- Format external hard drive on mac for windows how to#
- Format external hard drive on mac for windows mp4#
- Format external hard drive on mac for windows install#
- Format external hard drive on mac for windows for windows 10#
- Format external hard drive on mac for windows portable#
Because of that, we’re going to go over the most commonly used file system options so you’ll know what’s what. The one yours uses largely depends on the drive and the computer OS you’re using. Unfortunately, there isn’t a de facto file system that all hard drives use. Beforehand, just be sure your files are backed up with an online backup service, such as Backblaze(read our Backblaze review).īefore getting into the formatting process, though, it’s important to go over what you’ll be formatting the drive with: a file system.įile systems are what operating systems use to store information on a storage device.
Format external hard drive on mac for windows install#
In the same way a fresh install of your OS can solve most issues, reformatting your hard drive is a critical step in troubleshooting problems. Outside of formatting for initial use, you may need to reformat your hard drive if you encounter errors.
Format external hard drive on mac for windows how to#
In fact, that’s one of our recommended troubleshooting steps in our how to solve an external hard drive not showing up guide. Most external drives come ready to use on your computer, but in rare cases, you’ll need to format your drive. The data isn’t erased completely, but we’ll touch more on that later. Instead, formatting is used to get the hard drive to a state in which it can be used by the computer, which requires all written data to be erased from the drive. Though that’s true to a degree, it’s not the sole purpose of the process. Most people associate hard drive formatting with erasing a hard drive. Let’s first talk about hard drive formatting, file systems and how formatting doesn’t necessarily erase all data from your drive. We’ll show you how to format your hard drive on Mac and Windows computer operating systems, and explain key settings on both operating systems.īefore getting to that, though, it’s important to understand what hard drive formatting is.
Format external hard drive on mac for windows portable#
In this guide on how to format external hard drives, we’re going to help you make sure your portable disk works with everything. It can also be used to prep a hard drive for use with another operating system. Formatting allows you to overwrite all the information on the hard drive, resetting the file structure and how the drive interacts with the operating system. If you’ve run into issues with your hard drive, formatting is one of the first steps you should take to troubleshoot it.
Format external hard drive on mac for windows mp4#
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Format external hard drive on mac for windows for windows 10#
It also doesn't integrate with Windows File Explorer-files are available in the HFSExplorer application, and you must copy them elsewhere.ĭownload: HFSExplorer for Windows 10 (Free) 3. Note that HFSExplorer is read-only, so you can't modify or delete files on your Mac drive. You can then extract files from the HFSExplorer window to your Windows drive. HFSExplorer can automatically locate any connected devices with HFS+ file systems and open them.
Connect your Mac-formatted drive to your Windows system, open HFSExplorer, and click File > Load File System From Device. You also need to run the app as an Admin. We generally recommend against having Java installed, but it's necessary here unless you want to spend money.
The developer hasn't updated it since October 2015 due to the arrival of APFS, but it still works on older systems. You can use it to access Mac file systems from Windows without paying a dime. It adds several extra features, including automatic file defragmentation, support for RAID setups, and a way to create Mac ISO files.ĭownload: MacDrive for Windows 10 ($49.99) 2. Other useful features include the ability to create and partition Mac disks direct from your PC, a powerful disk repair feature, and robust security tools. You will also be able to see your APFS or HFS+ drive directly within File Explorer, allowing easy integration with the rest of the Windows operating system. It acts as a hub for all the Mac drives connected to Windows. The app is focused on the freshly redesigned Disk Management Window. Unlike some options, MacDrive lets you read and write data to your Mac-formatted drive directly from Windows. The app works with APFS drives and HFS+ drives. If you're prepared to spend some money, you don't need to look elsewhere. The first version was released way back in 1996. MacDrive has been one of the go-to apps for a long time.