Sage-Tips

Can a USB formatted by Mac read by Windows?

And likewise, if you format a USB drive as NTFS on Windows, Macs can read it but not write to it (although there are some ways around it). If you’re frequently using both Macs and PCs with the same drive, the ideal solution is to configure a USB drive with a file system that both operating systems can read.

How do I make my USB compatible with Windows and Mac?

How to format a thumb drive for both Mac and Windows

1. Attach the drive to your Mac.
2. Launch Disk Utility (from Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility).
3. Select the drive in the left-hand sidebar.
4. Click Erase.
5. From the Format menu, select ExFAT.
6. From the Scheme menu, select Master Boot Record.

What flash drive format is compatible with Mac and PC?

To format USB for Mac and Windows, there are two disk formats to choose from: exFAT and FAT32. The other formats – Microsoft’s NTFS and Apple’s Mac OS Extended – don’t work well on the other operating system.

What format can be read by Mac and Windows?

If you want to use the disk on Mac and Windows computers, both FAT32 and exFAT are compatible formats. And if you prefer to use the external drive on only one operating system, you can choose APFS(Apple file system) for Mac and NTFS for Windows to work to the utmost extent.

How do I format a USB drive for Windows and Mac?

Here’s how:

1. Insert the flash drive or hard drive you want to format for Windows compatibility.
2. Select the drive you want to format.
3. Click the Erase button.
4. Click the Format menu, then choose either MS-DOS (FAT) or ExFAT.
5. Enter a name for the volume (no more than 11 characters).
6. Click Erase, then click Done.

How do I open a Mac USB on Windows?

To use HFSExplorer, connect your Mac-formatted drive to your Windows PC and launch HFSExplorer. Click the “File” menu and select “Load File System From Device.” It will automatically locate the connected drive, and you can load it. You’ll see the contents of the HFS+ drive in the graphical window.

Why is my Mac USB not readable?

Check that USB port on your Mac. Plug into a different USB port or plug another device in and see if that works OK. If you use a USB hub bacause your MacBook has no USB 3.0 port, also make sure the hub is not faulty. Try using a different USB cable with the USB drive to see if that fixes the non-readable problem.

Can exFAT be read by Windows and Mac?

exFAT is a good option if you work often with Windows and Mac computers. Transferring files between the two operating systems is less of a hassle, since you don’t have to constantly back up and reformat each time. Linux is also supported, but you will need to install appropriate software to take full advantage of it.

Can I use the same USB on Mac and PC?

You can format a hard drive or USB flash disk specifically so that it will be compatible with both Mac OS X and Windows PC computers.

Does FAT32 work on Mac and Windows?

Also, modern versions of Windows can no longer be installed to a drive formatted with FAT32; they must be installed to drives formatted with NTFS. Compatibility: Works with all versions of Windows, Mac, Linux, game consoles, and practically anything with a USB port.

How to read a Mac formatted drive on a Windows PC?

How to Read a Mac-Formatted Drive on a Windows PC. If you know you’re going to use a drive on both Mac and Windows, you should use the exFAT file system, which is compatible with both. But if you didn’t foresee that, you may have formatted your drive with Apple’s HFS Plus, which Windows can’t read by default.

Can Macs read and write to USB drives?

And likewise, if you format a USB drive as NTFS on Windows, Macs can read it but not write to it (although there are some ways around it). If you’re frequently using both Macs and PCs with the same drive, the ideal solution is to configure a USB drive with a file system that both operating systems can read.

Can HFSExplorer read and write to a Mac-formatted drive?

You can’t use it to write to Mac-formatted drives, and it doesn’t install a file system driver that integrates into File Explorer. But you can open HFSExplorer, read a Mac-formatted drive, and copy the files to your Windows PC without paying a dime. It can also mount Mac .dmg disk images to get at the files inside them.

How do I format a USB drive in Windows 10?

Make sure that the USB drive is either blank or that you already have a backup first. Windows will format the drive with the exFAT file system. When you see a “Format Complete” window, click “OK.” The next time that you open File Explorer, you’ll see the formatted USB drive in your “Devices and Drives” list.