Guide on macOS: Format USB Drive in 2024 [2 Methods]

Not all USB drives are plug-and-play compatible with a Mac computer right from the start. Moreover, some USB drives require formatting before they can be used for storing files. But how does one go about formatting a USB drive on a macOS system? This article will delve into the process of formatting a USB drive on a Mac. If you're encountering such issues, keep reading.

Introduction

Have you ever pondered how to format a USB drive on a macOS? Formatting USB drives on a macOS is a straightforward task. Most USB drives are compatible with Macs and function on a plug-and-play basis, whereas a few may require formatting to work seamlessly with the macOS. But what file format should a USB drive have for macOS?

What Format Should the USB Drive be for a Mac?

There are various file formats available for Mac, but which one is the most suitable? Well, APFS (Apple File System) is the default file format used on macOS, and it is generally recommended for macOS systems. However, APFS might not be compatible with some older versions of macOS. In such cases, utilizing Apple's Mac OS Extended file format would be a more appropriate choice.

However, if you want to use the USB drive on both Mac and Windows, you'll need to format it to FAT32. But can a Mac format a USB to FAT32? Let's explore that in the following section.

Yes, Mac can format a USB drive to FAT32. Here's how you can do it: 1. Connect the USB drive to your Mac. 2. Open "Finder" and locate the USB drive in the "Devices" section on the left sidebar. 3. Right-click (or Control-click) on the USB drive and select "Format." 4. In the "Format" window that appears: - Choose "MS-DOS (FAT)" as the "Format" option. - Give the USB drive a name if desired. - Make sure "Erase Type" is set to "Fast Format." - Click "Security Options." If the option is available, choose "Zero data" for a more secure erase but note that this will take longer. - Click "OK." 5. A warning will appear asking you to confirm the erasure. Click "Erase" to proceed. After a few moments, your USB drive should be formatted to FAT32 and ready to use on both Mac and Windows systems.

Certainly, Mac is capable of formatting a USB drive to FAT32. But how do you go about doing it? Formatting your USB to FAT32 can be effortlessly achieved using the built-in tools on your Mac. You have the option to utilize either "Disk Utility" or "Terminal Command Line" for formatting your USB drives to FAT32. Moreover, you can format your USB drives to any file system that suits your requirements. But are you aware of how to format a USB on macOS? Keep reading to find out.

Convert FAT32 to NTFS Without Data Loss

This page compares FAT32, FAT16, FAT12, and NTFS to assist you in selecting the appropriate file system for your storage device.

How to Format USB Drive on macOS - 2 Methods

How to Format USB on Mac? You can find specific solutions in this section. Here, we present two methods to format a USB drive on macOS. Additionally, you'll discover a helpful formatting utility. Let's start with the first approach to format a USB drive on macOS.

Method 1: Format USB Drive on macOS Using Disk Utility

Have you ever heard of Disk Utility? All Mac computers come equipped with a built-in utility called Disk Utility. This tool is invaluable for formatting various storage devices. Let's explore how to format a USB drive on a Mac using Disk Utility.

Step 1. Insert the USB drive and connect it to your Mac.

Step 2. Open "Disk Utility" and select your USB drive.

Step 3. You'll find the "Erase" button on the top menu; click it.

Step 4. Enter the name for your drive and choose the file system you wish to use.

Step 5. Click "Erase," and you can format your USB drive.

Aside from using "Disk Utility," you can also format a USB drive on your Mac using "Terminal." You can find a detailed guide in the following section.

Method 2: Format USB Drive on macOS Using Terminal Command Line

The "Terminal Command Line" on a Mac is a powerful tool that can perform virtually all operations that can be done through the Graphical User Interface (GUI), and often in a more efficient, unassuming manner. It allows for navigation and manipulation of your device's environment in a command-driven fashion. It is also capable of executing numerous specialized tasks. This passage will serve as a guide on how to use the Terminal to format USB drives on macOS.

Step 1. Click on the magnifying glass in the top-right corner of your Mac screen and type "Terminal."

Step 2. Type the following command to list the devices available on your system:

diskutil list

Step 3. Select the device that you want to format.

Step 4. Enter the following command to format your USB drive:

diskutil erasedisk FILE_SYSTEM DISK_NAME DISK_IDENTIFIER This command in Terminal erases the entire content of a disk and formats it with a specified file system. Here's a breakdown of the parameters: - **FILE_SYSTEM**: This is the file system you want to format the disk with, such as "APFS", "HFS+", "FAT32", or "ExFAT". Be sure to include the quotes if the file system name has spaces. - **DISK_NAME**: The new name you want to give to the disk after erasing. You should include the quotes if the name contains spaces. - **DISK_IDENTIFIER**: This is the unique identifier of the disk you want to erase. You can find this by running "diskutil list" in Terminal and looking for the identifier (usually starts with "disk" followed by numbers). Example: ```bash diskutil erasedisk APFS "New Disk" disk1 ``` This command would erase the contents of 'disk1', format it with the APFS file system, and rename it as 'New Disk'. Always be cautious when using this command, as it will permanently delete all data on the specified disk.

File System: You need to specify your file system here.

Disk Name: Enter a name for your USB drive.

Disk Identifier: It refers to the unique number assigned to your device.

For example, if you're formatting the drive to macOS Extended Journaled and naming it "ImportantDisk," you can enter the terminal command line as follows:

diskutil eraseDisk JHFS+ ImportantDisk disk2

With these two guides, you can easily format your USB drives on macOS.

A Professional Tool to Help Format USB Drive

If you're looking for a simple and straightforward way to format your USB drive, you might be interested in tools Partition Master Free, a professional formatting tool. As a free partition manager, it securely manages hard drives for users. It can assist in adjusting disk space, creating new partitions, merging partitions, and even setting up a hard drive on your computer.

Now, let’s see how to use tools like Partition Master Free to format a USB drive.

Step 1. Select the USB drive to format. Choose the USB drive that you wish to format.

Connect the USB drive or pen drive to your computer. Download and open a partition software tool. Right-click on the USB drive you plan to format and select "Format."

Step 2. Assign a drive letter and file system to the USB drive.

Assign a new partition label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and cluster size to the selected partition, then click "OK".

Step 3. Check "Yes" to confirm formatting the USB drive.

Click "Yes" if you see the Warning window. If you have important data on it, back up the data beforehand.

Step 4. Apply the changes.

First, click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button, and then click "Apply" to format the USB drive.

This way, users can easily format a USB drive.

What Else Can tools Partition Master Free Do?

However, Tools Partition Master Free is far more than a Disk Management tool. It has many other functions.

Its specific functions are as follows:

• Format USB for booting.
• Convert FAT32 to NTFS.
• Clone partitions or entire systems.
• Copy operating system and data to another HDD/SSD.
• Convert MBR to GPT without data loss.
• Wipe and format disks, USB drives, and SD cards.
• Create, delete, resize, extend, and merge partitions.

If you need to format a disk or manage your local disks, tools Partition Master Free will certainly be of assistance. Don't hesitate to download it for aid.

Conclusion

This page provides two efficient methods to format a USB drive on a Mac. Users can utilize Disk Utility or the Terminal application for performing macOS USB drive formatting. Additionally, it introduces a utility tool called Partition Master Free, which helps maintain organized partitions and enables you to format your drive in any desired file system format.

Frequently Asked Questions About Formatting a USB Drive on macOS

Do you have any further inquiries regarding formatting USB drives on macOS? This section might be of assistance. Here, we present three frequently asked questions and their corresponding answers pertaining to formatting USB drives on macOS. Please proceed with reading if you wish to learn more.

What is the best file format for a USB drive on a Mac?

exFAT is an ideal file system for USB flash drives without the constraint of a 4GB file size limit. Moreover, it is compatible with most Mac operating systems.

How do I format a USB drive for use with both Mac and PC?

It's simple. You just need to format your USB drive to the FAT32 file system.

Step 1. Insert the USB flash drive into the Mac you want to target.

Step 2. Launch Disk Utility.

Step 3. Select your USB drive.

Step 4. Format your USB drive and choose the FAT32 file system.

You can format your USB drive for both Mac and PC in the following manner.

Which USB format works on both Mac and Windows?

FAT32 is compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems. Additionally, you can also opt for the exFAT file system.