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. 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.
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- Best Format Tool For External Hard Drive Machine
- Open the Disk Utility app and highlight your external hard drive. Make sure you select the disk icon right under 'External'. If you select the one below it, the Partition option will be greyed out and become unclickable. Step 2: Add partitions and allocate volume for each one.
- Sep 06, 2017 How to Format an External Hard Drive. In this Article: On Windows On Mac Community Q&A This wikiHow teaches you how to change an external (USB) hard drive's format on Windows and Mac computers.
Mar 22, 2012 The best ways to format an external drive for Windows and Mac. Compare the different options for formatting an external hard drive to work with.
You can, but not out of the box.
Most external hard drives (HD) are sold in a format called NTFS, which is designed to work with Windows. Macs read and write to a different format, called HFS+. Another format, called FAT32 is compatible with both OS platforms. 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.
- Maximum file size: 4GB
- Maximum volume size: 2TB
NTFS (Windows NT File System)
- Natively read/write NTFS on Windows. - Read-only NTFS on Mac OS X
- Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and above but has proven instable.
- 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
Isn't FAT32 the obvious solution?
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. The video and directions below will guide you through the process, but before you format your HD to FAT32, beware of these drawbacks:
- FAT32 offers no security, unlike NTFS, which allows you to set permissions. If your HD gets into the wrong hands, that person will be able to access your data.
- The max size for any given file stored on a FAT32-formatted HD is 4GB. 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.
- It's not a huge issue, but FAT32 is less efficient at storing files. Its large cluster sizes waste disk space, unlike the other HD storage formats.
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:
OK, what are my alternatives to using FAT32?
The good news is, it's not FAT32 or nothing. 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.
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. NTFS-3G is an open-source program that, when coupled with MacFuse, will let you use your NTFS drive on your Mac. However, it is an open-source program, so use it at your own risk. Many have vouched for its success, but others complain about bugs.
The commercial solution, which will give you access to support and software updates, is Paragon NTFS. It's $20, offers Lion support, and you get a five-day trial to try before you buy.
Option 2: Format to HFS+, and use HFS Explorer to read/write on PC.
Conversely, you can format the HD to HFS+ and use HFSExplorer for Windows to read and write to the Mac-formatted hard drive. To get started, you'll first have to format the hard drive from NTFS to HFS+. Here's how:
Plug your HD into the Mac and open Disk Utility, which can be accessed by searching for it in Spotlight. Then, select your hard drive from the left sidebar. Now go to the Erase tab. In the Volume Format list, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Then, click Erase at the bottom to format the drive. Please note that this will complete erase the drive. Any data you want to keep on that drive must be backed up elsewhere first.
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. This is an open-source program, so use it at your own risk. Alternatively, you can opt for paid software like MacDrive instead.
Option 3: Create two partitions on your hard drive to use with each OS, separately.
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. 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.
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. Here's how to do it:
Step 1: Connect the empty external HD to your Mac and launch Disk Utility. Select the drive from the left sidebar, then click the Partition tab. Under Partition layout, select '2 Partitions.' Now, drag the boxes to adjust the size of each partition. 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. Then click the second partition, name it 'Mac,' and change its format to Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Give your settings a final lookover and click Apply.
Step 2: Plug the hard drive into your Windows PC. Open the Start menu and search for Disk Management. Select the search result and the Disk Management utility will launch. In the left sidebar, you should see your hard drive and its partitions. Right-click the Windows partition and select Format. In the Format dialog box, under File System, select FAT32. Click OK and complete the format process.
With these three options you'll be able to take advantage of either platform's offerings, be it Time Machine support or security options. 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 easiest way to add storage to your Mac is to buy an external hard drive. Once you have it, your first task is to pick a suitable file system for that drive depending on your intended usage.
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. Let’s take a look at your options, which file system is right for you, and how to get your drive ready for use.
Format Your Drive With Disk Utility
Once you’ve unboxed your new drive, connect it to your Mac. It will likely already be formatted, either for use with Windows (using NTFS) or for maximum compatibility (using FAT32). For a Mac user, neither of these file systems are desirable.
You can find Disk Utility under Applications > Utilities, or simply search for it using Spotlight. You should see a list of connected drives and mounted disk images listed in the left-hand sidebar. Click on one to select it and view its name, current file system, and available space.
You’ll see a list of controls along the top edge of the window. These are:
- First Aid: This allows you to check the disk for errors. macOS will prompt you to attempt a fix if it finds any problems. Use this on any drive that isn’t behaving normally.
- Partition: Partitions allow you to create multiple volumes from a single drive. An example of this is creating one partition to store your Time Machine backup and another to store dataPartition & Use Your Time Machine Hard Drive To Store Files TooPartition & Use Your Time Machine Hard Drive To Store Files TooIf your Mac's hard drive is small and your Time Machine hard drive is big, it might be worth using the drive for both backup and storage purposes.Read More.
- Erase: Use this button to format your drive. You can select a new file system, and add a new label.
- Restore: Restore a previously created disk image to a drive.
- Unmount: Unmount drives for safe removal without risking data loss.
To format a new drive to a different file system, select it and click Erase. You’ll be given an option to name your new volume and specify a file system to use. Click Erase in the dialog box to begin the formatting process. Remember that you will lose all data on the drive by doing this.
If you run into issues while formatting, see how to unlock your Mac external driveHow to Unlock and Format an External Hard Drive for Your MacHow to Unlock and Format an External Hard Drive for Your MacHere's a quick guide on how to format an external hard drive for Mac and solve any issues you may encounter.Read More before moving on.
Available Mac File Systems Explained
Disk Utility allows you to choose from a variety of file systems. They are:
- Apple File System (APFS)
- Mac OS Extended (HFS+)
- exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
- MS-DOS (FAT)
Let’s take a detailed look at each of these, what they’re used for, and which you should pick.
Apple File System (APFS)
APFS is Apple’s latest file systemNew macOS, New Filesystem: What Is APFS and How Does It Work?New macOS, New Filesystem: What Is APFS and How Does It Work?iOS already has APFS. Now it's the Mac's turn. But what exactly are we getting into this Fall?Read More, first introduced in early 2017 for iOS devices. It’s a replacement for Apple’s Mac OS Extended file system; all new Macs come with macOS preinstalled on an APFS file system.
Apple File System is optimized for use with solid state drives (SSDs) and flash storage, but you can also use it with traditional mechanical hard disk drives (HDDs) too. You should pick this option if you’ve got an external SSD or a new USB flash drive that you won’t use with a Windows machine.
The biggest improvement over Apple’s previous file system is speed. Copy and paste are virtually instantaneous thanks to the way the file system organizes your data. There’s also a focus on encryption and improved metadata handling—macOS makes heavy use of metadata when it comes to file storage.
You can’t use APFS to back up with Time Machine (yet). APFS is not natively supported by Windows, but you can read and write to APFS partitions if you purchase Paragon APFS for Windows.
Good for: System volumes, hybrid drives, SSDs, and flash storage that you only use with macOS.
Bad for: Drives used with older (pre-2016) Macs and Time Machine volumes.
Mac OS Extended (HFS+)
Mac OS Extended, also known as HFS+ (Hierarchical File System plus), was the main file system used for Mac system storage from 1998 until APFS launched in 2017. If you bought a Mac between those dates, it shipped with macOS (or OS X, as it was known) installed on an HFS+ volume.
This file system is still suitable for use with both mechanical and solid state drives, though SSDs will perform better when formatted to APFS. If you have older Macs (pre-2016), particularly those too old to update to a recent version of macOS, choosing macOS Extended will enable you to use your external drive with these machines.
External drives formatted to HFS+ will play nicely with old and modern versions of Apple’s operating system. In order to access the contents of a Mac OS Extended file system on a Windows PC, you’ll need additional software like Paragon HFS+ for Windows.
Good for: Mechanical hard drives and external drives shared with older Macs.
Bad for: External drives that you want to share with Windows machines.
exFAT
Designed by Microsoft to provide similar compatibility to FAT32 without the pesky limitationsFAT32 vs. exFAT: What's the Difference and Which One Is Better?FAT32 vs. exFAT: What's the Difference and Which One Is Better?A file system is the tool that lets an operating system read data on any hard drive. Many systems use FAT32, but is that the right one, and is there a better option?Read More, exFAT is the format of choice for drives that you’ll share between both Windows and Mac computers. macOS and Windows can each read and write to exFAT volumes, making it ideal for flash storage and external drives.
The problem with exFAT is that it’s more prone to fragmentation than using an Apple-proprietary file system. It’s up to you whether or not this trade-off is worth it, or whether you’d prefer to use third-party drivers instead.
exFAT is certainly more stable than third-party NTFS or HFS+ drivers, and many other consumer devices like TVs and media playback devices natively support exFAT.
Good for: Drives shared between Mac and Windows machines, especially flash drives.
Bad for: Drives that are predominantly used with a Mac (a third-party driver may be worth it, in this instance).
MS-DOS (FAT)
Apple also includes support for FAT32, which is labeled as MS-DOS (FAT) in Disk Utility. You should generally avoid using FAT32 for any purpose unless you’re dealing with an old computer.
Occasionally you may need to transfer files to a flash drive for use with an older version of Windows, but that’s about the only time you should consider this option.
If you pick this file system, you’ll have to deal with volume size limits of 2TB and maximum file sizes of 4GB. exFAT is almost always a better choice.
Good for: Drives that you need to use with Windows XP or earlier.
Bad for: Everything else.
Finally: Add Support for NTFS Drives
NTFS, which replaced FAT32 with the arrival of Windows XP, is still the dominant Windows file system. FAT32 had a number of serious limitations, including a maximum file size of 4GB, and a maximum partition size of 2TB. This makes it unsuitable for modern purposes.
macOS can read NTFS file systems natively, but is unable to write to them. You can install third-party drivers that allow you to write to NTFS volumes, or enable macOS’s experimental support for writing to NTFS volumes. Avoid doing this if you don’t want to risk losing your data, since your Mac could end up corrupting the volume. You have been warned!
Best Format Tool For External Hard Drive Macbook Pro
A far safer way to enable writing to NTFS drives is to buy a driver, like Paragon NTFS for Mac or Tuxera NTFS for Mac. These utilities have been tested far more thoroughly, and allow you to not only write to your existing NTFS volumes, but format new drives to NTFS.
Still looking for additional storage? Check out our best external hard drives for use with your MacThe Best External Hard Drives for a MacThe Best External Hard Drives for a MacNeed more storage? Check out the best external hard drives for Mac to add more space easily.Read More.
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Best Format Tool For External Hard Drive Machine
FAT32 is also good when have to use the drive with Android device(s), because Android officially doesn't support ExFAT nor NTFS (but there's EXT4 support for external storages, but unfortunately, not for SDCard).
Also ... to 'back up' copyrighted/protected vhs tapes you can find solutions online as well. I found one ebay, it goes between the vcr out and capture device in and inserts the hsync/vsync to allow it