External drive for Mac and Windows: exFAT on your Mac

You want to use an external drive or USB stick on your MacBook and on a Windows computer, for example at work or with family. Then the drive needs a format both systems can read and write. The answer is almost always exFAT. This article explains why exFAT is the best choice on your Mac for Mac and Windows, how to format a drive and what to do with a Windows drive in NTFS.

Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam, including when a drive or port no longer works properly.

The formats at a glance

• APFS: the format of modern Macs. Fast and reliable, but Windows cannot read it.
• Mac OS Extended (HFS+): the older Mac format, needed for older Macs. Windows cannot read it.
• exFAT: works on Mac and Windows, reading and writing, and supports large files. The best choice for sharing.
• MS-DOS (FAT32): works almost everywhere, including old devices, but files may not exceed 4 GB.
• NTFS: the Windows format. A Mac can read it, but not write to it.

Formatting a drive as exFAT

1. First copy what is on the drive; formatting erases everything.
2. Open Disk Utility and choose View, Show All Devices.
3. Select the drive itself (at the top, not the volume beneath it).
4. Click Erase. Choose ExFAT as format and GUID Partition Map as scheme. For older Windows PCs Master Boot Record also works.
5. Give the drive a name and click Erase.

Also see formatting a drive on your Mac.

An NTFS drive from Windows

A drive from a Windows PC is often NTFS. Your Mac can read and copy the files, but not save or delete. Solutions:

• Format the drive as exFAT (after copying its contents).
• Use a program from a trustworthy maker that enables NTFS writing on the Mac.

Downsides of exFAT

• No Time Machine: that needs APFS.
• Less resistant to interruptions: always eject the drive properly, or it can get damaged.
• No encryption from the Finder.

One drive, two parts

If you want both Time Machine and a part for Windows on one drive, make two partitions: an APFS part for Time Machine and an exFAT part for sharing. You do that in Disk Utility with the Partition button.

The drive does not appear

If you do not see the drive in the Finder or Disk Utility, read external drive not showing. If you are choosing a fast drive, also see external SSD for your Mac.

A drive for a Windows PC at work

If you take files to a work PC, check whether you are allowed to use external drives there; many companies block USB storage. A shared cloud folder is then often easier. If it does work, use exFAT and eject the drive properly on both computers. Windows sometimes offers to check the drive if it was not ejected properly; let it do so.

SD cards and cameras

Cameras and drones usually format their card themselves as exFAT or FAT32. Preferably format a camera card in the camera. See reading an SD card on your MacBook.

What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam

If a port does not work properly, or your MacBook sees no drive at all any more, we test the ports and software and tell you what is needed. More on our page about MacBook repair in Amsterdam.

Frequently asked questions

Is exFAT safe for my files?

Yes, if you eject the drive properly. Do always keep a second copy of important files.

Why can I not put anything on my drive?

It is probably NTFS. Check its format in Disk Utility.

Does exFAT work on a TV or games console?

Often, but not always. Some older devices only read FAT32.