GUID Partition Map: for all Intel-based Mac computers.

And finally, all the other file formats are only used for Mac.ĭuring the process you are going to find 3 kinds of Scheme you can choose from: If your goal is to make the external drive compatible with Mac and Windows computers, you have to choose FAT or exFAT. However, it is only compatible with macOS. Edit the disk name, select a file format and a scheme.Īmong all the 10 formats (file systems) you can select in macOS 10.13 or above the APFS is the suggested one, because it has the most recent features to work with best performance and data management. Choose your target external hard drive or volume, click the Erase button on the top. Launchpad → Other → Disk Utility, and click the Disk Utility. Connect the external hard drive with your Mac, and the computer will mount your drive. Format the external drive with Disk Utility on Mac: Tips: Remember to back up the files on the external drive if you have saved anything important on it, formatting a disk will erase all the data on it. Free download, install, and launch iBoysoft NTFS for Mac on your computer. Now, it also supports Monterey 12, Mac with M1, M1 Pro, and M1 Max chips. Even if the external hard drive is read only on Mac, this iBoysoft tool enables you to write to NTFS drives on the Mac with ease.

Under such a circumstance, a professional NTFS driver for Mac like iBoysoft NTFS for Mac is exactly what you need. Because you can read NTFS drive on Mac only and you can't write to this drive normally in this case. However, the NTFS format can be a hassle for users who need to use the same external drive on both Mac and Windows. This is because the Windows is the most commonly used around the world. Usually, most of hard drives manufacturers use the NTFS file system to format their external HDD as a factory standard, including many famous brands such as Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Touch and WD My Passport. This method suits you most if you just want to use it occasionally on different OS or don't want to lose files on your external drive by formatting. If you need to use a drive that is not completely compatible with your computer OS and you have the urge to format it, you should know there is a more feasible way to make your external drives compatible with your Mac and PC. How to make external hard drive compatible with Mac and PC without formatting(No data loss) How to partition external hard drive to make it compatible with Mac and PC Which is the best format for external hard drive for Mac and PC How to format external hard drive for Windows PC How to format external hard drive for Mac How to make external hard drive compatible with Mac and PC without formatting

Though the default hard disk file system (also known as format) of Windows and Mac are different, there should be some ways to format an external hard drive to make it compatible with your Mac or PC.

Format a hard drive for both mac and pc