Formatting an external HDD on an iMac using Disk Utility is straightforward. Follow these steps:
Important:
• Formatting will erase all data on the drive. Ensure you’ve backed up any important data before proceeding.
Steps to Format an External HDD on iMac
1. Connect the External HDD:
• Plug your external hard drive into your iMac using a USB or Thunderbolt port.
2. Open Disk Utility:
• Press Command + Space to open Spotlight, type Disk Utility, and press Enter.
• Alternatively, go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
3. Select the External Drive:
• In Disk Utility, locate your external drive in the left-hand sidebar.
• It will appear under External. Make sure to select the drive name (not the partition).
4. Erase the Drive:
• Click on the Erase button in the toolbar.
• A pop-up window will appear.
5. Choose Format Options:
• Name: Enter a name for your drive.
• Format: Choose a file system based on your needs:
• APFS: For macOS only (modern systems).
• Mac OS Extended (Journaled): For macOS compatibility with older systems.
• ExFAT: For compatibility with macOS and Windows.
• MS-DOS (FAT): For older systems with smaller file sizes (not recommended for large drives).
• Scheme: Choose GUID Partition Map (default for macOS).
6. Confirm Formatting:
• Click Erase to start the formatting process.
• Wait for the process to complete. This may take a few seconds to minutes, depending on the size of the drive.
7. Complete the Process:
• Once finished, you’ll see a confirmation message.
• Click Done and close Disk Utility.
8. Eject the Drive:
• Right-click on the external drive in Finder and select Eject before unplugging it.
Your external HDD is now formatted and ready to use. If you’re planning to use the drive with multiple operating systems, choosing ExFAT is the most compatible option.