
- FORMAT HARD DRIVE FOR A MAC ON WINDOWS HOW TO
- FORMAT HARD DRIVE FOR A MAC ON WINDOWS INSTALL
- FORMAT HARD DRIVE FOR A MAC ON WINDOWS SOFTWARE
For now we'd advise against formatting in APFS because it won't be readable by Macs that aren't running High Sierra, but this may not matter to you. Read some of the good stuff about APFS here. And it currently only works on SSDs or Flash storage. But it won't be readable or usable by a Mac that isn't running High Sierra, and Windows or Linux machines won't be able to read or write either. You can choose an encrypted version and a case-sensitive version. There are a number of things that are good about it - such as it being more efficient and more reliable. We'll describe them below, and you'll be able to choose the one that suits you.ĪPFS (Apple File System) - This is the new file system that Apple bought to Macs with High Sierra and it will be the default if you are using that version of macOS. There are a few file formats that you can use but the one that's right for your circumstances depends very much on what you are going to be using the drive for.
FORMAT HARD DRIVE FOR A MAC ON WINDOWS INSTALL
Other reasons you might want to use Disk Utility include making a bootable macOS install drive (covered here) and if you are doing a clean install of macOS. We also have a tutorial on using Disk Utility on a Mac here.

FORMAT HARD DRIVE FOR A MAC ON WINDOWS HOW TO
Read our roundup of the best storage devices available now: Best storage options for Mac. Also take a look at How to install and run Windows on a Mac.īefore we begin there are a few things you need to know, including the most important decision of all, which format to use. Or it might be that you bought a drive to use with your Mac only to discovered it is pre-formatted for Windows.įortunately Disk Utility, built right into MacOS, can help. Maybe you want to copy something onto a drive to share with a PC or another Mac. Or perhaps you are setting up an external drive for backups. Perhaps you are selling you Mac and you want to completely erase it so that nobody can access your date.

If you've got any questions about working with NTFS drives on your Mac, let us know in the comments.There are all kinds of reasons why you might want to format a drive. This method can't really be recommended, but it is possible. The problem is that installing NTFS-3G is a major security risk by the project's own admission, as the mount tool runs with root permissions, leaving your system exposed to possible attack. You'll also need to install NTFS-3G, which allows you to manually mount and write to NTFS drives.

Fuse for macOS, for instance, requires that you use the Terminal. While Paragon and Tuxera provide paid tools that integrate themselves with your Mac and do all of the necessary setup during the installation process, there are free tools that you can install, but they take some work. Tuxera NTFS is available from Tuxera for $31 after a 15-day free trial.
FORMAT HARD DRIVE FOR A MAC ON WINDOWS SOFTWARE
Tuxera also includes support for NTFS extended attributes and works with virtualization software like Parallels and VMware Fusion. It also features failsafe technology designed to protect against unexpected power loss or an unexpected unplugging of your drive, both of which could cause data loss or even damage the drive. Tuxera NTFS uses smart caching technology to speed up transfers, maintaining a sustained speed as files are moved between your external drive and your Mac.

Like Microsoft NTFS, Tuxera's app lets you edit, copy, and delete files on NTFS drive on your Mac.
