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This article was co-written by Yaffet Meshesha. Yaffet Meshesha is a computer expert and founder of Techy, a full-service company: home pick-up, repair, and return. With over eight years of experience, Yaffet specializes in computer repair and technical support. Techy has appeared in TechCrunch and Time magazines.
This article has been viewed 11,483 times.
This article shows you how to change the format of an external hard drive (USB) on computers running Windows and Mac operating systems. Formatting a hard drive can change the file system to create compatibility between files and the computer’s operating system, as well as fix invisible errors on the hard drive. Note, however, that the formatting process will erase the data on the hard drive.
Steps
On Windows operating system
- If you’re using a desktop computer, the USB ports are usually on the front or back of the device’s CPU.
. Click the Windows icon in the lower left corner of the screen, or press ⊞ Win on your keyboard.
. Click the folder icon in the lower left corner of the Start window.
- NTFS – Suitable for Windows-specific hard drives.
- FAT32 – Fits Windows and Mac, but has a memory limit of 32 gigabytes and a file size limit of 4 gigabytes.
- exFAT (Recommended) – Use this option for hard drives that you want to use on multiple devices (Mac, Windows, conspe devices, etc.). This type is similar to FAT32 but has no memory limit.
- If you have formatted your hard drive before, check the Quick Format box.
- The files of the external hard drive will be deleted during processing.
On Mac OS
- If you’re using an iMac, you’ll see USB ports on the side of the keyboard or on the back of the iMac display.
- Not all Macs have USB ports. If you’re using a newer Mac that doesn’t have a USB port, you’ll need to purchase an additional USB-C to USB adapter.
- You can also click on the computer screen.
- Mac OS Extended (Journaled) – The default format on Macs, Mac only.
- Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted) – Encrypted version of the default Mac format.
- Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled) – Version of the default format on Macs, with different treatment for files of the same name but with upper and lower case differences (such as ” file.txt” and “File.txt”).
- Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled, Encrypted) – A combination of the three formatting options above for Mac formatting.
- MS-DOS (FAT) – Suitable for Windows and Mac computers, but has a file limit of 4 gigabytes.
- ExFAT (Recommended) – Suitable for Windows and Mac computers, no memory limit.
Advice
- When formatting an external hard drive for a conspe game device, FAT32 or exFAT is the most appropriate choice for the file format.
Warning
- Formatting does not destroy all data on the hard drive. The formatting process will assist the hard drive to save new files. Usually, the data will be recorded on disk or can be recovered using recovery software.
- Formatting will erase all data. Back up the files you need to save before formatting the hard drive.
This article was co-written by Yaffet Meshesha. Yaffet Meshesha is a computer expert and founder of Techy, a full-service company: home pick-up, repair, and return. With over eight years of experience, Yaffet specializes in computer repair and technical support. Techy has appeared in TechCrunch and Time magazines.
This article has been viewed 11,483 times.
This article shows you how to change the format of an external hard drive (USB) on computers running Windows and Mac operating systems. Formatting a hard drive can change the file system to create compatibility between files and the computer’s operating system, as well as fix invisible errors on the hard drive. Note, however, that the formatting process will erase the data on the hard drive.
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