How do I format an external drive using the GUID Partition Map scheme?

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Do you want to change the partition scheme from the previous one to GUID? If you are reading this article, then you are looking for the way, and it is quite clear that you don't know how to do it. But do you know? I know how to do it, and I will teach you step by step how to format external hard drive with GUID Partition Table (GPT) in detail.

Continue reading to change the partition scheme to GPT!

What is the GUID Partition Scheme?

To use a hard drive, it needs to be partitioned. Before hard drive capacities exceeded 2 TB, the Master Boot Record (MBR) was the default partitioning method. The MBR only supports hard drives up to 2 TB in size.

In comparison to MBR, the GUID Partition Table scheme has much higher limits. It supports disk sizes up to 9,400,000,000 TB and allows users to create an unlimited number of partitions. There are no inherent limits in GUID; the only limitations may come from the operating system. While GUID can hold an unlimited number of partitions, this is still dependent on the operating system and its imposed restrictions.

In addition, because the GUID Partition Table stores boot and partition data in multiple locations on the disk, it's easy to recover data even in the event of a disk failure.

Should I use GUID Partition Map, Apple Partition Map, or Master Boot Record?

You cannot use the Apple Partition Map scheme on a Windows computer, as it is proprietary to Apple. Also, newer Intel-based Apple Mac computers use the GUID Partition Map scheme, which is more appropriate.

If it's a PowerPC Mac, the Apple Partition Map scheme is a better choice.

Since PowerPC Macs have been superseded by Intel-based Macs and, more recently, Macs with Apple's own silicon, the best choice among GPT, APM, and MBR is GPT.

All the latest Windows and Mac computers use the GUID Partition Table (GPT) scheme to manage their hard drives, regardless of whether they're SSDs or traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) under 2 TB. This is because of the many advantages it offers, such as ease of data recovery.

When should I use the GUID Partition Table format for my disk?

If you're upgrading to a drive larger than 2 TB, you'll need to format it using the GUID Partition Table (GPT) scheme.

Another reason to repartition is if you want to format the disk with the exFAT file system, or if you want to make the target disk bootable.

How to format an external disk using GUID Partition Table (GPT) format?

Before converting a disk's partition table from MBR to GPT, back up everything on the disk to an external drive. And before you back up your files to that external drive, convert it to GUID format.

To format an external hard drive or the hard drive of your computer, refer to the sections below. We'll show you how to format the drive using the GUID Partition Table (GPT) scheme.

Guide 1: Format External Hard Drive with GUID Partition Map on Mac

Most Macs use the GUID format, but if you want to change the partition map of an external drive, you can do so here.

Step 1: Connect the external hard drive to your Mac.

Step 2: Open Disk Utility.

Step 3: Now, click on “View” in the top left corner and select “Show all devices”.

Step 4: Select the drive you want to format.

Step 5: Click “Erase,” give the drive a name, choose “exFAT” or “APFS” as the format, and then select “GUID Partition Map” under “Scheme.”

Step 6: Press the “Clear” key now.

There you go! Your external drive is now using the GUID Partition Table.

Guideline 2: Formatting Hard Drives with the GUID Partition Map Scheme in Windows

There is a simple tool for changing the partition scheme on a Windows PC, which reformats the disk with a few clicks.

tools Partition Master is a fantastic tool that can format disks to the GUID partition scheme, as well as create, resize, merge, and delete partitions. It's a one-stop solution for all your disk-related needs on Windows PCs, allowing you to convert disks from MBR to GUID and vice versa, and change the file system of your hard drive from NTFS to exFAT, and so on, with just a few clicks.

Here are some other features of MiniTool Partition Wizard:

• Convert MBR to GPT without data loss
• Clone system partition
• Hide and unhide partitions
• Fix boot issues
• Change SSD cluster size

Conclusions

GUID Partition Table (GPT) is the standard partitioning scheme used by both Windows and Mac. Previously, Macs used a different partitioning scheme unique to them.

Windows used to use the MBR scheme. Both Apple and Windows now use the GUID partitioning scheme, which is more advanced and less limited than either MBR or the older Apple scheme.

Frequently Asked Questions about Formatting External Disks with the GUID Partition Map Scheme

Here are some answers to questions you might be searching for online:

1. Should I use Apple Partition Map or GUID Partition Table?

GUID is a better partition scheme for both Macs and Windows, so you should use the GUID partition scheme.

How to fix GUID errors?

As with anything else, errors can occur when converting a partitioning scheme, or as a result of having done so. This is true of GUIDs, too.

Your hard drive might have a few different GUID errors, each with their own solution. Check out our other articles – we've probably covered how to fix your specific GUID error – or search for a solution specific to your error on Google.

3. Is GPT better than MBR for SSDs?

GPT stands for GUID Partition Table, and it's generally better than MBR for SSDs on both Macs and Windows. If you're not sure which to pick, choose GPT.