How to format a hard drive for both windows and mac laptop mag. Save any files you need to another volume before formatting. Then click the second partition, name it mac, and change its format to mac os extended journaled. Click start and the drives file system will be changed. If you want to use the drive between a windows and mac machine, you can format it to fat32. Fat32 works for both oses, but has a 4gb size limit per file, so it. Crossplatform file system file sharing between mac, windows. Ntfs is the default file system for windows operating system and hfs for mac operating system. Dec 29, 2015 windows uses ntfs and mac os uses hfs and theyre incompatible with each other. The best ways to format an external drive for windows and mac. How to format a drive for mac and pc compatibility macyourself. It has relatively simple technical underpinnings, and was the default file system for all windows operating systems prior to windows 2000.
By default, usb flash drives and external storage are formatted with the ntfs file system this works flawlessly on pcs, while mac computers are able to read data in the format, but struggle to. How to format an external hard drive for mac and pc. Without an operating system, user and system cannot interact. If you need to format external hard drive mac or windows, you. Disk utility on mac supports several file system formats. If you want to write to ntfs formatted hard drives in mac os x, youre going to need the help. If you have a mac drive lying around and you no longer have a mac, youre not stuck with the mac file system forever. Ubuntu linux requires exfat packages to run on the exfat format filing system. How to choose the best format for usb drive on windowsmac. This is the best format if you intend to use seagate backup plus with time machine. How to format drive with compatible file system for mac and. Mac os x uses the hfs plus file system, while windows uses the ntfs file system.
Fat32 has several limitations, including a 4 gb perfile limit. Os extended used to be the default file system for macos until it was replaced by apfs. Whether youre formatting an internal drive, external drive, usb flash drive, or sd card. Because fat32 supports only up to 4 gb large files, it should be used only with flash drives. Both mac os x and windows also support the fat32 file system, but we dont recommend it for hard drives. Apple file system apfs apple file system apfs, the default file system for mac computers using macos 10. How to format a wd hard drive to exfat or fat32 file system. If you plan to use the usb drive on linux computers, you can format it to this file system.
What is a file system and what are the different kinds. Whats the difference between fat32, exfat, and ntfs. Jun 21, 2009 the fat short for file allocation table file system is a general purpose file system that is compatible with all major operating systems windows, mac os x, and linuxunix. Sep 18, 2019 a new window will open with a dropdown for file system. For partition scheme, there are three types available on mac. The easiest way to do that is hit cmd and the spacebar at the same time and type in disk utility to find the program. Mar 03, 2020 as you can see, exfat is the only file system that works with all versions of windows and macos and does not have any max filesize or partitionsize limits. Windows itself and windows applications ignore these. How to choose the best format for usb drive on windowsmaclinux. Ntfs, a modern file system, is used in system drive by default due to its advanced features what benefit system running. The fat short for file allocation table file system is a general purpose file system that is compatible with all major operating systems windows, mac os x, and linuxunix.
The file system on wd my book live, wd my book live duo, wd sharespace, wd sharespace, wd my book world edition hard drives support access from windows, mac and most linux based computer systems through a samba. Restore a previously created disk image to a drive. But to get a hard drive to be compatible with both mac and pc, you have to choose the. A western digital external hard drive can be used on both windows and mac osx. Some examples include system libraries, icons, themes, and device drivers. Then, you should choose fat32 from the file system option in the popout window. We hope this guide helps you change the file system of a drive without formatting it on your windows based computer. Macs can read files on ntfs drives, but it cannot write.
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. It is recommended to choose the compatible format that the system lists. Open it, and select one of the supported file systems that windows 10 can convert to. How to change the file system without formatting in windows. This is useful if a drive is being used under both operating system osto. How to format a hard drive on windows or mac avast.
The extended file system ext was the first file system created specifically for linux. Crossplatform file system file sharing between mac. At last, click apply button to make all changes performed. The udf file system can contain extended attribute files.
Youll be given an option to name your new volume and specify a file system to use. Using apples free disk utility app, you can easily format the drive, give it. Seagate backup plus is preformatted exfat for compatibility with both mac and windows computers. Now, click on the top partition, name it windows, and change its format to msdos. Nov, 2019 a file system doesnt just store the files but also information about them, like the sector block size, fragment information, file size, attributes, file name, file location, and directory hierarchy. Format a disk for windows computers in disk utility on mac apple. In the window you can switch to another file system for this drive.
After recovering the files from your drive with one of the tools above, you can then format the drive and convert it to a standard fat32 partition that will work with most devices. I have recently purchased a macbook pro and i am very impressed with the machine and os x. How to change the file system of a drive on windows 10. Apfs apple file systeman apple file system optimized for solid state drives ssds and flashbased storage systems. File system formats available in disk utility on mac apple. Hfs for windows mac file system driver for windows.
Operating systems and file systems crosscompatibility. The process will take some time to complete depending on the size of the drive. Mac file system driver for windows get access macformatted partitions in windows systems with the fastest and most stable hfs driver on the market. Mar 15, 2018 to format the drive in windows, rightclick it in the file explorer window and select format. If you own a windows computer, the hard drive in your system is probably running the ntfs format, which stands for new technology file system. This is a file system limitation that affects both macs and pcs, and the only workaround is to format the drive. Jun 20, 2019 for mac, the mac os extension is the file system included in mac os 10.
It replaced the hierarchical file system hfs as the primary file system of apple computers with the 1998 release of mac os 8. To format a new drive to a different file system, select it and click erase. Ntfs windows nt file system readwrite ntfs from native windows. To begin with, mac is an os which focuses on graphical user interface and was developed by. Give your settings a final lookover and click apply. You can select a new file system, and add a new label. File system formats available in disk utility on mac. Guid partition map is for hard drive that used on intelbased mac computers. Use the exfat file system and never format your external. Unlike windows in file explorer, mac os x and macos do not include a format drive option in the finder. You have to format the drive to exfat or fat32 if the burning process failed due to the wrong partition scheme. Files output by the system are also included in this category. All in all, this application will allow you to use mac formatted partitions when using windows.
The good news is that formatting usb on mac is also as easy as on windows 10. Dec 30, 2018 if you have a mac drive lying around and you no longer have a mac, youre not stuck with the mac file system forever. Read only ntfs from native mac os x to readwriteformat ntfs from mac os x, here are some alternatives. When you format a partition or drive in windows 10, there are three types of file system you wont be unfamiliar, ntfs, fat32 and exfat. Mar 23, 2017 operating systems and file systems compatibility why would you need to know. Therefore, its perfect for a usb flash drive or external disk, especially when you need to save files more than 4gb in size.
Coming from windows the one thing i have struggled with is the file system and the finder application. How to format usb to fat32ntfsexfat on windows and mac. I suppose i am very used to drag and drop of files in windows explorer. Fat32 has several limitations, including a 4 gb per file limit. Formatting a disk or volume erases all the files on it.
An operating system is considered to be the backbone of any system. You should go ahead and format your storage drive with exfat. Jun 14, 2019 unlike windows in file explorer, mac os x and macos do not include a format drive option in the finder. What file system you pick is determined by need for security, need for portability, and size of the volume. However, you can format the drive to work with both windows and mac by using the exfat filesystem. Its worth noting that starting with mac os high sierra 10. Udf file system settings mac extended attribute files extended attribute files. This is a file system limitation that affects both mac s and pcs, and the only workaround is to format the drive. The western digital units mentioned below use a proprietary file system and cannot be reformatted as fat32, ntfs, or a mac file system. Some operating systems other than windows also take advantage of fat and ntfs but many different kinds of file systems dot the operatingsystem. Here is a simple chart showing the crosscompatibility of operating. And apfs takes the advantages of strong encryption, space sharing, disk snapshots and is compatible with ssd on new mac.
Although we know its limitation of 4gb file size only. Note that i used the high sierra for the screenshot. Both of these applespecific file systems are incompatible with windows, tvs, cameras, or most other nonmac devices, which is why it should only be used on internal primary disks where you store macos and programs. A new window will open with a dropdown for file system. A file system doesnt just store the files but also information about them, like the sector block size, fragment information, file size, attributes, file name, file location, and directory hierarchy. For mac, the mac os extension is the file system included in mac os 10. You will be able to transfers files at a higher rate to native hfs filesystem performance. The above represents each operating systems native abilities to read and write to these. Format a disk for windows computers in disk utility on mac. The system files category includes files related to mac, windows, and linux operating systems. Creating windows 10 bootable usb on mac is a common task for people who have multiple computers at home. In other words, you can access the drive and transfer data without any hassles. Step to format a portable drive into a new file system on a mac.
Choosing the right format for your external hard drive b. Remember, this will erase all the files on the drive. The best ways to format an external drive for windows and mac cnet. Jan 25, 2019 you can select a new file system, and add a new label. Now it is ntfs but back in the day the ntfs support was not stable under linux and i think it is not supported on a mac. How to format drive with compatible file system for mac. Under file system, choose the file system you want to use. Choose the exfat file system in the list and click start.
Linux vs mac vs windows which one is better infographics. Ntfs is the modern file system windows likes to use by default. Quickly format an external hard drive for mac and windows pc. Meanwhile, you can set properties for this new partition and click ok to go back to the main window of partition wizard.
Windows uses ntfs and mac os uses hfs and theyre incompatible with each other. Jul 16, 20 fat had been the standard format for floppy disks and hard drives all through the dos years, and versions of windows up to and including windows 8. 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 can someone coming from windows learn mac os x file. How to format a hard drive for both windows and mac. Selecting ntfs new technology file system for large internal windows drives makes sense. Compare the different options for formatting an external hard drive to work with windows and mac. There are many operating systems like windows, mac os x and linux that use different file systems that organise programs and the storage of data. If you use a different version of the mac os, the steps and the interface might be slightly different, but the process is essentially the same. Default file system used in various operating systems. Format external driveusb exfat in windows 10 in simple steps. Fortunately, there is a file system actually two, ill explain that you can format your flash drive to be fully compatible with mac and pc. The software i use in the video is called hfs explorer. What filesystem should i use for an external usb harddrive 500gb, with possibility to share with a mac and windows systems, for example at the office.
Each operating system has limits to what it can read and write to, in terms of compatibility. Select your external hard drive or usb flash drive from the list on the left. Fat had been the standard format for floppy disks and hard drives all through the dos years, and versions of windows up to and including windows. Which mac file system is best for an external drive. Both of these applespecific file systems are incompatible with windows, tvs, cameras, or most other non mac devices, which is why it should only be used on internal primary disks where you store macos and programs. We mainly have three kinds of operating systems namely, linux, mac, and windows. Open windows explorer, click the computer section in the sidebar and find your drive. You can format a hard drive or usb flash disk specifically so that it will be compatible with both mac os x and windows pc computers. The nt file system ntfs is the file system that modern windows versions use by default.
Macyourself blog archive how to format a drive for mac and pc. The native windows file system is ntfs, which is only partially compatible with mac os x. To format the drive in windows, rightclick it in the file explorer window and select format. Unmount drives for safe removal without risking data loss. Be absolutely sure you have your files off the drive and that youve selected the correct drive you want to format. 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. Apr 14, 2020 windows can only read a mac hard drive that is formatted to fat32 or exfat using thirdparty software. If you want, you can uncheck the quick format option. Formatieren einer festplatte fur windowscomputer mit dem. Mac file system driver for windows get access mac formatted partitions in windows systems with the fastest and most stable hfs driver on the market. By default, mac os x can only read ntfs drives, not write to them. All in all, this application will allow you to use macformatted partitions when using windows. Before you format the external hard drive for your mac, you need to notice those things when choosing file system and partition scheme. So, if you want to format a flash drive connected to a usb, firewire, or thunderbolt usb type c or not on a mac you need do the following procedure.
Were going to take a look at these two factors as they relate to the most common file systems. However, you can format the drive to work with both windows and mac by. Some operating systems other than windows also take advantage of fat and ntfs but many different kinds of file systems dot the operating system. The format dialog in windows doesnt explain the difference, so we will. What filesystem for an external harddrive linuxmacwindows.
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