How to Format USB on Mac

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

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

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/Connect-Your-PSP-to-Your-Computer-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Connect-Your-PSP-to-Your-Computer-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/Connect-Your-PSP-to-Your-Computer-Step-3.jpg\/aid6257369-v4-728px-Connect-Your-PSP-to-Your-Computer-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/59\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/59\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/aid6257369-v4-728px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    ”
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/aid6257369-v4-728px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":341,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":540,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    ” The Disk Utility window will open and display on-screen.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cd\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cd\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/aid6257369-v4-728px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":542,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b1\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b1\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/aid6257369-v4-728px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e6\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e6\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/aid6257369-v4-728px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    ”
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/aid6257369-v4-728px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    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.
  8. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/99\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/99\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/aid6257369-v4-728px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":347,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":549,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  9. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ce\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-9-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-9-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ce\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-9-Version-2.jpg\/aid6257369-v4-728px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-9-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":347,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":549,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  10. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7e\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-10-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-10-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7e\/Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-10-Version-2.jpg\/aid6257369-v4-728px-Format-USB-on-Mac-Step-10-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Your USB drive will now be formatted and ready for use on your Mac computer. [1]
    11. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • 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.
    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
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 54
  • Question
    I need to format the USB with "FAT32 32KB." How can I do this?
    Tenjingawa
    Community Answer
    First, open Disk Utility as shown in the article. Then select your USB from the list of disks on the left, and then click on "Info" on the top right. A new window will appear. Note down the "BSD device node" shown. After that, open Terminal (in the same Utilities folder). Then type the following commands into the window (without the quotes): "diskutil unmount /dev/[BSD device node]" "sudo newfs_msdos -F 32 -c 64 -v VOLUMEID /dev/[BSD device node]" (-F 32 means FAT32, while -c is "the number of sectors per cluster". FAT32 has a sector size of 512 bytes, so you need 64 of them to have 32KB per cluster; 512B×64=32768B=32KB) Then enter your password if required, and wait.
    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
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
  • Question
    I use "Mac OS Extended (journal)" in step 7, but I didn't know that my USB can be used only with Mac. How am I going to reset that or do something to make it work in another computer?
    Sami8667
    Community Answer
    To make your USB drive compatible with both Mac and Windows, reformat it on your Mac: Connect the USB drive. Open Disk Utility in "Applications" > "Utilities." Select the USB drive. Click "Erase" and choose "ExFAT" or "FAT32" as the format. Name the drive. Click "Erase" (all data will be lost). Now your USB drive can be used on both Mac and Windows computers!
    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
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Make a Bootable USB Drive on Windows & macOS
      2 Simple Ways to Erase and Format a USB Flash Drive
      6 Ways to Repair a USB Flash Drive
      4 Simple Ways to Format and Clear an SD Memory Card
      3 Quick Ways to Permanently Remove Write Protection from an SD Card
      How to
      Save Files to a USB Flash Drive
      A Guide to Disabling Write Protection
      How to
      Reformat an External Hard Drive on Windows or Mac
      How to
      Partition a Thumb Drive
      How to
      Boot from an External Hard Drive
      2 Ways to Test a USB's Speed on a Computer
      How to
      Transfer Music to a Flash Drive
      Easily Remove the “Read Only” State from a USB Drive on PC
      How to
      Add an External Hard Drive
      Advertisement

      References

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

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 264,660 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement