
- FLASH DRIVE FORMAT FOR MAC AND PC HOW TO
- FLASH DRIVE FORMAT FOR MAC AND PC MAC OS
- FLASH DRIVE FORMAT FOR MAC AND PC PRO
- FLASH DRIVE FORMAT FOR MAC AND PC PC
- FLASH DRIVE FORMAT FOR MAC AND PC WINDOWS
You will need to connect a USB-C adaptor on the port before you can connect your flash drive.
FLASH DRIVE FORMAT FOR MAC AND PC PRO
Newer models of MacBook and MacBook Pro only come with USB-C ports. Step 1: Plug the flash drive into the USB port.

FLASH DRIVE FORMAT FOR MAC AND PC HOW TO
Now, have you decided which format would best suit you and your Mac? If you have, refer to our step-by-step guide on how to format a flash drive on Mac. If you are merely freeing up space or getting rid of viruses in your flash drive, simply select the previous format.
FLASH DRIVE FORMAT FOR MAC AND PC WINDOWS
If you expect to transfer files between a Windows computer and a Mac, you should decide on either FAT32 or exFAT.
FLASH DRIVE FORMAT FOR MAC AND PC MAC OS
If you want full compatibility with Mac, choose between APFS and Mac OS Extended. The great thing here is that it doesn’t have a file size limit. However, it is not supported by as many consoles and devices as FAT32. This is closely similar to FAT32 in terms of compatibility. We don’t suggest using this format if you plan to store large files like videos.ĮxFAT. However, it can only support individual files up to 4GB in size. It works on most video game consoles, media players, and other devices. In fact, it is the most widely compatible file system. The most versatile in the list, FAT32 will allow you to use your USB drive on Windows as well as a Mac. On the bright side, you can use your flash drive to create backups via Time Machine.įAT32.

It has some catching up to do in terms of speed, though. This would work well if you think you would need to use your drive in an old Mac. Nevertheless, Mac OS Extended works with High Sierra and up as well.

If your Mac is running on macOS Sierra or below, this format is the way to go. This means you cannot set the flash drive as the destination of your backup. The downside to it is that it isn’t Time Machine-compatible. If you intend to use your USB drive only with a new Mac, APFS is highly recommended. It is optimized for solid state drives (SSD) like flash drives, and this guarantees a faster performance than Mac OS Extended. Short for Apple File System, APFS only works with Mac running on High Sierra or later. The format that you set is something you’ll have to stick with for a long time, so it’s best if you make the right decision from the very start.īelow are the available formats and when best to use them.ĪPFS. Selecting the correct format is crucial as it will have an impact on its compatibility with your Mac.Ĭertain formats work better on specific versions of macOS. How to Format a Flash Drive on Macīefore you proceed with formatting your flash drive, you should first consider which format you are going to use. Although macOS is generally much safer and more secure than Windows, this doesn’t mean that your Mac can’t be affected by viruses. Flash drives are popular for their portability, but they can also carry viruses that can spread to other computers.įormatting a flash drive on Mac is an easy yet effective way to remove them. That is when formatting your USB drive becomes the best solution.
FLASH DRIVE FORMAT FOR MAC AND PC PC
Sometimes, deleting unnecessary files or transferring a few of them to your PC is enough. Time Machine is a built-in feature of Mac that backs up your files to an external storage device such as your flash drive.įree up space in your flash drive. Mac uses either Mac OS Extended or AFPS as the file system, while Windows usually uses FAT32.ĭrives that are formatted as FAT32 can still be used with macOS, but there is a bigger chance that you’ll encounter issues along the way.Īside from that, Time Machine doesn’t work with drives that are not fully compatible with Mac. The difference between macOS and Windows is that they make use of different file systems. Most flash drives are pre-formatted for use with Windows. Here are the three common ones:Įnsure the flash drive’s full compatibility with Mac. There are various reasons why you have to format your flash drive on Mac. Use PowerMyMac File Shredder to Delete Files on Your Flash Drive Part 4. How to Format a Flash Drive on Mac Part 3. Here are the tactics you’ll learn about in this post.Ĭontents: Part 1. You need to format your flash drive on Mac to make it compatible with your Mac.

I just bought a flash drive, and it seems to be working really slowly on my Mac.
