File Systems And Using External Hard Drive In Both Windows And Mac

 


If you have both a PC and Mac and you want to use an external hard drive in both, we are here to tell you the correct format to do that. There are several different file formats. These file formats are specifically for windows, and some of them are for Mac. There is also a file format that works for both.

If you only have a Mac or a PC, then you can format them accordingly. If you have both and want to use the same external SSD drive on both, we will tell you the exact process.

File Systems

File systems are the standards for organizing data on any storage device.

  1. NTFS: This was introduced in 1983. It stands for New technology file system. The file size limit is 16EB. Exabyte is 1 million TB, so that you can say it without limits. NTFS is a journaling file system and supports file permissions and encryption. All the windows operating systems are installed on an NTFS drive. NTFS has limited non-Windows OS compatibility, and you cannot write in these drives in macOS.
  2. HFS+ (Mac OS Extended Journaled): In 1988, HFS was upgraded to a new version called HFS+ or HSF Extended. HFS+ has a maximum file and volume size up to 8EB for macOS 10.4 or above. Windows on non-apple operating systems do not support this file system.
  3. APFS: In 2017, Apple introduced a new file system called APFS, or Apple file system. APFS is optimized for SSDs and other Solid state media. Windows on non-apple operating systems do not support this file system.
  4. FAT32: FAT is a short form for the File allocation table. FAT32 supports a maximum file size transfer of 4GB. It is limited to 32GB for windows and up to 2TB for other OS. It is still widely used for removable media.
  5. exFAT: Microsoft introduced an extended file allocation table in 2006. Microsoft optimized the exFAT file system for high-capacity USB flash drives and memory cards. exFAT is less sophisticated than NTFS, but it has many benefits over FAT32. The maximum file size is 16EB, or you can say unlimited. exFAT is the best choice for video recording memory cards. The exFAT is a default file system for SDXC memory cards.
exFAT is used widely in windows and Mac OS. Because it provides read and write supports on both. It also supports recent versions of android. If you want to use this on Linux, you will need some extra drivers.

For a system drive, you should choose according to your operating system.

  • Windows: NTFS
  • Linux: ext4
  • macOS: HFS+ or APFS

For external hard drives or SSDs, NTFS is the best choice for anybody who is entirely on Windows OS. exFAT is the best choice for anybody who regularly shares files between a PC and a Mac.

Format An External Drive For Windows And Mac

Storage drives are used to backing up information or moving around files and music, and videos. You can format your Hard drive and change its file system. You can choose exFAT as a file system to use on both your Windows and macOS. Sometimes these drives are pre-formatted for you. Getting a quick format is a good option.

If you bought a second-hand Hard drive, make sure to format it. The format gives you the option to erase all the old data from the Hard drive.

If you want to use these hard drives in multiple operating systems, change the file system.

exFAT supports more features and work in both Mac OS and Windows. It has no limitations on file sizes. The exFAT is also a preferred choice for cameras that supports external micro SD cards.

Before formatting an external drive, make sure to backup all the pictures, music, movies, and important files stored in it.

Format An External Drive In Mac

  • Go to the launchpad.
  • Click on the Disk Utility option.
  • Plug your Hard Drive on a PC or laptop.
  • Select your Hard Disk under the external section.
  • Click on erase option.
  • Select the file format.
  • Click on Erase button.
  • Click on the Done option after the process is completed.

Format An External Drive In Windows

  • Plug your Hard Drive on a PC or laptop.
  • Open File Explorer.
  • Right-click on your External Hard drive.
  • Select the Format option.
  • Choose file system.
  • Click on the Start button and select Ok.
  • Click on the Ok button after the format is complete.

Conclusion

This is the easiest way to format an external hard drive. You know how to do that in windows and Mac OS. It is straightforward, make a backup, choose the preferred file system, and go for it. If you have not made any backup, you can recover your data from the hard drive using recovery software.

Source: https://thesoftwaretutorial.com

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