It enables you to regularly share files with your friends who own a PC. MS-DOS FAT (aka FAT32): In addition to Mac, it can also be written and read by Linux and Windows. You can encrypt it so that no one can access the contents on your drive. Mac OS Extended (encrypted) would be an ideal option if you probably carry your laptop or external drive here and there. Mac OS Extended (Journaled/HFS+): If you didn't update your Mac OS to High Sierra, the default file system on your Mac shoule be Mac OS Extended. What's more, it is compatible with SSD and flash storage devices only.

However, it won't be readable and usable on machines that are not running Mac High Sierra, and Windows or Linux PCs. Architecture design for mac.ĪPFS: This is the default file system in Macs with High Sierra. Which one is right for your circumstance? We'll describe them here, you'll know your choice after reading the details. There are a few file formats you can use, but it depends on the purpose you want to use the drive for. The most important, you should decide which format to use. Part 1: Which File Format You Should Choose?īefore you begin formatting the drive, there are a few things to do. Keep in mind that a MAC can generally read other file formats, but for the best performance and to create a bootable disk, formatting exclusively for MAC is required.

In a few simple steps you are ready to go and can save your back-up files to the external drive, keeping your information safe and giving you peace of mind. Reformatting an external hard drive for use with Mac OSX is not as difficult as it might seem. Bonus: How to Recover Data from Formatted External Hard Drive on Mac

Mac and windows compatible format