How to Format an SSD on a Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you looking for ways to format SSD on Mac? Don't worry; you can find a detailed guide on formatting SSD on Mac right here. Before formatting SSD on Mac, we need to figure out what the best Mac disk format is.

What format should my SSD be for use with a Mac?

For Mac computers, the optimal file system formats are APFS (Apple File System) and HFS (Hierarchical File System). You can choose based on your needs. To help you make a decision, we've outlined the basics of these formats to understand their functionalities. 1. APFS (Apple File System): - The latest file system, in use since 2017 in macOS. - Optimized for solid-state drives (SSDs) and flash storage, offering faster performance. - Supports encryption for secure data storage. - Features space sharing, allowing multiple volumes to share the same physical storage space. - Supports file cloning, creating file replicas quickly without consuming extra space. - Incompatible with older macOS versions and some third-party software. 2. HFS (Hierarchical File System): - A more traditional file system, used on Macs since 1985. - More friendly to mechanical hard disk drives (HDDs), but may not perform as well as APFS on SSDs. - Doesn't support native encryption but can be achieved through other tools. - Offers broader compatibility with older macOS versions and a wider range of third-party applications. - Lacks some advanced features of APFS, like space sharing and file cloning. Choose the file system format that suits your specific needs (e.g., encryption requirements, performance, compatibility, etc.). If your Mac is newer and uses an SSD, APFS might be the better choice. On the other hand, if compatibility with older macOS versions or specific software is needed, HFS could be more suitable.

APFS stands for Apple File System, an advanced file system developed by Apple Inc. for macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Designed to offer improved performance, security, and efficiency, particularly on flash and solid-state drive storage, APFS supports features like encryption, cloning, snapshots, and space sharing.

It serves as the default file system format in macOS 10.13 and later, offering impressive encryption, shared volumes, ample directory sizes, and snapshot capabilities. It is optimized for SSD storage.

HFS+ is a file system developed by Apple Inc., standing for Hierarchical File System Plus. It can be translated into Chinese as "Hierarchical File System Enhanced Edition." HFS+ was used in the Mac OS operating system, starting from Mac OS 8.1 in 1998, until it was replaced by the Apple File System (APFS). It improved upon the earlier HFS file system by introducing features such as support for long file names, journaling, and disk compression.

For macOS 10.12 and earlier, the HFS file system was officially supported by the device as the default file system. Before APFS took over as the default, HFS offered features such as volume-level journaling and data encryption. Since then, it has remained one of the veteran file systems, ensuring compatibility with both newer and older Mac models.

A table can help you keep track of their attributes.

If you're interested in a deeper comparison between APFS and HFS+, this link has more information.

Which is Better, APFS or Mac OS Extended?

Confused by multiple file system options when using Disk Utility on your Mac? This page can help you out.

Can I format my Mac hard drive for use with Windows?

Sure. Windows uses the NTFS file system, while Mac OS uses APFS and HFS, which aren't compatible with each other. However, you can format your drive to work with both Windows and Mac by using the exFAT and FAT32 file systems.

They can run on both Mac and Windows. For the purposes of sharing files between different operating systems, it's best to format all your data as FAT32 or exFAT. There's a table that can help you choose better.

Here's a link that can help you understand the differences between FAT32 and exFAT.

Is exFAT the Same as FAT32? Everything You Need to Know

exFAT is more advanced and superior to FAT32, supporting more devices and operating systems.

Now that you've chosen your format, it's time to format the SSD. But how do you go about formatting an SSD on a Mac? Let's find out.

Format SSD for Mac: How to Set Your SSD to the Best Format – 2 Methods

With that in mind, you can pick the best format according to your needs. But how do you format your SSD to the optimal format? You can find relevant guides in the sections below.

Method 1: Format the Mac SSD Using Disk Utility

Using Disk Utility is straightforward, and you can format your SSD to the best file system within its user-friendly interface. Now, let's go through the simple steps to format an SSD on Mac:

Step 1: Search for "Disk Utility" and click to open it.

Click on "Disk Utility".

Step 2. Locate and select your SSD.

Step 3: Next, click “Erase” at the top of the window.

Click the "Erase" button.

Step 4. Give your SSD a new name and choose an appropriate format.

If the SSD's file system format isn't supported on your Mac, it might not show up on your computer. You can reformat it to a compatible format directly. However, there are other reasons why an SSD might not appear. Read on and learn how to solve the issue with this guide.

How to Fix SSD Not Showing Up on Mac?

Whether it's a new or used SSD, it may fail to show up on your Mac under certain circumstances.

Method 2: Formatting the SSD on a Mac Using Terminal

In addition to Disk Utility, you can also format an SSD on your Mac using the Terminal. Let's take a look at how to do that.

Step 1: Search for “Terminal” on your Mac.

Step 2. On your Mac, enter the following command to find your hard drive:

"diskutil list" is a command used in the macOS system that lists all available disks and volumes on your computer. In Chinese, it can be translated as "diskutil 列出" or "列出磁盘信息."

Step 3: Select your SSD and type the following command:

diskutil erasedisk FILE_SYSTEM NAME disk_identifier This command is used to erase a disk using the specified file system format, naming it "NAME" with an identifier of "disk_identifier". In actual usage, replace "FILE_SYSTEM" with the file system type like APFS or HFS+, "disk_name" with the desired name for the disk, and "disk_identifier" with the actual identifier of the disk, such as /dev/diskX.

File system: You'll need to choose the format you want for your SSD.

disk_name: Give your disk a new name.

disk_identifier: Enter the number of the disk to be formatted.

Alright, you've now completed the entire process. Additionally, if you want to format other devices on your Mac, this link can be helpful:

Conclusions

This article offers two guides on how to format an SSD on a Mac. It also introduces four file systems compatible with Mac. Obviously, you should choose APFS and HFS for your SSD. If you frequently transfer files between Windows and Mac, FAT32 and exFAT would be better options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Formatting SSD on a Mac (UTF-8)

Do you have other questions about formatting SSD on Mac? If so, read on, this part may be of help.

1. Should I use APFS or the macOS Journaling File System?

Choose one based on your device. APFS is a good choice for SSDs and flash drives. For a journaled file system that runs on macOS 10.12 or earlier and is best for a hard disk drive, choose Mac OS Extended.

2. Is ExFAT compatible with Mac?

Yes, exFAT is an ideal file system for flash drives when sharing files between Windows and Mac. There are no practical limits to file or partition size with exFAT.

Should I fully format the SSD?

A full format will actually delete your files and check the health of the drive sector by sector – that's why it takes longer than a quick format. However, this is not recommended for SSDs, as these drives have a limited number of write cycles before they reach end-of-life.