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How do I choose the best external hard disk format for mac?

I recently bought an external hard drive and want to use it with my Mac. I'm confused about which external hard disk format for mac is the best option. Should I choose APFS, Mac OS Extended, exFAT, or something else? I also want to know which format is ideal if I need to use the drive with both macO...

external hard disk format for mac

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@Daniel replied to Emma
1 month ago

Choose the external hard disk format based on your needs: APFS for modern Macs and SSDs, Mac OS Extended (HFS+) for older macOS versions, and exFAT if you need compatibility with both Mac and Windows. Consider your workflow, macOS version, and whether you'll share the drive across different operating systems.
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@Michael replied to Emma
1 month ago

Select the format based on how you'll use the drive. Choose APFS for newer Macs and SSDs, Mac OS Extended (HFS+) for older macOS systems, or exFAT if you need seamless file sharing between macOS and Windows.
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@Charlotte replied to Emma
1 month ago

The right external hard disk format depends on compatibility and usage. Use APFS for modern macOS systems, Mac OS Extended (HFS+) for older Macs, and exFAT when you need to access the drive from both Mac and Windows without compatibility issues.
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@Noah replied to Emma
1 month ago

The most suitable external hard disk format for Mac will depend on its application. APFS should be used for modern Mac computers and SSDs, Mac OS Extended (HFS+) is perfect for Mac with older versions of operating system, while exFAT is the format to go with when compatibility with Windows becomes necessary.