How to Format a Disk on Mac? Step-by-Step Guide for 2024

Can I format a Mac disk? Do you know how to format a disk on Mac for free? Read on, and you will learn what the best format for a Mac disk or hard drive is and how to format a Mac disk successfully with two reliable disk formatting tools.

Note that the solutions here also apply to formatting a disk – HDD/SSD, formatting an external hard drive, formatting a USB/SD card, and so on, on a Mac. Let's get started.

What does it mean to format a disk on a Mac?

According to Wikipedia, the purpose of formatting a disk is to prepare a device for data storage or to change the file system format of the device. For Mac users, the reasons for formatting a disk are as follows:

• Clean up your hard drive to make room for more data and files
• Prepare a new HDD/SSD to upgrade your Mac's storage

When you buy a hard drive or SSD to upgrade your Mac's disk, you'll have to format it in a macOS-compatible format. But what is the best format for a Mac hard drive? Read on, and you'll find out.

# What File Format is Best for a Mac Disk or Hard Drive? ## Understanding Your Options for Mac Disk File Systems When preparing a new external disk or hard drive for your Mac, choosing the right file system format is crucial. This will determine how you interact with the disk and its compatibility across different operating systems. This article explores several common file formats to help you decide which one best suits your needs. ### 1. **Mac OS Extended (Journaled)** This is Apple's recommended default format for most Mac users. **Mac OS Extended (Journaled)** uses a journaled file system, meaning it logs all changes made to the disk, providing better stability and reliability. This format supports all Disk Utility features, such as disk backups and repairs. ### 2. **APFS (Apple File System)** Starting with macOS High Sierra, APFS (Apple File System) became the preferred format for new devices and partitions. Designed for flash and solid-state drives (SSDs), APFS aims to deliver higher performance, improved security, and native encryption support. If your Mac runs macOS High Sierra or later and the disk is an SSD, APFS is a good choice. ### 3. **ExFAT** **ExFAT** is a universal file system compatible with both Windows and Mac. If you frequently share files between the two platforms, ExFAT is ideal since no additional formatting is needed. However, ExFAT lacks advanced features like file permissions and precise timestamps, making it less suitable for applications requiring those functions. ### 4. **FAT32** **FAT32** is another cross-platform file system, but it has a maximum file size limit of 4 GB, which can be problematic when dealing with large files. Due to its limitations, FAT32 is typically used for older devices or specific use cases. ### 5. **NTFS** **NTFS** is the default file system for Windows. While Macs can read NTFS-formatted disks, they cannot write to them by default. To fully utilize NTFS disks on a Mac, you would need third-party software. Unless you have specific requirements, NTFS is generally not recommended for use on a Mac. ### How to Choose? - **Primarily for Mac**: If your disk will mostly be used with your Mac, consider **Mac OS Extended (Journaled)** or **APFS**. - **Cross-Platform Sharing**: For sharing the disk between a Mac and Windows, choose **ExFAT**. - **Old Devices or Basic Storage**: For older devices or simple storage purposes, you might opt for **FAT32**. - **Deep Integration with Windows**: If you need frequent write access to NTFS disks on your Mac, with third-party software, you could consider **NTFS**. When deciding on a disk format, take into account your specific requirements and compatibility needs. In most cases, **APFS** will be the best choice for new Mac users, offering good performance and compatibility with the latest macOS versions.

When setting up your Mac's hard drive, you'll need to choose the right format for your Mac's computer. APFS (Apple File System) and Mac OS Extended (Journaled) are the two best formats for a Mac's disk.

In simple terms, APFS (Apple File System) is the latest file system offered by Apple for Mac users. It was first introduced in 2016 and is now widely used in macOS High Sierra and subsequent versions of macOS.

Meanwhile, Mac OS Extended (Journaling) has been the default file system for Mac computers since 1998. This file system format is used only for hybrid drives and hard disk drives on Mac. macOS High Sierra and later versions also support this file system format.

What's the difference between APFS (Apple File System) and Mac OS Extended (Journaled)? Please refer to this tutorial for more detailed information:

[macOS Formatting] APFS vs Mac OS Extended Comparison

Which file system is best for your system? APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journal)? To help you understand, we explain APFS and Mac OS Extended in detail.

In short:

- If your Mac is using macOS Mojave or later, use the APFS format. - If your Mac is using macOS High Sierra or earlier, use Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

In addition to these, other file systems are available on Mac computers; they're listed in this table:

Bonus tip: Some might wonder if exFAT is suitable for a Mac drive – the answer is no. exFAT is basically a file system format designed for large external storage devices (over 32 GB). You can format an external hard drive to use the exFAT file system, but not an internal Mac one.

How do I format a disk on a Mac?

Now that you know the file system formats supported by Mac, the next step is to format the disk on your Mac. But how do I format a disk on my Mac? Here are two in-house disk formatting tools you can use to format your Mac hard drive or SSD:

• #1. Disk Utility
• #2. Terminal

Which one should I choose? If you're not so familiar with Mac, Disk Utility would be a better option for you. It's more like Disk Management on Windows, allowing you to perform disk management via a software interface in a more intuitive and easier way. Terminal is equivalent to DiskPart on Windows, which executes disk management tasks by sending commands to the operating system.

So how do you use these tools to format a disk on your Mac? Here are two guides for you:

#1. Format a Disk on Mac Using Disk Utility

Step 1: Connect the hard drive to your Mac via the cable as an external drive.

Step 2: Go to Finder, click on “Applications,” and then click on “Utilities.”

Step 3: Double-click "Disk Utility" to open the program.

Step 4: In Disk Utility, select the new target drive and click “Erase” in the top pane. Set the format to APFS or Mac OS Extended. Click “Erase” to confirm.

#2. Format a Disk on Mac Using Terminal

Step 1: Connect the new hard drive to your Mac with a cable.

Step 2. Press Command + Space to open Spotlight, then type Terminal and press Enter.

Step 3. Enter each command listed, pressing Return after each one to format the drive on your Mac:

1. diskutil list
2. sudo diskutil eraseDisk APFS MBRFormat /dev/disk2
Translation:
1. Display disk information
2. Erase the disk using diskutil with superuser privileges, format it as APFS, and use MBR partition style. Target disk is /dev/disk2.

If your Mac is using macOS High Sierra or earlier, you can change APFS to Mac OS Extended.

When you're done, you'll be able to transfer your files and macOS onto the new disk. Note that these methods also apply to formatting other types of storage on a Mac, like how to format a USB on a Mac.

You can also use them to change the file system format of a storage device, like formatting a USB as FAT32, and so on.

Formatting a disk on a Mac is easy with the right formatting tool.

On this page, we discuss what happens when you format a disk on a Mac and the best file system for a Mac. We also introduce two reliable disk formatting tools for Mac users to format internal hard drives and SSDs to recommended formats like APFS, Mac OS Extended, and more.

You might also be interested in:

How to Format a Disk in Windows 10 [Beginner's Guide]

If you have a Windows computer and need a detailed guide on how to format a disk in Windows 10/11, follow this tutorial.

Frequently Asked Questions About Formatting Disks on a Mac

If you have other questions about formatting a disk on Mac, refer to the questions listed below for satisfactory answers:

How do I format an external hard drive on Mac Monterey?

To format an external hard drive on a Mac with macOS Monterey, you can follow these steps:

1. Firstly, connect the external hard drive to your Mac and ensure it is readable and writable on the system. 2. Next, if it is accessible, back up any crucial files from the external hard drive to another drive on your Mac. 3. After that, open Disk Utility, select the external hard drive, and choose to format the disk for use with your Mac.

Note that if your external hard drive is formatted as NTFS, it might be read-only, and you won't be able to make any changes to the drive. In this case, you need to use a reliable NTFS for Mac software on your Mac to add read and write permissions to your NTFS external hard drive first. Then back up all important files and format the disk.

2. Should I format the external hard drive for my Mac?

If your external drive is formatted as exFAT or FAT32, you do not need to reformat it for use with your Mac. Both exFAT and FAT32 are compatible with both Windows and macOS.

If you need to wipe data from an external hard drive, or if your external hard drive is formatted in NTFS and you need to make it readable and writable on a Mac, you'll need to format the drive.

3. Was exFAT designed for Mac?

Yes, exFAT is a supported file system format on Mac. exFAT stands for Extended File Allocation Table and is compatible with both Windows and Mac computers. It is commonly used for external storage devices with large capacities, such as USB drives, external hard disks, and SD cards.