

Non-Linux computers can use five main file systems: NTFS, HFS+, APFS, exFAT, and FAT32. If you use a Mac, the likelihood that you’ll have to reformat the drive is higher. But if you buy a drive secondhand or if you plan to switch between operating systems, you may still need to reformat it for use on Windows. Learn more about reinstalling m acOS.If you buy an external drive-such as one of our recommended portable or desktop hard drives, portable solid-state drives, or USB 3.0 flash drives-you may need to reformat it to work with your operating system of choice, since different operating systems use different file systems to process data.Īlthough it’s true that any drive is compatible with both Windows and macOS once it’s formatted properly, most drives come preformatted for Windows out of the box.

If this button isn't shown, click Erase instead.

Format: APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled), as recommended by Disk Utility.Click the Erase button in the toolbar, then enter the requested details:.Select Macintosh HD in the sidebar of Disk Utility.From the utilities window, select Disk Utility and click Continue.If asked, select a user you know the password for, then enter their administrator password.Start up from macOS Recovery: Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold these two keys until you see an Apple logo or other image: Command (⌘) and R.
