How to Format USB on Mac

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Most external hard drives and USB drives are compatible for use on Mac computers as long as you format the devices for use with Mac OS X. USB drives can be formatted on your Mac using the Disk Utility application.

Things You Should Know

  • Formatting a USB involves prepping the device to store information.
  • Most USBs are compatible with Mac if they are formatted beforehand.
  • When formatting USB drives on your Mac, you can use the Disk Utility application.

Steps

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  2. ”
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  3. ” The Disk Utility window will open and display on-screen.
  6. ”
  7. The former option can help ensure that the USB drive is made fully compatible with your Mac, since most USB drives are preformatted for Windows computers by default.
  10. Your USB drive will now be formatted and ready for use on your Mac computer. [1]
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  • Question
    Will doing this make it ONLY compatible with a Mac? Currently I can use it anywhere but it's almost full and I can't seem to delete anything.
    Friedolin Baum
    Community Answer
    Yes, if you choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" in step 7, the USB drive will then only work with Mac computers.
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  • Question
    What format should I use for a USB drive that I want to use on both a Mac and a TV?
    Alex Anderson
    Community Answer
    For optimal compatibility, you should format your drive as exFAT. macOS can read and write exFAT without additional software, and most modern TVs recognize it. Avoid formats like APFS or HFS+, as TVs typically cannot read them, and exFAT also supports large files, making it suitable for media playback.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    I deleted everything from my USB drive, and now it isn't recognized. Can I recover the data?
    Bestax Chartered Accountants
    Community Answer
    You can use data recovery tools such as Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery, or Disk Drill to scan the drive and restore files.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ http://osxdaily.com/2012/01/04/format-an-external-hard-drive-or-usb-flash-drive-for-mac-os-x/

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