Feb 08, 2020  Click on this icon on the top left corner and select “Show All Devices”. Step 3: Select “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” in Format. A new window will pop up asking which file system you’d like to format the external drive to. By default, it’s the Windows NT File System (NTFS).

Most external hard drives you buy will come out of the box pre-formatted for a Windows computer (NTFS).

If you have a Mac you should format the drive for your Mac first thing, before you start using it. This is not hard to do, and will take you only about a minute’s effort. Don’t bypass this, if you will use the drive with your Mac only.

I’ve found many of my customers didn’t do this, or didnt even know they should have performed this important step (and just maybe might save from drive problems and even potentially a lot of money spent on expensive data recovery in the future*.)

We’ll cover why formatting for Mac is important later, so for now just follow these simple steps to prepare a new hard drive to use with your Mac (and prevent some potential headaches in future).

• Connect the hard drive to your Mac, with the supplied cable to a your Mac (USB port most likely) If your drive has a separate power supply plug that in too of course.
• Launch Disk Utility (Located in APPLICATIONS> UTILITIES).
• Locate the drive’s name from the left hand side of Disk Utility and Select it. For example, if its a 2TB Seagate it might say “SEAGATE 2TB” or something like that) Here you can name the drive what you would like (ie, “Backup”)
• For type of format: OS X EXTENDED / JOURNALED
• Click on the “Erase” tab across the top. It will say something like “Erasing the drive will erase all data” as a last chance against accidently erasing it. Say “Yes”. After about 20 seconds generally it will be done and now is ready for Mac.

You will be warned that “Formatting a drive will erase everything on the drive”. In our case we know its a new drive and you have nothing you care about on it yet, so you can be sure you won’t lose data. Click OK, wait a 30 seconds or so while its working, and when its done, you are ready with a nice Mac Formatted Hard Drive.

Just be sure not to select your System Drive (likely says, Macintosh HD!)

The reason to prepare a PC formatted hard drive to use with a Mac is pretty simple but not obvious to many people. It will work best that way. If you just purchased an external hard drive that you will use exclusively with your Mac, its best to prepare it for Mac OS’s file system. Between PC, Linux, and Mac there are a number of different file systems. Windows uses NTFS and FAT. Mac uses HFS+. PC’s can not read Mac drives. However Mac’s (being better!) – CAN read most PC drives and even write to them. But not Vice-Versa. PC’s can’t read Mac drives normally. Still though we should format for Mac if you are ONLY using it with the Mac. Your files will be safer and more stable this way (with Apple’s file system).

While a PC Disk will theoretically work on your Mac, by not making it a Mac HFS+ formatted drive there is a increased possibility of having file problems at some point down the road. If you will be swapping the external drive on a Mac AND also a PC — well thats different, you would need to use PC formatting, so keep the drive As-Is. PC’s can’t read a Mac drive.

I’ve had a number of clients who have used a drive for years with their Mac, didn’t realize that the drive was a “Windows drive”, and just kept putting files on it like that. One day perhaps they don’t properly disconnect it and bang – suddenly the drive is not being recognized and now they need to rescue data off it, and possibly need Data Recovery, which tends to be either of two things: kinda expensive or very expensive. Long story short, just prep the drive following the steps above so you are never in that boat. Also see Apple’s instructions (it doesn’t matter that this says “for Aperture”. Its universal).

You can buy a drive that says specifically “For Mac” but a) they always charge more for the same drive and b) this is really not needed as the steps to format are as you see really easy and simple. Be sure to think about this before you start putting files on your new drive.

If you intend to use the drive as a TIME MACHINE drive, it’s even easier. As soon as you plug a new drive into your Mac for the first time, it generally will ask if you “Want to make this a Time Machine drive” . If you answer YES it will format it for automatically.

The above formatting instructions are for when you just want to use an external drive on your Mac (say for “extra storage” for files).

Yo just got a new external hard drive and want to use it on your Mac. However, the Mac OS does not allow you to write data to the drive. You may wonder how to reformat an external hard drive on Mac. Follow the tutorial below, you'll get everything covered.

• Bonus: How to Recover Data from Formatted External Hard Drive on Mac

Reformatting an external hard drive for use with Mac OSX is not as difficult as it might seem. In a few simple steps you are ready to go and can save your back-up files to the external drive, keeping your information safe and giving you peace of mind. Keep in mind that a MAC can generally read other file formats, but for the best performance and to create a bootable disk, formatting exclusively for MAC is required.

Part 1: Which File Format You Should Choose?

Before you begin formatting the drive, there are a few things to do. The most important, you should decide which format to use. Mac miller good am torrent pirate bay.

There are a few file formats you can use, but it depends on the purpose you want to use the drive for. Which one is right for your circumstance? We'll describe them here, you'll know your choice after reading the details.

APFS: This is the default file system in Macs with High Sierra. It is efficient and reliable. However, it won't be readable and usable on machines that are not running Mac High Sierra, and Windows or Linux PCs. What's more, it is compatible with SSD and flash storage devices only.

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. Mac OS Extended (encrypted) would be an ideal option if you probably carry your laptop or external drive here and there. You can encrypt it so that no one can access the contents on your drive.

MS-DOS FAT (aka FAT32): In addition to Mac, it can also be written and read by Linux and Windows. It enables you to regularly share files with your friends who own a PC. Nevertheless, this older file system is limited to no more than 4GB and there might be security issue and disk errors.

ExFAT: It is similar to ExFAT which can be read by both Windows and Mac, but it can store more than 4GB files.

NTFS: As the default file system in Windows, it can only read by Mac OS, writing to it is not available. Luckily, there are third-party tools to help you do so.

Part 2: Format External Hard Drive for Mac with Disk Utility

Formatting an external hard drive would erase everything on it. Hence, you must backup your important files before reformatting the drive if you want to save them. The easiest way is to drag it from one drive to another.

All is set, then you can go ahead to format the drive on your Mac. Disk utility - the MacOS utility application can help you with this. Just follow these steps below:

Step 1. Connect the external drive or the USB drive to the MAC.

Step 2. Start the Disk Utility, located under Applications > Utilities.

Step 3. Find the name of the drive in the left side of the Utilities window and select it. And click Erase button.

Step 4. Follow on-screen prompts to choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) file system and allow the disk to format.

Bonus: How to Recover Data from Formatted External Hard Drive on Mac

In case you forgot to backup files before formatting the external drive. Here comes the cure - iMyFone AnyRecover - a one-stop solution to recover deleted, lost or formatted files from Mac.

Follow these simple steps using AnyRecover to get your files back!

Get Ready!

First, download and install AnyRecover, following on-screen prompts to accomplish the task.

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Don't miss the opportunity to get AnyRecover license at the lowest price on the market. Don't know how to apply it, check the instructions here:

Get Set!

• 1. After loading AnyRecover, plug your external hard drive into your Mac directly or via USB.

• 2. Next select the drive under 'External Removable Devices' tab, click 'Start' to begin scanning lost files on the drive.

Go!

• 1. AnyRecover takes a moment to scan your drive. Once done, it will list out all scanning results by file type.

• 2. Double click a single file to preview it before recovery.

• 3. Select the files and press Recover to get them back.

What If?

What if my files were not found? Fear not. We can take this a step further. Enable 'Deep Scan' to try one more time, follow the steps above just as before to locate and recover your files.

It is plain to see that AnyRecover for Mac is a tool worthy of top shelf treatment in your arsenal of items that are used to defend, recover and keep your system up and running. Don't get caught without the file you need for that meeting or stumbling looking for baby photos that were stored on disk and suddenly 'hid' from your view. Allow AnyRecover to find and recover your lost files. AnyRecover is easy to use but provides sophisticated results that mean you know what you're doing!