How to format an external hard drive. When formatting your external hard drive in Windows 7, it is essential to select the appropriate file system. For instructions on how to format your hard drive on a Mac, please reference the following links: How to format a drive in Mac OS 10. Check the Perform a quick format option. Step 5: Configure Format Settings. For this, you can take the assistance of Disk Utility, which is the native application in Mac. Navigate to the external hard drive: Open File Explorer on your PC and locate the external hard drive. Select Start > OK. With it, it’s possible to easily format a storage device with just a few clicks. Step 3. Select NTFS if using the drive only with Windows and exFAT if also using it with Mac. Click on Erase to start the formatting the external hard drive. Click Start to reformat the hard drive. It will display you the basic situation of your hard drives. Otherwise, it may be listed as "USB Drive" or the make and model of your hard drive. Mar 15, 2023 · Right-click your external hard drive. Windows 11 (NTFS) Windows 10 32-bit & 64-bit Dec 13, 2022 · 1. ; Immediately after assigning the new letter the external drive should appear in File Explorer. Oct 8, 2021 · What about formatting external hard drives or flash drives? The steps to format external drives and flash drives (also called thumb drives and USB drives) are the same as formatting internal drives. Set the file system of the partition and you can add Partition Label if you want. ; If you receive a warning message, click the Yes button. . ) and the volume label. 1 drive, but only the Seagate expansion drive lets Jan 7, 2020 · The hard drive formatting process could take anywhere from no time at all to a while depending on the size of the hard drive in some cases. The file system determines how data is organized and stored on the drive, as well as its compatibility with different operating systems. Click the Format pop-up menu, then choose a file system format. Apr 15, 2022 · First, partition the drive using Disk Utility in macOS and (using our walk-through below) format one part as HFS+ and the other as FAT32; then, plug the drive into your Windows PC and reformat Jul 18, 2017 · Learn how to format an external hard drive using Windows' File Explorer. Windows users can easily format an internal hard drive, external HDD or SSD, USB drive, etc. Aug 20, 2018 · WD Quick Formatter can be used to format and remove all partitions on WD External Drive. Sep 24, 2023 · It will help you to format the external hard drive or USB drive using Windows PowerShell. Jun 17, 2024 · Learn how to erase, format, and partition your external hard drive on Windows 10 or 11 using File Explorer or Disk Management. Choose ‘Mac OS Extended (Journaled)’ as the format. Enter a name. msc, and press Enter. Feb 15, 2024 · Formatting an external hard drive for Windows 11 is a relatively straightforward process. You can also format a hard drive via Command Prompt using the format command. Right-click the corrupted external hard drive and click Format. Option 1: Format to NTFS and buy this app for your Mac. Operating System Support Windows. When you format the USB extended storage, all game data saved on the drive is erased. To format an external hard drive for Mac, open a Finder window and go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Right-click on the drive's icon to bring up the context menu, then select Format from the list. Select APFS Format (recommended). Locate and open Disk Utility. Open Finder. That means that learning how to format an external hard drive is fairly straightforward. This will ensure those deleted files can't easily be recovered without wiping the entire drive. Mar 14, 2023 · QUICK ANSWER. Need more help? Apr 22, 2024 · With the presented methods, you can easily format a brand new hard drive, format an internal or external hard drive, and even thoroughly wipe a hard drive in Windows 11/10. Plug in the drive and format it. This is because Mac can also format an external hard drive in Windows-supported file systems like exFAT and FAT. Select “NTFS” in the “File system” box and then tick “Perform a quick format”. Choose the file system, allocation unit size, and quick or low-level format options according to your needs. Essentially, you’ll need to connect the drive to your computer, open Disk Management, select the drive, and then choose a file system to format it with. WARNING! Formatting erases all data on the drive. Sep 5, 2024 · Right-click on the external hard drive and choose the Format option from the context menu. Click the drop-down menu and select a new File System Format. Oct 23, 2023 · Now that you have successfully located and opened your external hard drive in the Files app, we can move on to the next step: formatting the external hard drive. The easiest is "This PC. 6 to 10. If your external hard drive has a specific name, it will be listed in File Explorer. Launch this software. If it does, connect either an external AC power supply (it's recommended to use the Oct 23, 2023 · Formatting on Windows: If you are formatting your external hard drive on a Windows computer, you can do so by connecting the drive, opening File Explorer, right-clicking on the drive, and selecting “Format. Oct 25, 2023 · Step 7: Formatting the External Hard Drive. Jul 23, 2022 · Note: Select the Restore device defaults button if you want to revert to the default selections for the drive. In this guide, we will show you how to initialize and format an external hard drive on Windows 10. Dec 30, 2022 · (Image credit: Future) In the "Value label" field, confirm a new name for the storage. Click ‘Erase’ to format the drive. Unallocated: no partition on the drive. ; Use the Jun 7, 2023 · Format your external hard drive using File Explorer or Disk Management and then use data recovery software to recover important files. As stated by WindowsCentral on how to properly format: 1. As well as giving you more space to play with, an external hard Aug 2, 2022 · If you’re using Windows 7 or more recent versions, you can follow the next steps to format a new hard drive or reformat a used one, including an external hard drive using a macOS format. Step 2. Click Format… in the pop-up menu. Jan 29, 2024 · Connect your external hard drive to your Windows computer. Click "This PC" from the left panel. Select the external hard drive. To format a system drive, you’ll need a Windows installer or specialized software. Be sure to make a copy of any data you might need later. If you see FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS, but don't know which one to pick, here's what you need to know. Type diskmgmt. Locate the drive. How to Format an External Hard Drive for use on Ma Dec 12, 2018 · Click the OK button. 6. Oct 7, 2019 · For example, the process for formatting an internal hard drive can be different than formatting an external USB drive, and sometimes you have to decide between file system formats. Step 1. 10 How to format your drive in MacOS 10. ; Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result Jul 21, 2022 · Now that we’ve taken a look at file formats, let’s move into actually formatting the external hard drive. Drive Support Supported WD External Drives ; DOES NOT support SanDisk External Drives or USB Flash. Now look at the right panel under "Devices and drives. To check this, press Windows Key + R, type diskmgmt. Apr 22, 2024 · Stage 2. Dec 14, 2023 · Although your Mac comes with a hard drive built-in, knowing how to format an external hard drive on macOS will widen your options. Black bar above the drive: not partition on the drive. Format an External Hard Drive. Formatting your external hard drive will erase If you have a drive that is formatted for a different type of computer or a drive that is not preformatted, you will need to format the drive before you can use it. You can format a drive when you no longer want to use it as USB extended storage for your PS5 console. Use File Explorer to Convert FAT32 Format. Click Done after the erase (format) process is complete. Formatting prepares the drive for future use by creating a new file system and structure. Jun 15, 2023 · This wikiHow teaches you how to format your computer's built-in hard drive, which is different than formatting an external or secondary hard drive. To fix drive issues on Windows 10 with DiskPart, use these steps: Open Start. May 16, 2017 · In this video I am going to show you how to format your external drive so you can use it fully on both Windows and macOS without the need for additional soft May 12, 2023 · Step 2. May 20, 2022 · How to Format a USB Drive There are a few places you can format a USB drive in Windows 10. 11 and above Dec 10, 2023 · To format a hard drive or SSD in Windows 11, open File Explorer, browse to "This PC," right-click the drive, and select "Format" to start the process. Conclusion. Return to Top. Not Initialized: the drive must be initialized before use. To format the drive, you'll need to know which letter represents it on your PC. " Each connected drive has a letter, such as C: or D:. macOS users have at their disposal a handy tool called Disk Utility. When formatting, consider the capacity, file system, allocation unit size, and volume label. Make sure the Quick Format box is clicked! Make sure the Quick Format box is clicked! If it is not, you will lose all of your data. Nov 29, 2020 · Second Move: Add and Format Xbox One External Hard Drive. Use the "File system" drop-down menu, and select the NTFS option (recommended for Windows 10). Locate the hard drive partition that needs formatting, right-click it and choose “Format”. Formatting a new external hard drive on Windows. It should appear as a new drive under the “This PC” or “My Dec 17, 2023 · If you're using a Windows computer, to change the drive's format: connect the drive to a computer, right-click it, click Format, and choose a compatible format under File System. Secure erase options are available only for some types of storage devices. 11 and above Nov 9, 2023 · Locate your external drive from the list of Devices and drives, then right-click on the drive, and select Format. Select the external hard drive and right-click it. Click Erase. 2. I need to format an external hard drive from FAT32 to NTFS without losing data. Choose "Format Partition" in the drop-down menu. In this guide, we will show you how to set up external hard drives and show you some formatting tips and tricks along the way. 3. Here's how: Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer. If you have a drive that is formatted for a different type of computer or a drive that is not preformatted, you will need to format the drive before you can use it. In the Disk Management window, see if your external hard drive is visible. If your external disk is O, then enter format /FS:FAT32 O:) Method 4. Click Go. If you keep your hard drive's out-of-the-box NTFS format, you'll be able to read the drive when it's connected to a Mac, but you won't be How to reformat (delete or wipe) USB extended storage as a USB drive . Once the drive becomes visible, you can format the external hard drive in several ways. Aug 30, 2019 · Formatted external hard drive without backup and want to recover the data? Try Recoverit data recovery: http://bit. 7. Step 5: Format the external hard drive. Windows 10 and Windows 11 have a way to do this, but you'll have to visit the command line. Aug 2, 2021 · These will format the drive in OS X's HFS+ filetype so it will be compatible with Time Machine. Dec 4, 2023 · How to fix drive (MBR) problems with DiskPart on Windows 10. After successfully resetting your external hard drive, the next step is to format it. Connect your external hard drive to your PC. To partition an external hard drive on Windows, open the Nov 24, 2023 · Right click on the external hard drive to format and click on “Format…”in the drop-down menu. But, you can only do this if the corrupted external hard drive is detected by your PC. Please make sure you don’t have any important information stored on the Xbox One external hard drive before setting it up with your Xbox One. Open Disk Utility. Under the "Devices and drives" tab, right-click the external May 8, 2023 · However, if the other methods don’t work, you can follow these steps to fix a corrupted external hard drive by formatting it: Go to Disk Management. Mar 29, 2023 · To retrieve data from a corrupted external hard drive, you’ll need to use third-party data recovery apps. Quick Not always available: Use the convert command to change the external hard drive format without losing data. If you want to format your hard drive so you can install Windows again from scratch, your hard drive will be automatically formatted as part of that process. A dialog box will pop up asking you to confirm the format settings, such as the file system (NTFS, FAT32, etc. As for Windows beginners, we suggest you back up important data first, then apply a practical formatting tool like EaseUS Partition Master for help. When you click Erase, a format menu will pop-up with three main choices with sub-formats: Aug 20, 2018 · Blue bar above the drive: existing partition on the drive. Also, drives that will be used for storage need to be formatted. Then click View in Disk Utility and select Show All Devices. Press Windows key + R to open Disk Management. , with the Jun 28, 2024 · Step 2. In this video we'll cover how to Format a Western Digital External Hard Drive for use on macOS and Windows. Sep 6, 2023 · Follow the steps to format an external drive on a macOS. Apr 22, 2024 · format /FS:FAT32 X (Replace X with the actual letter of your external hard drive. Open the File Explorer and right-click the external hard drive. In the left-hand margin, click on the external hard drive you have connected and in the main window, you’ll see information such as the drive name, capacity and connection type. You should be done in seconds if you choose the Quick Format option. (Optional) If available, click Security Options, use the slider to choose how many times to write over the erased data, then click OK. Finally, select your drive, click Erase, choose a format, and click Erase. May 16, 2023 · Formatting your system drive (usually C Drive) is not as straightforward as with an external hard drive because the Windows operating system is installed there, by default. Now, click OK. Oct 20, 2023 · Connect the external hard drive to your PC: Take the external hard drive and connect it to an available USB port on your PC. msc then click OK. Make sure the Quick Format box is ticked and leave all the other settings the same. Jul 12, 2023 · When you format your hard drive, you can clean internal as well as external storage media. Choose the best file system for your needs and back up your data before formatting. Click here to learn more! Aug 8, 2023 · How to Add and Use an External Hard Drive with Xbox Series X or S. To format an external hard drive on Windows, find it in Windows Explorer, right-click it, click Format, and follow the steps. Click Erase and OS X will format the drive. How to Format an External Hard Drive on Mac. With the drive selected in Disk Utility, click Sep 1, 2023 · Find the drive letter of the external hard drive. Make sure it is recognized and mounted by the system. Go to Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage. Feb 15, 2024 · Connect the external hard drive to your Mac. It will only format and create a single partition for better performance. Next, it is time formatting the Xbox One external hard drive. Follow these instructions to format your external hard drive: Windows: Right-click on the Start menu and select “Disk Oct 23, 2023 · If you've deleted some files from a mechanical hard drive or an external storage device, you might want to wipe only the free space, overwriting it with zeros. Jul 7, 2021 · In the Devices and Drives section of the main window, you should see your external hard drive. Select (More) > Format as exFAT. Jan 6, 2023 · When connecting a mechanical hard drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), or an external USB hard drive to a computer, Windows 10 can automatically detect and set it up. Use any USB 3. To completely erase and format the hard drive on which Windows or macOS is installed, you'll need to do so from outside of the operating system. The amount of space each hard drive has is listed below the drive name in File Explorer. This displays a pop-up menu next to the hard drive. Change Name, Format and Scheme if needed. ly/32SoDnDImportant Tip:😎 Leave comments 3 days ago · How to Format a Hard Drive for Mac. Jun 20, 2024 · More on Formatting Hard Drives in Windows . " "This PC," like its predecessor "My Computer," lists all of the hard drives and external storage devices attached to your computer. Click the ‘Erase’ button. However, a newly added drive Oct 23, 2023 · Step 5: Choose the desired file system for the external hard drive. Firstly, check the enclosure of your external hard drive to see if it has more than just a single USB port. 1. ” Choose the desired file system, assign a name to the drive, and click “Start” to begin the formatting process. Formatting an external hard drive for Mac is not a daunting task, but it’s important to approach it with caution. Need more help? Answer ID 18824: How To Initialize Secondary Drives on Windows Jul 17, 2024 · How to Format a Hard Drive for Windows 10 on macOS? You don’t need to use a Windows system to format a hard drive for Windows 10. Click here to learn more! If you have a drive that is formatted for a different type of computer or a drive that is not preformatted, you will need to format the drive before you can use it. You can use Windows built-in tools: Disk Management and CMD: right-click on the target disk and select Format external hard drive. Click Utilities. In this tutorial, we explain how you can format a hard drive using the command prompt. Now that you have accessed your external hard drive in the Files app, it’s time to format it. Double-click This PC in the left panel. Jul 23, 2024 · When you are reformatting a drive, memory card, or flash drive you need to pick a file format. aegfhfgtpwuykmbkditpnnsnrkilrjyiudaqsmgsimlgokqydrzeemwba
