MS-DOS (FAT): Compatible with non-macintosh computers, but 4GB file size limit. Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled): Fastest and best. Also, MS-DOS formatted drives cannot handle files over 4GB. Macintosh computers can read PC formatted thumb drives but PCs cannot read Macintosh formatted thumb drives. Most thumb drives you purchase come formatted as MS-DOS (FAT) by default. MS-DOS (FAT) allows the USB drive to be read on a PC computer.

MS-DOS (FAT) is for PC computers (and other devices like TV’s and cars). If you forget the password, all the data on the disk is lost forever! You can select ‘Encrypted’ if you want the drive password protected. It will work with versions of OS-X since to 10.3 (Panther). Journaled is safer – it adds some protection to make the thumb drive data safe if the power cuts out or the drive is pulled out when it is still in use.Ĭase Sensitive just means that upper case and lower case filenames are treated differently.Įncrypted means the data is password protected.įor best performance you should select ‘Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled). Mac OS Extended is the standard Macintosh Format that has been in use since OS-X Panther 10.3 You will need to select the format that you want. If you now click on ‘Format’ you will see a list of the available formats. Some options will appear in the main window. Click on the ‘Erase’ Tab as follows: Insert tahe thumb drive and it will appear in the left window pane like this:ģ.

(It is in the ‘Utilities’ folder in the ‘Applications’ Folder on your computer.)Ģ. This article explains why this matters and how to format a USB drive into the format that you want.ġ. You may not know that USB Thumbdrives come in different formats.

How to format usb drive on mac