hard drive or flash disk, youll want to format the drive to the mac os extended filesystem. How to wipe a hard drive in windows 10 and macos techradar. The formatted files erased by disk utility also can be recovered by free mac data recovery software. Every major version of the operating system provides a dedicated solution to format hard drive as well as external storage units. If your mac or pc has a windows os installed, then you wont face any trouble managing it.
Also, you can manage the internal partitions, merge them, create new. How to format new hard drive on windows 10 windows central. Format a disk for windows computers in disk utility on mac apple. Click the file menu and select load file system from device. To format a hard drive means to erase any information on the drive and to set up a file system so your operating system can read data from, and write data to, the drive. However, you might do two passes via this method just to be safe.
How to format a hard drive on windows or mac avast. If youre lucky, you can just rightclick each partition on the mac drive and select delete volume to remove the partitions. Dec 29, 2015 the instructions below are for windows 10, but other versions of windows from windows 7 and up can also format an external drive as exfat for use with mac as well. How to use the format command to write zeros to a hard drive. If you buy a new external hard drive, you may notice that working between mac and pc is an often difficult but it doesnt need to be. How to format a hard drive for both windows and mac. How to format a new or second hard drive on mac mac is obviously a very much different operating system from windows, let alone their features and steps to format a hard drive. With disk utility open, locate the hard drive you want to partition and select partition. Both fat32 and exfat can be used on windows pc and mac. To use hfsexplorer, connect your macformatted drive to your windows pc and launch hfsexplorer. Format a disk for windows computers in disk utility on mac.
A complete solution do you wish to format hard drive for mac and pc, but cant find a solution. 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. To format external drive to file system compatible with mac and pc, connect the drive to your computer and follow the detailed steps given below take formatting hard drive to exfat in windows 7 for example. For instance, users want to write data to and read data from, to do a clean installation of the windows system, to get rid of a virus or malware, to erase the data before giving the drive to someone else or throwing it away, or some other reasons. 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. The maximum individual file size for exfat is 16 eb. While you have bought this drive, you will find the drive already formatted for your mac or windows system. How to format new or second hard drive on windows 10mac. When you connect a macformatted drive to windows, youll be informed that you need to format the disk in drive x. Of course, if you have a backup already, ignore this step.
How to format hard drive for mac and pc on windows. Fortunately, there are some mac hard drive format software or smart disk formatting applications can help you securely and easily format, reformat, or erase hard drive under mac os. Alternatively, you can also access it from the control panel. File system formats available in disk utility on mac apple. If you want to transfer files from a mac to windows pc and vice versa using an external portable hard drive then you have to have the external. If you want to format your external hard drive to work with mac and windows computers, you should use exfat. This is particularly necessary for purchases of generic pc drives, which almost always come preformatted to be windows compatible rather than for mac os x.
Macs may also create a protected efi partition on these drives that you cant delete with the usual diskpartitioning tools. Convert formatted drive from mac to windows info remo. Buying an external hard drive is one of the best options for adding the storage space to the mac computer system. Nov, 2019 a single pass of zeros to a hard drive should prevent all software based file recovery programs from extracting information from the drive, which the format command in windows 7 and vista does by default. Jan 17, 2019 starting clean how to format new hard drive on windows 10 formatting is an essential task before starting to use a new drive, and in this guide, well show you how to do it on windows 10. Next, under the partition layout column, specify the number of partitions you want. 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. Hard drive format software for mac mac disk format software. Today, apfs is used on macs, iphones, ipads, and apple tvs. In this video i help you guys convert your mac only external hdd into a windows compatible one.
Neither mac os nor windows recognize each others volume formats. Is it possible to format a hard drive to readwrite for both windows and mac os specifically, film and photo files. The system tells you what key to press during the restart, so pay attention to your screen and be quick at pressing the right key. How to format a hard drive for both windows and mac laptop mag. The two solutions above can help you format external hard drive on windows or mac. How to convert a macformatted drive to a windows drive. How to format external hard drive mac 2 simple methods revealed. May 29, 2018 to format external drive to file system compatible with mac and pc, connect the drive to your computer and follow the detailed steps given below take formatting hard drive to exfat in windows 7 for example. How to format external hard drives on a mac sweetwater. How to format external hard drives for mac and windows. Means if one want to transfer movie or any stuff greater than 4gb it cant be done in this format.
Choose the exfat file system in the list and click start. 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. Just transfer all useful files out from the external hard drive to other devices on mac. This works with any hard drive, flash drive, ssd, usb drive, or just about any other. How to convert mac only external hdd to windows compatible. Select the external hard drive on the lefthand side. How to format a hard drive on mac to work on mac and pc. Formatting external hard drive for both mac and windows. Before a hard drive can read or write data, it must first be formatted, or erased and reconfigured. Feb 12, 2019 how to format a mac formatted drive to ntfs for it to work on windows 10 and other versions of windows that read ntfs. External hard disks and usb drives are generally formatted with the windows fat32 file system for.
Formatting a disk or volume erases all the files on it. Starting clean how to format new hard drive on windows 10 formatting is an essential task before starting to use a new drive, and in this guide, well show you how to. File system formats available in disk utility on mac. Now that you know which format to use, check out our guide on how to format your hard drive on. Step 1 open finder, applications, then go to utilities and disk utility step 2 follow the steps above to format the drive, and then you can use it with time machine on your mac system part 3. How to reformat mac os x without a recovery disc or drive. Click go on the top tool bar, and select utilities. How to format your hard drive seagate support canada. How to format a mac formatted drive to ntfs for it to work on windows 10 and other versions of windows that read ntfs. Step 1 open finder, applications, then go to utilities and disk utility step 2 follow the steps above to format the drive, and then you can use it with time machine on your mac system.
The mac drive may have an efi system partition on it. Change the partition layout from current to 1 partition. To do this, just click on the start menu and look for disk management. People might need to format a hard drive or an external hard drive in windows 10 for various reasons. Easily format external hard drive on windows or mac. First, you need to access the disk management tool on your windows. On mac computers, use the finder app to browse and manage files on your computer and external hard drives.
Even though most people associate formatting with system installation, there are many other reasons why you might want to format your hard drive. First and foremost, you need to decide which file system to use. To format the drive in windows, rightclick it in the file explorer window and select format. I have an old external 1 tb hard drive id like to format for use with apple time machine backup. Save any files you need to another volume before formatting. Aug 22, 2019 how to format hard drive on mac and pc. There are a number of tools that can help you in this regard. How to format a hard drive windows 10, 8, 7, vista, xp. Read this stepwise tutorial and learn how to format hdd for mac and windows like a pro. Some people are asking for a way to format a hard drive for mac.
How to format an external hard drive for mac and pc. You cant format the hard disk on which windows is stored while windows is running, for the same reasons that you cant work on a cars engine while you. Can a windows computer read a macformatted hard drive. How to format drive with compatible file system for mac. With exfat, you can store files of any size, and use it with any computer made in the last 20 years. That said, if you are using smaller file sizes fat32 can suffice. However, it is not possible to format hard drive to exfat, the only option under the window of format file system is ntfs default. Securely format external hard drive on windows and mac with super eraser. You can select the exfat format when using the disk. Hey all, quick question, and from my googling it looks like it is possible, however i want to double check just to be sure. For instance, users want to write data to and read data from, to do a clean installation of the windows system, to get rid of a virus or malware, to erase the data before giving the drive to someone else or throwing it away. To start, your first step will be to find disk utility. This file system is specifically for mac systems and windows cant read this file system. Erase the mac partitions, including the efi system partition.
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