By default, Windows and Mac file systems don't work well together. Then, when it's time to transfer files between them on a USB stick, you will have to make special arrangements. Then, explains how to format a USB stick to work on both systems.
The file system is the key
Windows 10 and macOS use two different file systems by default. A file system determines how an operating system writes data to a hard drive or USB drive. Windows 10 uses a file system called NTFS, and macOS nowadays uses APFS by default.
So here is the problem: if you format a USB drive as APFS on a Mac, Windows 10 won't read it without third-party tools (and it will actually ask you to format it). And in the same way, if you format a USB drive as NTFS in Windows, Macs can read it but can't write to it (even though there are some alternatives to avoid it).
If you frequently use both Mac and PC with the same drive, the ideal answer is to configure a USB drive with a file system that both operating systems can read. That file system is called exFAT and is designed for cross-platform compatibility of flash media.. Then, We will show you how to set a USB drive as exFAT for Windows and Mac. This disk preparation setup procedure is called “formatting”.
RELATED: Why does Windows want to format my Mac drives?
Before starting: first make a backup of the USB drive
If the USB drive that you want to use as a universal transfer drive contains data that you want to keep, you will first need to back up that data to another disk or to a cloud backup service. Formatting a drive always erases all data on the drive.
If the USB drive is formatted with the Mac file system, you will need to use a Mac to transfer the data off the drive. If the USB drive is formatted as a Windows drive, it's probably better to backup with a windows machine.
RELATED: What is the best way to back up my computer?
How to format a USB drive as exFAT in Windows
First, plug in the USB drive you would like to format as a Mac universal drive / Windows on your Windows machine. If Windows says it doesn't recognize the drive (and you have already backed up your data), click on “Format disk” and then skip the next step.
Warning: The contents of the drive will be erased when you click “Format disk”. First, make sure you have backed up your important files.
If Windows recognizes the drive, open File Explorer and navigate to “This PC”. In the listing “Devices and drives”, right-click on the USB drive you want to use as a universal drive and select “Format” of the list.
Warning: Make sure you select the correct drive or you could end up accidentally erasing important data.
In the window “Format” that appears, click on the drop down box labeled “File System” and select “exFAT”. After, type a name for the drive in the box “Volume label” (If you wish) and click “Start”.
Then, you will see a warning reminding you that you are about to lose all data on the disk you are about to format. It's ready, click on “To accept”.
Warning: You are about to lose all the data on the disk. Formatting erases the drive completely. Make sure the USB drive is blank or you already have a backup first.
Windows will format the drive with the exFAT file system. when i see the window “Full format”, click on “To accept”.
The next time you open File Explorer, you will see the formatted USB drive in your list “Devices and drives”. You can copy data to the drive as you would regularly, and the drive will also be readable and writable on a Mac.
RELATED: How to copy files to a USB flash drive in Windows 10
How to format a USB drive as exFAT on Mac
First, find a free USB slot on your Mac and plug in the USB drive that you would like to set up as a Windows and Mac disk.
To format a USB drive with the exFAT file system on a Mac, you will need to use a tool called “Disk utility” created by Apple that ships with macOS. To run it, press Command + Space on your keyboard and type “disk utility”, and then click the Disk Utility icon.
(Or you can open Launchpad, to write “disco” and then click on the Disk Utility icon).
When Disk Utility opens, look at the sidebar in the section “Externa” and select the USB drive you just inserted.
Warning: Check three times that you are selecting the correct drive in the Disk Utility listing. Everything on that disk is about to be erased.
After choosing the USB drive, click on “Remove” in the toolbar near the top of the window.
In the pop-up window “Remove” that appears, click on the drop-down menu named “Format”.
In the file system format menu, select “exFAT” of the list.
If required, type a name for the USB drive in the box “Name” and then click “Remove”.
Warning: uncheck the box “Remove”, make sure the USB drive you are formatting is empty or the data on it has already been backed up. After this step, all data on the drive will be lost.
Disk Utility will erase and format the USB drive as exFAT. When it's over, click on “Ready” and you're ready to go. Quit Disk Utility and you can copy files to your newly formatted USB drive as usual. Then, you can insert it into Windows PC and read or write to it without hassle.
Have fun!
RELATED: How to copy files to a USB flash drive on a Mac
