How to format an external hard drive for Mac

Formatting an external hard drive for your Mac might sound like an arduous task, but there are simple ways to get your new external hard drive working correctly. With this guide, you’ll learn how to correctly format your new external hard drive for your Mac, as well as why you need additional storage and the best format to consider when formatting a hard drive for a Mac.

First and foremost, you’ll need to weigh up the file system formats, and which one will be most beneficial to you. When using an external hard drive with a Mac, you will have several options available to you. The best options are APFS and exFAT.

APFS (Apple File System) is the default file system for Macs. With an APFS formatted disk, the containers can grow and shrink as needed. Previously with the default file system format on Mac, the container size was fixed. APFS is not supported natively on Windows.

exFAT gives users an option to allow data to be read by both Windows and Mac products. It is based on the FAT filesystem which has been supported by Windows since the early 1990s. This makes exFAT an ideal option for users who are considering the possibility of needing to use the hard drive between different platforms.

The process of formatting a hard drive for your Mac is relatively straightforward. There are just a few rules to follow and then your hard drive should be good to go.

Plug the SSD into the Mac.

In the Finder menu, select Go, then Utilities. Double-click the Disk Utility icon. You can also use Spotlight (press Command + Spacebar) and type Disk Utility.

Choose the SSD in the sidebar and click Erase.

Rename the hard drive and choose the format you want. (Remember to select a Windows-compatible format like exFAT if you need your SSD to share files across platforms.)

Click Erase one more time to complete the formatting process.

If you are in the process of switching to Mac but have important information on an existing external hard drive, there are ways in which you can reformat the hard drive without losing this information. The safest way to do this is by temporarily moving these files to another storage device during the reformatting process. 

Reformatting an external hard drive is similar to formatting a hard drive in the first instance. Follow the first few steps of the formatting process up until the first time you must click erase. After this, navigate to the GUID Partition Map. Following this, you’ll need to click the format pop-up menu and choose a file system format (APFS or ex-FAT). After this, you will have the opportunity to rename the external hard drive. The last step is to click erase one last time and then click done.

Internal storage can only go so far with any device, so buying an external hard drive can provide that additional storage that can be vital for all your different projects. It is best to be prepared for when you run out of that space, so you’re not having to delete or temporarily move important files unnecessarily. At Crucial, there are a number of external hard drive options that fit any need and budget for a Mac. 

For the most straightforward option for a Mac specific external hard drive, look no further than the Crucial X9 Pro for Mac. With a choice between 1-4TB, running out of external storage shouldn’t be an issue. The big advantage of getting this SSD is that it is formatted for Mac straight out of the box. This way you can start transferring your files straight away, saving you time and energy. On top of this, you get Crucial’s trademark durable build for external hard drives. Whether it is sand, water, or dust getting in the way of your hard drive, it won’t interfere with the SSD’s performance. 

Macs are widely used for people’s creative ventures and vocations. Whether it’s photography, video content, or music, you’ll want to be ready for anything. As storage space is a vital commodity with creative projects, it is critical to have more than enough space, so your creative flow is never limited. When on the move, portability is matters. The Crucial X10 Pro provides everything a creative professional needs for external storage, all in the palm of your hand. Once formatted, you’ll be able to save and transfer all your files on the go with ease. With the robust design of the Crucial X10 Pro, durability won’t prove to be an issue. 

When looking for an external hard drive to suit your needs for your Mac, look no further than Crucial.