I got a Wd elements portable HDD. Since I also have Windows installed on my iMac with Bootcamp, could formatting in ExFAT be worth it since this way I could access to Western Digital Dashboard to fix potential issues with my disk or not? Or is better MacOS Extended or APFS in any case?
If you want to format your primary drive (with your OS), you must use NTFS (New Technology Files System), the default and modern Windows file system. NTFS is also a good choice for external drives, because it’s compatible with a wide range of devices.
- With basic file security and support for files over 4 GB in size, NTFS is the best option when transferring large files. If you want to put a movie on a USB drive to play it on your TV, you should use NTFS. Also, NTFS lets you set helpful advanced permissions.
- FAT32 file format: FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32) is an older file system dating back to Windows 95. It’s compatible with the largest range of file types, but it can’t store anything over 4 GB.
- exFAT: The exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) file system is designed for removable storage like USB drives, SD cards, and other external hard drives. It’ll let you transfer files between different operating systems. Use the exFAT file system if you want to move files between Windows and Mac devices, or if you want your files to be compatible on both operating systems.
Hi, thanks for answering, but I’m afraid the premade answer is not really relevant to my question.
APFS is a new format developed by Apple, is designed for optimizing SSD and flash memory. APFS is only available on Mac running macOS 10.13 and later. If you want to upgrade to the latest macOS (Monterey), you must format the drive as APFS. After that, you can continue to install macOS and complete the whole process.
Further, I suggest you to check the below link that explains all the methods to format your external drive for mac without any data loss:
Hope it helps!
No, it is not worth formatting to ExFAT just for the WD Dashboard. The dashboard offers limited repair capabilities, while macOS’s built-in Disk Utility (First Aid) is much safer and more powerful for fixing disk issues.
Option A: Choose macOS Extended (Journaled)
It is the most stable and reliable format for mechanical HDDs on Mac. (APFS is optimized for SSDs running macOS High Sierra or later.) It includes “journaling” to protect your files from corruption if the drive is accidentally unplugged.
Option B: Choose ExFAT
It works natively on both macOS and Windows Bootcamp without installing extra software. However, ExFAT lacks journaling. If you don’t safely “Eject” the drive before unplugging it, your data will likely become corrupted. Read this article for a more detailed comparison: APFS vs. Mac OS Extended, Which One Should You Use?
