How to Format USB Drive on Mac [Ultimate Guide]

Have you ever experienced a sluggish USB drive on your Mac that needs a full reset? Moreover, formatting is frequently necessary for the FAT32 file system to guarantee that USB drives work with Mac and Windows computers. However, formatting to FAT32 on Mac can be challenging due to it not being a native file system. 

But you do not have to worry because you have come to the correct place if you have ever wondered how to format a USB drive on a Mac. EaseUS will assist you in three effortless ways in this article, so don't worry if it seems a little complex.

Which File System Should I Choose on Mac? 

Have you ever wondered which file system is best for your Mac computer? The purpose of this part is to assist you in exploring different popular file systems so that you may choose the one that best meets your needs.

It is necessary to know what options are available when formatting your disk. Generally, the following file systems are used with USB flash devices:

• FAT32: This is a compatible file format recognized by both Mac and Windows but has no security features and a 4GB file size restriction. USB drives are mostly pre-formatted in FAT32, which means they work with newer and older computers and other devices with USB ports.
• exFAT: Compatible with the majority of Windows and Mac systems, it has no file size restriction of up to 4GB, making it perfect for USB flash devices. For flawless compatibility, updates may be necessary for older operating systems.
• NTFS: Windows uses this file system by default for internal drives. However, unless you install an NTFS read/write program from a third party, NTFS is read-only on Mac OS X. Significantly bigger file sizes are also supported.
• Mac OS Extended: It supports large file sizes and is native to Mac. However, use this if your drive will be used only with Mac OS, as Windows requires an extra tool to identify it.

Now, you will see some social sharing buttons that can help you spread this guide to other users who have the same trouble:

How to Format USB Drive on Mac - 3 Methods

You will walk through the detailed process of formatting a USB drive on your Mac here. This section offers everything you need to revive your USB drive and make it work with different operating systems. Unfortunately, formatting will erase any essential data on the drive, so backup everything before you begin.

So, grab your Mac computer and the USB drive you wish to format, and get ready to discover how to format a USB drive on a Mac:

1. Way 1. Run Professional Mac Disk Format Tool
2. Way 2. Apply Disk Utility
3. Way 3. Perform Terminal on Mac

Way 1. Run Professional Mac Disk Format Tool

The first method to format your USB drive on a Mac is EaseUS NTFS for Mac. This professional Mac disk format tool is your answer to hassle-free USB drive formatting. With this tool, you can easily tackle compatibility issues between Mac and Windows systems. As an effective and fast third-party tool, it enables you to easily edit, remove, and write files on NTFS devices.

The program also excels at ejecting NTFS drives safely and without data loss, and it is 100% compatible with the newest M1/M2 Macs and macOS Ventura 13.0. So, what are you holding out for? Download this program from the official EaseUS NTFS for Mac website:

Follow the steps below to learn how to format a USB drive on Mac using this tool:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS NTFS for Mac on Mac computer, click "I already have a license" to activate this software.

Step 2. Select target disk drive or removable device you want to erase, and click "Erase."

Step 3. In the Format section, select ExFAT as your target file system from the drop-down box.

Step 4. Click the "Erase" button to confirm the format process and erase all data stored on the external storage device.

Other Noble Features of NTFS For Mac:

• Format FAT32 to NTFS on Mac
• Mount External Hard Drive Mac
• Enable Mac to Write NTFS
• Eject and Unmount the External Hard Drive on the Mac

Don't hesitate anymore. Try this versatile software today:

Way 2. Apply Disk Utility

Disk Utility is another option for formatting a USB disk on a Mac. While it isn't as easy to use as EaseUS NTFS For Mac, it's still a good alternative for individuals who prefer native Mac solutions.

Follow the steps given below to apply disk utility:

Step 1. Connect your USB drive to your Mac.

Step 2. Open Disk Utility and select your USB drive from the given list on the left in its window.

Step 3. Click the "Erase" button at the top.

Step 4. Choose a format for your USB drive, such as FAT32, exFAT, or Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

Step 5. Name your drive and hit the "Erase" button to start the formatting process.

While Disk Utility is a valid way for formatting USB sticks on Mac, it is likely to be more complicated and less adaptable than way 1. You can also take reference from the following guideline if you meet the "unable to write to USB on a Mac" problem:

Way 3. Perform Terminal on Mac

If you're familiar with command-line tools and prefer a more hands-on approach, you can format your USB drive using Terminal on Mac. While this technique provides excellent control, some users may find it too complicated and scary.

Adhere to the steps given below:

Step 1. Connect your USB drive to your Mac.

Step 2. Launch Terminal (it's in the "Utilities" folder under the "Applications" folder).

Step 3. To list all accessible disks, type diskutil list and press Enter.

Step 4. Locate your USB drive in the list; it should be named "/dev/diskX" (X is the drive number).

Step 5. To format the drive, type diskutil eraseDisk [format] [name] /dev/diskX. Replace "[format]" with the format you want (e.g., "FAT32"), "[name]" with the drive name you want, and "diskX" with the drive identification.

If you want to learn more details regarding the different formats that are mentioned in the first part, you can go through the articles below:

Conclusion

This complete tutorial on how to format a USB drive on your Mac has covered the need for formatting, the significance of several file systems, and three techniques to guide how to format a USB drive on a Mac. While Disk Utility and Terminal for Mac are viable options, EaseUS NTFS stands out as a user-friendly, flexible, and efficient solution.

EaseUS NTFS for Mac is highly recommended for a smooth USB disk formatting experience and better cross-platform compatibility. Its ease of use and full NTFS compatibility make it the ideal choice for Mac and Windows users. So go ahead and simplify your USB drive formatting and share this utility with your friends.

FAQs About How to Format USB Drive on Mac

If you still have questions or encounter issues formatting your USB drive on Mac, check out these FAQs for quick solutions.

1. Why can't I format my USB flash drive on a Mac?

If you can't format your USB flash drive on a Mac, it might be because of write protection. Check that the drive is not locked and try again.

2. How to format a USB to FAT32 on a Mac?

To erase a USB flash drive to FAT32 on Mac:

Step 1. Enter Disk Utility, and select your USB drive.

Step 2. Choose "Erase," like "MS-DOS (FAT)" as the format, and click "Erase."

3. How do you format exFAT to FAT32 on Mac?

To convert a USB drive from exFAT to FAT32 on Mac:

Step 1. Back up your data from the USB drive.

Step 2. Navigate to Disk Utility and choose the USB drive.

Step 3. Choose "MS-DOS (FAT)" as the format and click "Erase" to complete the conversion.