Format Flash Drive For Mac And Pc

Format flash drive in Exfat for transferring files between Mac and Pc. FORMAT TYPES. FAT32 (File Allocation Table) Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X. Maximum file size: 4GB. Maximum volume size: 2TB; You can use this format if you share the drive between Mac OS X and Windows computers and have no files larger than 4GB.
Jan 15, 2019 So if you think you might need to plug the USB drive into a Mac running an older version of macOS, format it as Mac OS Extended. APFS is optimized for SSD (solid state drive) such as flash drives, so if you reformat a flash drive on a Mac, you should definitely choose APFS (unless you plan to use it with a pre-High Sierra Mac, of course).
To format a hard drive for compatibility of both Mac and windows you can use FAT32 format which has both read/write capability on win/Mac respectively. Although we know its limitation of 4gb file size only. Means if one want to transfer movie or any stuff greater than 4gb it can’t be done in this format.

Insert the flash drive or hard drive you want to format for Windows compatibility. Go to the Applications folder on your Mac’s hard drive, then go to the Utilities folder, and launch Disk Utility. Select the drive you want to format. Warning: the following steps will delete any info you currently have on the drive. Click the Erase button.

Autoclicker for mac. USB flash drives, or thumb drives, are convenient tools to transport and transfer files between computers. Currently, PC and Mac files can access files on USB flash drives by reading the drive as a peripheral. Mac users can easily reformat USB drives using the Disk Utility application included in OS X to optimize the disk space for files.

Locate and launch the Disk Utility program in the Utilities folder located in the Applications folder. Insert the USB flash drive in the appropriate slot in your computer.

Click the USB drive (usually named 'Untitled' if it is new) in the left hand frame.

Click the 'Erase' tab in the main frame (right hand side). Select 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)' option in the drop-down menu under 'Volume Format.' Type the name of your drive under 'Name.'

Click the 'Erase' button. Click the 'OK' button in the dialog box to confirm you want to erase all files.

Exit the Disk Utility application (select 'Quit Disk Utility' under 'Disk Utility' in the top menu bar). Open a new Finder window and verify that you see your USB drive in the left hand side of the window. Unmount your USB drive by selecting the drive and clicking the triangle to the right of the icon (or click 'Eject' under 'File' in the Finder's top menu bar).

Tips

If the USB drive contains read-only files, select the drive and click 'Get Info' under 'File' in the Finder's top menu bar. Click the box next to 'Ignore ownership on this volume' in the 'Ownership & Permissions' section. Then launch Disk Utility to proceed with formatting.

Video of the Day

Brought to you by Techwalla

You can use any USB flash drive on a Mac computer provided that it has been formatted. Most flash drives are preformatted by the manufacturer and are ready to use upon purchase. If you have an old flash drive or one that was formatted to work with Windows or another operating system, you can still format your flash drive to work on a Mac.

Volume Format

Most manufacturers use the FAT 32 or MS-DOS (FAT) volume format. These are Windows volume formats, but they can be read by Mac OS X. If your flash drive states that it was formatted with one of these volume types, you should be able to plug it into your Mac and use it without a problem. If you plug in your drive and your Mac won't read it, you need to format it.

Formatting

To format a flash drive on a Mac, plug in the drive and open the 'Applications' folder, the 'Utilities' folder and then 'Disk Utility.' Your flash drive should be listed in the left menu. Select the drive, and then click 'Erase.' When you see the volume format types listed, choose 'MS-DOS (FAT).' Some older flash drives may only have the options 'FAT 16' or 'FAT 32.' Choose the highest number available if 'MS-DOS (FAT)' doesn't appear.

Format Flash Drive For Mac And Pc 2017

Warning

Formatting a flash drive erases all data currently stored on it. If you have already saved anything on the drive, back up the data before you format the flash drive. To back up your data, insert the USB drive into the computer you used with the drive and copy the contents of the drive to the desktop or a folder on the computer. To copy, just drag and drop the files from the flash drive menu to the desktop or desired folder.

Faulty Drives

Occasionally, a faulty flash drive becomes unreadable after it's been used for a while. If you have an older USB flash drive that's been beaten around, it may not work even if you reformat it. While most flash drives are made to withstand years of use, take the age and previous use of the drive into consideration if you have a flash drive that can't be read anymore.

References

About the Author

Aubrey Kerr is a writer and photographer. With a B.A. in media arts and public relations, she has helped small business owners design and implement online marketing campaigns since 2004. Her work appears on several websites including Salon.com and the Houston Chronicle.

Format A Flash Drive For Mac And Pc

Photo Credits

Format Thumb Drive For Both Mac And Pc

Jeffrey Hamilton/Digital Vision/Getty Images