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Today, Mytour will walk you through the process of selecting, connecting, and formatting an external hard drive for both Windows and Mac computers.
Steps
Select an External Hard Drive
It’s essential to understand how to add an external hard drive to your computer. While some external drives can be used immediately after plugging them into your computer’s USB port, most require formatting to align with the specific file system on your device before use.
- The formatting process is quick and can be done through your computer’s built-in settings.
Check your computer’s connections. Most computers feature rectangular USB 3.0 ports on the side or front of the tower, though Macs and some Windows computers made by Microsoft now use USB-C connections:
- USB 3.0 — A rectangular port found on most computers manufactured before 2017. The majority of external hard drives use USB 3.0 connectors.
- USB-C — An oval-shaped port found on MacBooks and some Microsoft laptops. If your device uses USB-C, you’ll need to purchase a USB 3.0 to USB-C adapter or find an external hard drive with a USB-C cable.
Consider your storage needs. External hard drives typically range from 512 GB to several TB in capacity. It’s wise to purchase a drive with more storage than you currently need.
- Generally, a 1 TB (1024 GB) hard drive isn’t much more expensive than a 512 GB one. Storage tends to become cheaper at higher capacities (for example, a 2 TB drive is significantly less expensive than two 1 TB drives).
Decide between traditional hard drives and solid-state drives. Solid-state drives (SSDs) are significantly faster than traditional external hard drives but also more expensive. However, if your goal is to run an operating system or edit software from the external drive, an SSD will perform better than a traditional hard drive.
Know which brands to choose. While storage isn’t overly expensive, it’s still best to buy from reputable manufacturers. Here are some popular external hard drive brands:
- Western Digital
- Adata
- Buffalo
- Seagate
- Samsung
Luigi Oppido
Computer Repair Technician
Computer Repair Technician
Our expert suggests: When selecting an external hard drive, opt for reputable manufacturers like Seagate or Western Digital. Avoid being swayed by flashy exteriors that hide low-quality components. If you plan to back up important data, ensure your choice is reliable and efficient.
Purchase an external hard drive that meets your needs. After buying the drive from a computer store or online retailer, you can proceed to set it up on either a Windows computer or a Mac.
Setting Up an External Hard Drive on Windows
Locate your computer’s USB port. USB 3.0 or USB-C ports are typically found on the side of laptops, while desktop users may find them on the front or side of the tower.
- Ensure you plug the external hard drive directly into the computer’s USB port, not into a hub or a keyboard USB port.
Connect one end of the external hard drive cable to the USB port. USB 3.0 cables only fit one way, while USB-C connections are reversible and can be plugged in either direction.
Connect the other end of the cable to the external hard drive. The remaining end typically features a proprietary connector designed to fit a specific port on the external drive.
- If you don’t see the File Explorer icon, press ⊞ Win+E to open File Explorer.
Click on This PC located on the left side of the window. You may need to scroll up or down in the left pane to find this option.
Right-click on the external hard drive’s name listed under the "Devices and drives" section. A dropdown menu will appear.
- If nothing appears under "Devices and drives," double-click the section header to expand it.
Click on the Format option in the dropdown menu. The Format window will open.
Click on the 'File system' dropdown menu. A dropdown menu will appear.
Select the file system. Choose one of the following options from the dropdown menu:
- NTFS — Select this option if you intend to use the hard drive exclusively on Windows computers.
- exFAT — Opt for this if you need compatibility with both Windows and Mac systems.
- FAT32 — Choose this for broader compatibility with various devices, including some Linux installations that may require FAT32 formatting.
Click the Start button at the bottom of the window. Windows will begin formatting the external drive.
- If the drive was previously owned, consider unchecking the 'Quick format' option. This will significantly lengthen the formatting process but ensures the drive is completely overwritten.
Click OK at the bottom of the window when it appears. The Format window will close, indicating that the hard drive has been successfully formatted.
Setting up an external hard drive on Mac
Locate the USB port on your Mac. Typically, the USB port is found on the side of the device (MacBook) or at the back of the screen (iMac).
Plug one end of the external hard drive cable into the USB port. The USB 3.0 connector will only fit in one direction, while the USB-C connection can be inserted either way.
Connect the other end of the cable to the external hard drive. The other end usually features a proprietary connector that fits only into a specific port on the external drive.
Open Disk Utility. Type disk utility and double-click Disk Utility when it appears in the search results. The Disk Utility window will open.
Select the external hard drive. In the top-left corner of the Disk Utility window, click on the name of the external hard drive.
Click the Erase tab at the top of the Disk Utility window. A new window will pop up.
Click the dropdown menu labeled "Format" in the middle of the pop-up window.
Select the file system. Choose one of the following options:
- Mac OS Extended (Journaled) — Select this if you plan to use the external drive exclusively with Mac devices.
- ExFAT — Choose this option for compatibility with both Windows and Mac systems.
Click Erase at the bottom of the window.
Click Erase when prompted. Your Mac will begin formatting the drive. Once completed, you can use the drive as needed.
Advice
- Various devices (beyond computers) that allow external hard drive connections (such as gaming consoles) will offer formatting options within the Storage section of the Settings menu.
- Always remember to safely disconnect the external hard drive before unplugging it from the computer. This step ensures that all data on the drive is properly saved.
Warning
- Not all file systems are compatible with every computer. Opting for a proprietary file system (e.g., NTFS for Windows) may result in errors when attempting to connect the external hard drive to a computer running a different operating system.
- The formatting process will erase all data on the drive.
