In this Article: On Windows On Mac Community Q&A This wikiHow teaches you how to change an external (USB) hard drive's format on Windows and Mac computers. Formatting a hard drive can change the file system to make it compatible with your computer's operating system, as well as fix any non-physical errors on the drive itself.

•, the hard drive manager included with all versions of Windows. • Note: In Windows 10 and Windows 8, the gives you the quickest access to Disk Management. You can also in any version of Windows, but is probably easier unless you're really quick with.

• See if you're not sure which of those several versions of Windows is installed on your computer. • With now open, locate the drive you want to format from the list at the top.

• Important: Is the drive you want to format not listed, or does an Initialize Disk or Initialize and Convert Disk Wizard window appear? If so, it means you still need to partition the drive. See and then return here to continue.

• Note: Formatting the C drive, or whatever letter happens to identify the drive that Windows is installed on, can not be done from Disk Management. Or from anywhere else in Windows. See for instructions on how to format your primary drive. • Once located, right-click or tap-and-hold on the drive and choose Format.

A 'Format [drive letter]:' window should appear. • Warning: Obviously, it's very, very important to choose the correct drive to format. Once started, you can't stop a format without causing problems. • If you're formatting a drive that has data on it, double-check that it's the correct drive by looking at the drive letter and then checking in Explorer that it is, in fact, the correct drive. • If you're formatting a new drive, the drive letter assigned should be unfamiliar to you and the File System will probably be listed as RAW. • In the Volume label: textbox, either give a name to the drive or leave the name as is.

If this is a new drive, Windows will assign the New Volume. • I recommend giving a name to the drive so it's easier to identify in the future. For example, if you're planning on using this drive to store movies, name the volume Movies. • For File system: choose NTFS unless you have a specific need to choose another file system. • is always the best file system option to use in Windows unless you have a specific need to choose.

Other FAT file systems are only available as options on drives 2 GB and smaller. • Set the Allocation unit size: to Default unless there's a specific need to customize it. There are very few reasons to change this. Do i need to download driver for mac 4 bay arry.

• In Windows 10, 8, and 7, the Perform a quick format option is checked by default but I recommend unchecking the box so a 'full' format is done. • Yes, a quick format will format the hard drive considerably faster than a standard format, but the benefits usually outweigh the short-term cost (your time) of the full format. • Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista: In a standard format, each on the hard drive is checked for errors (great for new and older drives) and a one-pass is also performed (great for previously used drives). A quick format skips the bad sector search and basic. • Windows XP: In a standard format, each sector is checked for errors. The quick format skips this check. Automatic data wiping during the format process isn't available in Windows XP.