How do I format a HDD with XFAT? It is formatted for Windows and instructions say I must format it for Mac OS myself. I have downloaded XFAT onto my desktop and do not understand the instructions to load it onto my new external HDD.
Any and all help would be appreciated.
iMac 21.5″ 4K, macOS 12.5
If this is to format an external data drive with exFAT, then launch the Disk Utility app. Select the physical external drive on the left pane of Disk Utility and erase it as GUID partition and exFAT. Within Disk Utility you may also need to click "View" and select "Show All Devices" before the physical drives appear on the left pane of Disk Utility.
Edit: clarified with "external data drive".
If this is to format an external data drive with exFAT, then launch the Disk Utility app. Select the physical external drive on the left pane of Disk Utility and erase it as GUID partition and exFAT. Within Disk Utility you may also need to click "View" and select "Show All Devices" before the physical drives appear on the left pane of Disk Utility.
Edit: clarified with "external data drive".
williamfromboulder city wrote:
How do I format a HDD with XFAT? It is formatted for Windows and instructions say I must format it for Mac OS myself. I have downloaded XFAT onto my desktop and do not understand the instructions to load it onto my new external HDD.
Any and all help would be appreciated.
What is your ultimate goal? What instructions are you referring to? If you are going to install the MacOS on this drive, ExFat will not work. You do not download ExFat. ExFat is a drive format.
You format a disk with Disk Utility, in your Applications/Utilities folder. This involves erasing the drive so be sure to back it up first. To format it for Mac choose Mac OS X Extended, Journaled or apfs.
XFAT
