What is best format for Mac external hard drive?

exFAT
The Best Format for External Hard Drives If you want to format your external hard drive to work with Mac and Windows computers, you should use exFAT. With exFAT, you can store files of any size, and use it with any computer made in the last 20 years.

How do I get my Mac to recognize my external CD drive?

Go to Finder > Preferences. Now verify that External Disks and Hard Drives have a checkmark in the box. If not, click it to enable your external drive icons to show on your desktop.

How do I format an external hard drive to HFS+ on a Mac?

Formatting the LaCie Fuel Drive to HFS+ in Mac OS

1. Copy any files that you want to keep to another location.
2. Click Go on the Apple menu bar.
3. Choose Utilities.
4. Double-click Disk Utility; this will open a new window.
5. Select the LaCie Fuel drive.
6. Choose the Partition button.

Can Mac read HFS+?

External hard disks and USB drives are generally formatted with the Windows FAT32 file system for maximum compatibility. Most devices, including Macs, can read and write from FAT32 devices. All new Macs will be formatted with APFS. Older Mac drives are likely still formatted with the HFS+ file system.

Is Apfs better than macOS Journaled?

Newer macOS installations should use APFS by default, and if you’re formatting an external drive, APFS is the faster and better option for most users. Mac OS Extended (or HFS+) is still a good option for older drives, but only if you plan on using it with a Mac or for Time Machine backups.

Will any external CD drive work with a Mac?

If your Mac doesn’t have a built-in optical drive, you can use another computer’s DVD or CD drive, or use an external optical drive, such as the Apple USB SuperDrive.

How do I connect an external CD drive to my MacBook Pro?

To use your SuperDrive, connect it to a USB-A port on your Mac*, then insert a disc. Make sure that the aluminum enclosure of the SuperDrive is facing up….Connect and use your SuperDrive

1. USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter.
2. USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter.
3. USB-C to USB Adapter.

What disk format is best for Time Machine?

If you plan to use your drive for Time Machine backups on a Mac, and you use only macOS, use HFS+ (Hierarchical File System Plus, or macOS Extended). A drive formatted this way will not mount on a Windows computer without additional software.

Is APFS only for Mac?

APFS will still work on mechanical or hybrid drives, too. On new Macs, APFS is the default file system, as modern Macs all have SSD drives. If you’re formatting a drive for use with a Mac with an SSD – and plan to use the drive with that Mac only – it may be wise to format it to work with APFS file systems as well.