I recently purchased a new LaCie external hard drive and want to transport it between my home and workplace. I need them readable and writable from my Mac and Windows PC. What file system should I format to?
Roxanne· Answered on Apr 18, 2024
Most external hard drives use NTFS by default, while the default file system for Macs is typically APFS. Let's discuss what file systems are compatible with Mac and PC:
Although Mac and Windows can use FAT32 and exFAT, FAT32 will not allow files larger than 4GB. Based on the information above, we can conclude that exFAT is our best choice. I will introduce two methods to help you format your external hard disk on a Mac or Windows PC.
Method 1. Format the Drive on Windows
Since Windows can only read the NTFS drive and not allow users to format it to other file systems in Disk Management, EaseUS Partition Master can cover you in such cases with its "Format" tool effortlessly.
Refer to the specific guide on how to format NTFS to exFAT using EaseUS Partition Master:
Step 1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master on a Windows PC, right-click the external hard drive you want to format, and select the "Format" utility.
Step 2. Assign the new partition label, file system (exFAT), and cluster size to the selected external hard drive, then click "OK." (In the Warning window, press "Yes" to confirm.)
Step 3. Find and choose the "Execute 1 Task(s)" > "Apply" tab to begin the format action.
Method 2. Format the Drive on Mac
You can use the built-in tool, Disk Utility, to convert the external hard drive file system to exFAT. Here is a post that contains the how-to guide:
Read More: How to Format USB to exFAT on Mac.
Can I Convert Drive From exFAT to NTFS Without Losing Contents
Since Windows won't let users convert file systems from exFAT to NTFS, this article will provide one workable and safe way to help Windows users transfer exFAT to NTFS.
Roxanne
Mar 12, 2024
Can I Fix Bad Sectors by Formatting
Quick format is an easy way for some Windows users to fix many small errors. However, it's not a master key to all the problems. Can I fix bad sectors by formatting? This post will answer you.
Oliver
Apr 19, 2024
How Can I Remove SteamOS Partition Within Windows, Help
SteamOS is the operating system developed by Linux. If you want to delete it and extend the Windows NTFS partition, continue to read this short page and get your solutions here.
Cici
Apr 18, 2024
Formatting an External HDD Stuck at 70%, How to Fix?
If you are formatting an external hard drive but only find it stuck at 70%, you will discover reliable methods in this guideline.
Roxanne
Apr 18, 2024
Why Won't My External Hard Drive Show Up
Why won't my external hard drive show up? If you face the same issue, read and learn how to fix the 'external hard drive not showing up' problem.
Roxanne
Mar 15, 2024
Will I Keep the Windows License After Format? I Need Answers
Do you want to know whether you kept the Windows license after you formatted your drive or computer? This page will solve your problem and give you a safe and secure way to finish formatting.
Cici
Apr 19, 2024