Want to highlight a helpful answer? Upvote!

Did someone help you, or did an answer or User Tip resolve your issue? Upvote by selecting the upvote arrow. Your feedback helps others! Learn more about when to upvote >

User profile for user: Duncan1984
Duncan1984 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Reformatting an External Hard drive for Mac

I am using a MacBookMy MacBook Air uses Ventura 13.5 and I plan to use Time Machine. When I reformat my LaCie external drive, should I use Mac OS Extended (Journaled) - HFS or Apple File System - APFS?

Posted on Aug 26, 2023 6:46 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply
User profile for user: John Galt
John Galt
User level: Level 10
141,454 points

Posted on Aug 26, 2023 6:57 AM

Read External drive connected to your Mac:


Time Machine can back up to an external drive connected to a USB, Thunderbolt, or FireWire port on your Mac. If the disk isn't using the correct format, Time Machine will prompt you to erase it. 


The required format will be APFS.

View in context

Similar questions

4 replies

Reformatting an External Hard drive for Mac

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.
Learn more Sign up