#Best format for usb drive for mac how to#
#Best format for usb drive for mac for mac#
#Best format for usb drive for mac mac os#
#Best format for usb drive for mac free#
#Best format for usb drive for mac windows#

Ensure that the computer has read the device. Step 1 Connect the USB device to the Mac.

#Best format for usb drive for mac how to#

Part 3: How to Format a USB Drive to FAT32 on Mac i. If you want the storage device to only show up on Mac systems, then format your storage device with APFS.

#Best format for usb drive for mac windows#

With ExFAT, you can write and read on both MAC and Windows PCs and is our recommended option for an ultra-portable USB device. The macOS can read the NTFS files, but you cannot write anything to the storage device. If you want the USB device to be readable by both Mac and Windows devices, then you have three options – NTFS, FAT, or ExFAT. Now, when you are formatting a USB drive on Mac, you have an essential decision to make whether the USB should be readable by windows machines and Mac machines or just by Mac and not readable in windows. When compared with HFS+, APFS is made for solid-state storage devices. HFS+ is not readable by Windows machines.ĪPFS: This is the latest file format system used by Apple devices. It was the most common Mac file format until 2017.

#Best format for usb drive for mac for mac#

HFS+: Introduced in 1998 for Mac systems. They are readable by both Windows and Mac devices. However, they are not suited for Mac OS.ĮxFAT: A modified version of FAT32, which is capable of support higher data transfer bandwidths. It is the recommended file format for Windows computers. NTFS: NTFS or New Technology File System is the current standard in windows machines. They were once the goto file system for formatting windows based devices. There are mainly five types of file systems available that are in everyday use.įAT32: A file system that has been in business since the early 1980s. However, that is not the case.Ī file system is like a set of rules that determine how data must be written to the storage device. Then you would be able just to use any file system and call it a day.

Everything would be simple if every operating system in the world accepted all file systems. Many users do not know the importance of the file system when it comes to storage devices. This is one of the most overlooked parts of the whole process. Part 2: Which Format to Choose When Formatting? After this, your flash drive can be used with Mac or other computers. Select the Erase option one more time to begin formatting the USB drive. The program will display another confirmation message before the format starts. To activate it, just click on the Erase tab at the lower right part of the interface.

Click on the field beside Name and input any name you want.Īfter everything is set, now is the time to begin the formatting. You can set a name for your USB drive before the format begins.

#Best format for usb drive for mac mac os#

But to make your USB drive fully compatible with Mac, you need to format it in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) option. Now click on the drop-down menu beside Format to choose the formatting options. Now choose the Erase tab on top of the right side Disk Utility window. Click on your USB drive name and select it. On the left side, you will find a menu with your USB drive displayed in the list. This will open the Disk Utility interface. Now launch the application program and click on the Utility option on the right side window.įrom the many tabs, select the Disk Utility. Ensure that the USB is connected correctly. Switch on your Mac and connect the USB drive using one of the USB ports. The only way to remove those issues is by formatting the flash drive.

USB drives can get corrupted or infected by a virus.

#Best format for usb drive for mac free#

USB drives have limited space, and it becomes essential to format it for getting free space.It is required to format the USB drive to the Mac OS file system to make it fully compatible with the platform. Flash drives are formatted for Windows by default.So, how can USB format on Mac help? How would it help you to get more data when you need and help you keep your USB as good as ever? Here are some of the ways how a USB format can help you format your USB drive.

For instance, if your USB device has got corrupted, it might not be as easy to get your USB drive formatted. If you own a Mac and are thinking to delete your USB drive so that it works perfectly, you would want to do it the easy way. But at times, we find it necessary to erase or format USB Mac. You can even load songs and movies on it and share it with your friends or family. You can load your files on your USB drive or use it to store backups for restoring. USB flash drives are beneficial devices that help in storing data and adding mobility to them.