How to Format an External Drive for Mac - 3 Tips You NEED to Know! || macOS Disk Utility Tutorial

When it comes to formatting an external hard drive for your Mac, there are a number of different options to choose from.  This includes the partition scheme, format type, security options, and additional questions including what the drive will be used for, and how it will impact those options. e.g. Do you need different settings depending on your version of macOS, or whether you wish to use your drive on both Mac and Windows computers? In this tutorial, I'll cover how to format your external drive for use with your Mac, using the excellent Disk Utility application built into macOS.  We'll also cover the 3 most important questions to consider when formatting your drive.  This includes the Partition Scheme to use - GUID Partition Map vs. Master Boot Record vs. Apple Partition Map.  And this also includes a comprehensive overview of the different file system format types, including: APFS, Mac OS Extended (Journaled), MS-DOS (FAT), ExFAT, and the different options such as Encrypted and and Case-Sensitive within those.  We'll also explore what Security Options are the best choice when formatting/erasing, and how Time Machine backups specifically should be handled when formatting your drive. By the end of this tutorial, you should have a solid understanding of what each of this Disk Utility erase options mean, how they will impact your drive, and what settings will be the best match for your drive and expected workflow. If you like Mac-related tips and tutorials like this, feel free to leave a like and subscribe, and check out the many existing tutorials on my channel.  Also, let me know if you have any questions in the comment below! Samsung 870 QVO 8TB 2.5 inch SSD: https://amzn.to/3BKzV03 JSAUX SATA to USB-C Cable: https://amzn.to/3sY6aYV Samsung T7 Shield 4TB SSD: https://amzn.to/3MNyDrJ Samsung T7 2TB SSD: https://amzn.to/3MIJyCR Samsung T5 2TB SSD: https://amzn.to/42XneLy 0:00 - Intro 0:21 - Launching Disk Utility, connecting and erasing a drive 1:34 - #1: Partition Scheme 2:21 - #2: File System Format 5:12 - An important point about Security Options... 6:17 - #3: Time Machine Backups 5 IMPORTANT Editing Workflow Tips for M3/M2/M1 Mac Users!: https://youtu.be/Chs56PjDDZk ============ My Current Kit: ============ Cameras & Lenses: Sony a7R V: https://amzn.to/3FNpWdn Sony a7S III: https://amzn.to/3Gd87kK Sony a7 IV: https://amzn.to/3g3Ipoq Sony 20mm f/1.8 G: https://amzn.to/3AE7pMt Sony 50mm f/1.2 GM: https://amzn.to/3m2GbIT Sony 16-35 f/2.8 GM: https://amzn.to/3AryrbN Sony 24-70 f/2.8 GM II: https://amzn.to/3OWeb6k Sony 70-200 f/2.8 GM II: https://amzn.to/3IPSge6 Audio: Rode VideoMic NTG: https://amzn.to/3AJwTrW Tascam DR-10L: https://amzn.to/3AIRA7l Zoom H6: https://amzn.to/32HCgep Sony TX660: https://amzn.to/3PwQeTH Lighting: Aputure LS 60x: https://amzn.to/3Dvo4oc Aputure Amaran P60c: https://amzn.to/3ob7qm6 Aputure Amaran AL-F7: https://amzn.to/3g3IzMy Aputure MC: https://amzn.to/34l8DzS Tripod/Monopod: Manfrotto 290 Xtra 128RC: https://amzn.to/3o8bPpV iFootage Cobra C180-II: https://amzn.to/3r8kfPY Affiliate Disclaimer: The above links to products may contain affiliate links, which may earn me a small commission as an Amazon Associate. Amazon and all related Marks are Trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.